The Bears Ears Monument
This letter appeared in the New York Times on June 1, 2017
To the Editor:
“A Vast Divide” (news article, May 15) noted that opponents of the designation of Bears Ears in Utah as a national monument describe the Obama administration’s action as a “land grab” and compared it to “grand theft.” But ownership of the land has not changed. Bears Ears remains in the hands of the American people.
Bears Ears helps tell the full history of human civilization in our country, and we feel strongly that it deserves its new status alongside other beloved national monuments dedicated using the Antiquities Act.
For years, Bears Ears had been left woefully unprotected, and its priceless petroglyphs, pictographs and other resources were being lost to looting, vandalism, reckless recreation and other threats.
As the Trump administration considers the status of Bears Ears, at issue is not who should own this iconic landscape but rather whether this special place and its unparalleled collection of cultural resources deserve to be adequately protected for all Americans.
STEPHANIE MEEKS, WASHINGTON
The writer is president and chief executive of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
This letter appeared in the New York Times on June 1, 2017.
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About the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a
privately-funded nonprofit organization dedicated
to helping communities maintain and enhance the
power of historic places. Chartered by Congress in
1949 and supported by partners, friends, and
champions nationwide, we help preserve the places
and stories that make communities unique. Through
the stewardship and revitalization of historic
sites, we help communities foster economic growth,
create healthier environments, and build a
stronger, shared sense of civic duty and belonging.
SavingPlaces.org