Reconnecting with Nature in the Adirondacks

In class we discussed how the American dream of manifest destiny influenced the settlement of the Adirondacks. Much of this ideology revolves around conquering nature and its resources and claiming it as our own. This initial view of the Adirondacks, as well as the West, established an unequal relationship in which humans exploited nature for their own good.  Terrie goes on to claim that America’s emerging economy at this time and the opportunity to get rich off of the land furthered this imbalanced relationship with the wild. He states “The fundamental American ideology of individually achieved success was from the very beginning tied to widely shared convictions about the inexhaustibility of American nature” (15). Much of our early history is to blame for the current environmental problems we face today.

However, prior to the idea of manifest destiny, many believed the Adirondacks to be foreboding and dangerous. These two drastically different views of nature, one as controlling and one as ominous, are rooted into American history. They have come to define how many of us see nature even today. I believe that as humans we should look at nature as being a part of us as opposed to something outside the human realm. Humans once lived in harmony with nature. Currently we seem to be working against it.

The Adirondacks, however, is special in that it allows humans to once again live with nature.  Those who live their can experience first hand how the wild functions and become less scared and more appreciative of the land. I think there should be more of a push to create protected lands with residents allowed. It is also important for classes such as this one to teach us to go outside and realize we can be part of the natural world. I believe this is a crucial step in protecting the lands we live in and need to survive.