There is a growing contempt in our government for the birthright of every American citizen.

The current Administration and the majority of the House and Senate, have recently begun to move forward to sell or diminish the protections of our public lands. Our public lands include our National Parks, historic places and other protected areas.

The first thing these people are doing with these plans is to chip away at America’s most special and even sacred places. Telling you that this is in the people’s interest that removing protections from these places will shrink the harmful influence of the federal government and allow more freedom for the people to use these lands resources for our benefit.

This is a bold-faced lie told by representatives who have truly been lobbied by those with interest in exploiting America’s protected places for pure profit. There is no ideological bent behind these actions, there is no interest in the American people, only financial gain.

On the arch that is the entrance to Yellowstone National Park is a quote from the act that created this first National Park that reads “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.” From the very outset of the creation of these federally mandated public lands, it was clear they were not for the power or the benefit of any government branch or private interest, but every single citizen.

As an ESU student, I often enjoy spending my free time on the benches by Wooster Lake, and I’m sure many people do the same.

It helps me and many others relax and get their head straight. Now imagine some higher ups on campus decided that it would be beneficial to sell the lake for the profit of the university. Soon after selling, the lake has been drained and a private parking lot has been built in its place. Can you not visualize the effect it would have on this campus?

That is what we risk by putting America’s great places up for grabs, not only a loss of beauty, but peace of mind.