Questions to the Presidential Candidates<< Previous Question | 1 | 2 | 3

Our national parks are the crown jewels of America’s natural and cultural heritage. I have spent countless hours at our national parks, taking in the beauty and splendor they have to offer. To me, they embody the American spirit. From the majestic parks of the West, with their soaring mountains and plunging canyons, to the parks in the East, from the Everglades to Acadia, to the great monuments in our nation’s Capitol and the many other historical and cultural sites across our country ­ our national parks are all inspiring, each in their own way. What President Theodore Roosevelt said at the beginning of the 20th century remains true today: that we have the “great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.” As we approach the 2016 Centennial, I will work as President to strengthen our national parks and to encourage all Americans to visit them to better appreciate our natural and cultural heritage.

Our National Park System is another reason I’m so proud to be an American. Like so many Americans, I love our parks because their diversity, beauty, and timelessness feed the soul and inspire the spirit. They are a vital link to the larger forces of creation and the handiwork of our Creator. I have had the pleasure of spending a great deal of time at the Grand Canyon in my home state of Arizona, and enjoyed the privilege of working many years to protect the park, preserve its character, and enhance the experience that its visitors deserve. As an individual, our parks are a source of great personal joy and inspiration; as a national leader they are a cause that I’ve been proud to serve throughout my life in public service as they will be during my presidency, and the rest of my life.

I have very fond memories as a kid of traveling to Yellowstone, marveling at the scenery, and chasing after bison, much to my mother's distress.

But when I think of my own connection to the earth, I think of my time in Hawaii, my birthplace, which is home to many national parks. I think those of us who grew up in Hawaii have a particular attachment to the land and understand how fragile it is. When you are snorkeling through the coral reefs, you realize that a slight change in temperature or increase in sediment and runoff could end up destroying it all and making it unavailable for your children. That is something you worry about.

My own experiences are precisely why I believe strongly that our national parks are one of America's most precious treasures, and that we should do all we can to ensure that they are properly maintained and available for all Americans to enjoy.

Mike Gravel
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Ron Paul
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Mike Huckabee
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