Trouble With Wilderness (Edited)

Cronon described the wilderness as a place of terror. This is because of the stories and problems with the past of the wilderness. King James said you "can lose oneself in moral confussion". Moses "had wandered with his people for forty years... and nearly abondoned their god". Even the Pharaoh said "they are entangled in the land". Stories like these have set the views on individuals throughout history because we live in a metaphor which was given to us by the stories of well known, powerful, people. They made people believe that what they experienced was the way correct way of seeing wilderness. It was was until many hundreds of years later that people realized they could have their own views on how they preceived the wilderness.













Now views on the wilderness have changed, atleast in America. Protected and resevered land is a thing of beauty that people enjoy and free their mind in. In fact, now people make vacation time to get out and enjoy the wilderness. It is no longer a thing of terror, but rather a thing of beauty. But it goes on father than just beauty. We need the wilderness to preserve wildlife or generations from now will not have a clue on the things were. Because of the views of King James, the Pharaoh, and Moses, many people have already lost most of the possibilities to see the natural wilderness without government interference. I understand that the land needs to be used for improvments on society to the human race, but other species of animals alter it on a day to day basis, just not as drastic. The difference is, when people thought the wilderness was "wasted" space, they destroyed so much at a fairly rapid pace. There needs to be wilderness because it is a need, not a want. We need oxygen and animals need a home. The views have changed for good. People want to enjoy the wilderness, and as long as they are enjoying it, they will destroy less; thus preserving the no longer terrifing wilderness. People can see the wild in their own master narrative rather than the metaphor brought to them by previous stories.
Alaska is one of the most sought after places of travel, probably because of the so called 'wilderness' that surrounds it. www.alaskatravel.com/?gclid=CK2X48uSyKccfa1d7aodxhOfdg is a website that shows several great things to do across the land of Alaska. The site shows the new view, which is still technically a methaphor of the locals, of Alaska and all that is has to offer. By going there for vacation, one can get their own view on what Alaska really is. I have never been, but I always imagine layers of snow with polar bears crossing infront of everyone with no harm. I assume that my perception is not correct, but until someone goes and see's for themselves, my view may be all they have to live for. Frozen glacier water is also a common image that comes to mind; it's not a scary image of wilderness or anything, but is it the true image of Alaska, or has mankind destroyed the wilderness with oil drilling? You will have to visit and decide for yourself.