I guess when you read something, the more you feel a personal connection to it or can relate a memory to it, the more you enjoy reading it and the more you remember what you read! In Chapter 6 JB Jackson discusses how monuments affect the landscape and change your views of the town or city you are visiting. This chapter reminded me a lot of Washington D.C. As a state legislator, I was fortunate to be on a task force that met back in Washington D.C. every spring so I was able to walk among many of those monuments that dominate that city. As I studied these monuments and read the information supplied, I was filled with a sense of historal awe of this capital city of ours. After reading JB Jackson, I started wondering what if those monuements weren’t there in D.C.? It made me realize how drastically those monuments changed my perception of the city.
Another section in this weeks readings was in chapter 13 with the concept of private property affecting the landscape. This really hit home for me for a number of reasons. First of all, having lived all my life in this setting and being an avid outdoorsman I have seen thousands of these signs he described. Second of all, my family has a private ranch surrounded by national forest that we (especially my Dad!) guard ferociously. My dad has crudely lettered “no hunting” and “stay out” signs posted in several locations giving visitors an ominous feeling as they pull up to our place. My favorite though was a sign up in Alaska that said “If you saw the movie Deliverance you will know not to trespass on our property.” I think JB would have loved that one as well!