Remarks Announcing the Establishment of National Monuments in Western States at the Grand Canyon

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Jan 17, 2000

Taking the long look ahead, as manifest in the protections we give today to the land around the Grand Canyon and in these other monuments, is fundamentally an act of humanity, and I might add also, an act of humility.

I think it's interesting that-I'll close with this-I had two rather interesting experiences today only proliferally related to what we're doing. One is, the press asked me whether I saw this as a legacy item, as if that was the reason for doing it. I said, "Well, I've been working on this stuff for 7 years, now. And I grew up in a national park; I believe in what I'm doing today."

But I'll say again, this is an act of humility for all of us. When we were flying today over the North Rim, when we got further west along the Canyon, Bruce looked at me and he said, "See, there's some dormant volcanoes, and you can see the residue of the ash." And I said, "When did that volcano erupt?" He said, "Oh, not very long ago, 10 or 20,000 years." And if you look out here you see, 10 or 20,000 years from now, if the good Lord lets us all survive as a human race, no one will remember who set aside this land on this day. But the children will still enjoy it.

So I say to all of you, I hope you will go forth from this place today with a renewed dedication to the long look ahead, with a renewed sense of pride and gratitude, with a sense that we have reaffirmed our humanity as well as our devotion to our natural home, and a sense of humility that we are grateful, we are fortunate, and we are obligated to take the long look ahead.

Thank you, and God bless you.

NOTE: The President spoke at 11:15 a.m. at Grand Canyon Hopi Point. In his remarks, he referred to hiker Ann Weiler Walka, who introduced the President; and Robert L. Arnberger, Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park.