Radical element environmentalist protesters ” who sought to discredit Interior Secretary James Watt during his recent trip to Utah and Arizona “turned the tables on themselves” in the eyes of many. Their actions backfired because of the protesters’ own questionable conduct in defacing parks, posting signs insulting Watt, and trying to harass an anniversary celebration. Watt visited the two states primarily to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River and the creation of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area surrounding Lake Powell, the nation’s second largest man-made lake. He also reviewed progress made in the federal Park Restoration and Improvement Prozram. Under the five-year, $5 million PRIP, the Department of Interior hopes to protect national parks by investing in their upkeep and maintenance. News accounts said about 100 members of the “Earth First” environmental group tried unsuccessfully to disrupt the birthday ceremonies. Watt commented that he is willing to suffer “abuse of public opinion” so that millions of people can enjoy a better life through such projects as Glen Canyon. His remarks may have been a bit farfetched, but they made much better sense than the narrow view expressed by Earth First founder Dave Foreman who was quoted as saying the dam and reservoir “destroyed probably tbe most magical canyon on earth symbolic of the destruction of the American West.” The cabinet official took a calm view of the work of protester elements who painted antiWatt signs on roads at Arches National Park in Utah, reportedly defaced tourist signs, and suspended an effigy of the secretary under the rock arches. At Zion National Park a 10-by-20-foot sign which read “Burn Watt, Not Coal” appeared about one-third of the way up a 300-foot sandstone cliff. Watt must have been disappointed at that kind of reception, having looked forward to visiting Southern Utah “where there’s not that much hostility – a place to relax and not get hassled.” But observers said he was more concerned about the safety of the park personnel in retrieving the sign than the insult it carried, Altogether he showed a lot more stature than his critics. It is to be hoped the general caliber and quality of the environmentalist movement in protest of Secretary Watt’s policies reflect greater depth of thought and more decency than were displayed by the radical elements whose disrespectful actions during a cabinet member’s visit undercut their own reputations and dignity. The business of managing America’s 330plus national parks, historic sites, and memorials is serious and challenging. It requires public help and cooperation. These facilities represent a rich and valuable resource and heritage which is deteriorating because of vandalism, inadequate security, encroaching urbanization, and natural catastrophies. It’s a matter of national pride and necessity that we safeguard our park areas while carrying out the multiple uses sound judgment would dictate. There is a rightful place for citizen groups concerned with saving the environment for divergent viewpoints. But dissent should be responsible and expressed civilly through legitimate channels without resorting to the radicalism demonstrated by some during the Watt visit in Utah and in some previous encounters elswhere. I L