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Ancient sketches graffiti or art?

Its 2010 put a picture in your article.

wow that might be the worst article ive ever read.

its kinda like saying why do we still preserve the pyramids in egypt, we could obviously build better ones now, so whats the big deal.

Wow, how short-sighted. "Beautiful" or not, much of the "rock art" in Nine Mile is religously significant to many Native Americans, especially the Hopi who consider it sacred. But who cares what they think and feel, right?

Although by now it shouldn't be, it still surprises me when people from a state who take such pride in their history and religion have absolutely no respect for those of others.

Benson is so right on. Thanks for the chuckle!

And to Anon 12:40: the Pyramids? Really?

Many a truth, spoken in jest.

Benson isn't saying that the drawings shouldn't be protected. In fact, in the article he says specifically that they should. What he IS saying, in a humorous way, is what a lot of us think: there is a very good chance that these drawings were simply a sort of ancient graffitti, and therefore held no special cultural or religious signifcance for the people who created them. Which makes it extremely funny to think of crowds of modern, tie-dyed granola-munchers standing there gaping reverently at them while having dope-fueled, quasi-religious experiences. Too funny!

In my high school days I considered majoring in archaeology in college, but I decided teaching science to high school kids would be a better choice for me. I mention that to indicate my love for all things from bygone eras and peoples. But, I have to agree with this article--not everything requires or should have protection. There is a standing policy that all things connected to the Anasazi is strictly hands off and must be preserved in museums. How many of us actually visit museums to see these Anasazi artifacts? To do a bit of comparison to apples and oranges--If you are totally honest, would you rather spend an evening in opera or in a movie theater watching a GOOD movie (this is to allow for dud movies which no one wants to watch)? So I am in favor of using the natural gas. Take lots of pictures of the rock drawings. Put balance into life.

Why does everything anchient have to have eternal significance? Maybe it was just a bunch of teenaged kids having fun.

Grafitti or not, it's all we have from those ancients and it gives us an insight into their culture.

I'm just very glad that we have other methods to protect our art today so that someday someone doesn't dig up an old train car and assume that the grafitti on its side was the art of the ancients...

It's a column.

Well gee, thanks for clearing that up.

And you actually put your photograph in this article?!#* Just maybe it would have been an idea to include the panel images. I spent 9 hours in the canyon this summer, eating granola in my "Life Rocks" T-shirt. It was an amazing experience - a privilege. Good thing 80% of Utah is owned by the public (love those federal lands) where opinions like yours are neutralized by loftier ideals and greater minds to the benefit of sacred sites and priceless heritage.

Shame, shame, shame on the writer of this column, and the editors of this paper, for the publication of this disrespectful and racist article. Yes, of course, we must always have "Freedom of Speech", always, and humor, too, but this crosses the line into a dark no-man's land of bigotry and prejudice. The Deseret News appears to be thumbing its collective nose at Native American religious belief...and Native Americans themselves.

This article will likely make national news, and once again, Utah will be in the limelight...not for any positive reason.
Again, shame, shame, shame on you!

Wow, I've never read anything by Benson before, and probably never will again. What an idiot.

The rock art sites are sacred to the native people. I can't believe that your newspaper allowed this column to be published. I believe that you should be fired because of your bigoted and racial statements. I feel sorry for you and those that feel as you do. I'm glad I do not subscribe to the Deseret News.

I cry for my Native friends who treat these places as sacred.

Our history is replete with similar examples of short sighted thnking where the true power, financial gain, always trumps art, history, culture or anything else that stands in its way.

Q: How can a person be racist in 700 words or less?
A: Read this article.

I guess you get what you paid for.

Very racist article. Good thing it's a small column

You look down on the things that are sacred to the Native Americans and their destruction would mean nothing to you. I think you would feel differently if it were something cherished by your family and culture. Shame on you. These things are precious and should be protected. They are all that is left of their ancestors.