AmericasJourney.com *UPDATE*

Rick Lundh and I were out to Flaming Roof Ruin on Friday and saw this graffiti scratched into the rock. I found the website and learned that it's a Spanish father and son team touring the Americas. I emailed them and the son emailed me back saying that he didn't think it would bother anyone else and that it would wash off with the next rain. I told him that he should get his butt back there and that he should wash it off himself and that I had already notified the authorities and had sent emails to his "partners". Being young and dumb is one thing but being but defacing an ancient ruin is another.

rebeccastoneman@utah.gov is the person to email if you want to comment to the park authorities.

Hang em high!

Mark, I want to thank you for bringing this to our attention. I'll be sure to send an email to the authorities voicing my opinion of this disgusting act.

There's no excuse for this. None. I wonder if they did this to all the locations they visited. Well done Mark...

Next rain huh-what a maroon. This can't be tolerated-who knows what the next act of self premotion would be.

Unbelievable.

How sad. Hopefully they learned not to do this again.

This is a travesty

The seemingly boundless reach of ignorance and stupidity never cease to amaze me! Thanks for the head's up Mark. I will defintiely email Rebecca Stoneman as well.

Some people just don't get it and probably never will. Thanks for the link Mark. I'm sick of seeing this kind of crap.

UPDATE

Marie Tuxhorn, the Law Enforcement Officer for the BLM went out there yesterday and began an investigation. I've also heard back from Rebecca Stoneman. She told me that a few of you had emailed with comments.

I'll keep you posted.

BTW I suggest visiting the AmericasJourney.com site and sending emails to everyone you can find a link for.

I emailed the Brazlian Times Editor.

Hmm... When I first saw this, I was a bit shocked as well. This is like a heavy slab in the face. Like a pile of s**t on a fine art piece.
BUT, if this really can be handeled by a rain, then I think your reactions are a bit harsh. But then I am upset as well, and if I would have been a witness of such an act, I would have forced the dude to lick it off with his tongue...

After a little while I thought that also, Dietrich, but then again, what would you have thought if you had shown up there and the place was littered with McDonalds wrappers and smeared with ketchup? Sure, it'll wash off and the litter can be picked up but where is the common respect for the ruins and even for the experience of the person coming after you?
I'm sorry, but I'm all for a large fine and maybe even jail time.

Dietrich, I sincerely thought about your response, but please think about this:

If every person who went through our state and national parks did this, even if it did wash off, what kind of mess do you think we would see on visits to these national treasures? I shudder to think.

Most of us here apply the principle take only pictures, leave only foot prints, and that is a solid principle.

My email to the Brazilian Times that they stated on their web site did an article on them bounced back.

I emailed Ms Stoneman.

There are few things that get up my nose more than graffiti, especially at historical & nature sites. I agree its a total lack of respect combined with immaturity from people who have no other way of leaving their mark on the world.

No matter what it was written with, it just leaves a bad example to everyone who sees it and thinks that is OK. Plus it is disrespectful. Just like writing on a tombstone or graffiting your grandmothers house.

I hope their stay in America is much longer than originally planned. In San Quentin that is.

Hello folks, thanks for considering my post. I agree with your opinions, at least to the extent that I as well absolutely hate when people have disrespect for property that is not their own. Maybe I have not thought about the scale of that act.
But fact is, harming or destroying nature was not the intention here I guess - although that might be the consequence. I do not want to defend these stupid people, but I think they where just carefree - which of does not excuse their action at all.

edit: removed an "is" that did not fit...

Our Cause:

* To motivate our youth to seek knowledge through education and the use of technology so they can achieve their goals, make their dreams come true and contribute to society preserving our environment and heritage.
* To provide humanity a 21st century view of the people of the Americas, it's cultural diversity, landmarks and natural wonders through the making of a documentary in high definition video and a photo journal book.

MOTIVATE OUR YOUTH?!?!?!?!?!?!!? motivate them to do what exactly???

I don't think I like their version of a 21st century view of the people of the Americas either...

I'll email them as soon as I get home. I don't want to flame them from work.

Thats about the dumbest thing I've seen. I'll be sure to write them with my displeasure. They should really be hung out to dry for this stunt. Completely irresponsible.

I agree with all of you to a certain extent. The thing that bugs me most is the assumption that their cause is more important than keeping areas graffitti clean.

However, I have to take exception with those of you calling for jail time. The fact is, most people need to be educated about issues like this. The statement that the rain will take care of it is valid, in that no permanent damage was done. It would be easy for someone not as conscientious as you all (I'd guess most of America) to not realize what's being harmed by this.

By all means fine them. And better yet make them take a class about, and teach others about, why this kind of thing is damaging. But jail time? I don't think it's warranted.

But jail time? I don't think it's warranted.

True, I'm just being rabid.

Rain will take care of scratchings in soft material like sandstone, but it's highly unlikely it'll wash off in the first rain. It actually looks to me like it was put on with chalk. If so, any fair to middling rain will wash it away.

There is a certain level of arrogance implied by the act. Pretty common among most folks, I suspect, the urge to say "I was here." I believe some education is in order, and will be dished up soon considering the feedback here. I reckon it'll be a fairly spicy dish, and perhaps a bit hard to digest.

It wasn't chalk. It looked more like he took a sandstone rock and scratched it into the surface. I can't imagine it'll wash away without any help in less than a year or two though.

Yeah, it it's scratched, it'll take time for sure.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Mark. I do hope they are served with a large fine and even better, community service, for making such a stupid decision. I'll be sending an email shortly.

Thanks for making this public Mark. Disgusting, yet even more so, sad.

It seems that communications from here have already caused an online apology:

"Special Note:

I'd like to sincerely apologize for a mistake done by my young son on October 22nd, 2007 in writting this site address in a rocky ground close to the house on fire ancient site in Utah using a soft rock powder that will wash in the first rainfall. I assure this won't happen again.
Sincerely, Antonio Araujo"

Frankly, it's not enough.

Lon

I just sent them this email.

"If you're so sure it'll wash off, then maybe you should go back there and wash it off yourself. You can't take the chance of ruining anyone else's experience, like you did mine, by letting the rain, which might or might not, wash off the writing. You have to be sure it's gone and the only way you can do that is do it yourself.
"Young son" makes it sound like he's 9 or 10. I'm quite sure my 10 year old daughter would never even think of doing something like this".

His son is 19.

Perhaps the people who did this (or any Spanish citizen for that matter) should be asked, what would happen if...

a U.S. citizen went to some archeological site in Spain say, the Roman Theater in Merdia perhaps, and defaced those ruins the way that this person did? How would the Spanish government react?

Certainly, those ruins, being only a couple of thousand years old, aren't nearly as old as these 10,000 year old ruins and therefore certainly not as significant, right?? I mean, they wouldn't mind that much would they??

Yeah, right! That kind of defacement to a significant Spanish archeological site would certainly cause an international stink. How completely thoughtless!


Brian Elms

Beaverton, Oregon

Ill add my name to the list of disgusted viewers--what an incredibly moronic act! Heavy fine and community service sounds on target to me.

Did anyone notice that they are preparing to enter Mexico?

I just got an email from the dad. He said that he's terribly sorry and that he'd go back and wash it off but that they were already in Mexico. I replied that that was not good enough, that vandalizing an Indian ruin is a Federal offense and that the authorities were already looking into it.

Mark, thanks for the update.

Thanks for pursuing this with the authorities, Mark.

Most likely a rock was used to create the graffiti, as you described.
The father states, "a soft rock powder", which suggests that the writing was not scratched into the surface. I'm sure the BLM will be able to tell the difference. I sincerely doubt the son took the time to pulverize a rock to sprinkle a powder.

Incredibly thoughtless! Hard to believe educated "adults" could consider this acceptable behavior. I wonder if they documented this in their video!

I have written them a note and suggested they voluntarily donate profits from their photo sales to pay for the BLM cleanup of this site - since they can't return and do it themselves.

Very very sad to see. Thanks Mark for doing something about it. I will contribute and send an email to Rebecca as you noted. I have a 12 year old son I hike with that we have collected litter of various sorts almost everytime we have been out traveling or hiking. I teach him to be a contributor to society and to enjoy our natural world. I know he would never do something like this and it's crazy to think a 19 year old would do this.

I wouldn't have done that even with chalk. Not sure what they were thinking. I too am a father but I teach my kids to do the opposite of this stuff.


Kent in SD

Mark thanks for bringing this to our attention. I'm quite saddened and disturbed by this.
I really hope they didn't do this at every site they visited.

I pursued this as well and this morning got a notice from the local BLM law enforcement officer saying they began an investigation.

Guy

BIG TIME UPDATE!!

I just got this email from Antonio Araujo:

Dear Mark,

My son is deeply sorry for this. I actually drove back over 1000 miles for him to clean it up which left no marks whatsoever on the ground as it was lightly written with a soft rock powder. He has learned his lesson. Please forgive him.

See pictures of the clean up in our site at http://www.americasjourney.com/blandingincident.html

I've also contacted the BLM about this.

Sincerely,

Antonio Araujo

I also heard from the father:

Dear Lia,

My son is a good person. This was a one time mistake that he made and is deeply sorry for it.

I thank you for bringing this up which made me realize he should clean it up himself. I actually drove back over 1000 miles between yesterday after e-mailing (including all night non-stop) you and today for him to clean it up which left no marks whatsoever on the ground as it was as mentioned lightly written with a soft rock powder. He has learned his lesson. I've also contacted the BLM about this and are dealing with the issue.

Please I hope in the goodness of your heart you find forgiveness towards him.

See pictures of the clean up in our site at http://www.americasjourney.com/blandingincident.html

Sincerely,

Antonio Araujo

I emailed him back that it was the right thing to do. That it was a hard lesson for his son but probably a good lesson. I also thanked him for doing the right thing.

I also just received an email from the father stating the same. A 2,000 mile detour certainly shows a lot of contrition, and also shows that the father has taught his son an extemely valuable lesson in responsibility. I emailed the following email back to him.

Dear Antonio,

Thanks for your reply, and even more so, for your actions in returning and cleaning the site. To return, especially from such a long distance shows a high degree of responsibility and good will. I also suspect your son has probably learned the most valuable lesson in his life - to take responsibility for your actions and to correct your mistakes. If other people, corporations, and governments were to be so responsible and react as you and your son did the world would be far better off. Good luck and safe travels throughout the remainder of your trip.

Sincerely,
Bill Chambers

I also emailed the father back and thanked him for doing the right thing.

His subsequent actions are commendable. Nice to know that NPN has the collective power to influence positive behavior in society.

I love a happy ending.

Well now, how often do people voluntarily go out of their way to correct their mistake? That is very cool.

I had emailed them a few days ago also and got a response back today. I emailed him back commending him on returning and fixing their mistake.

Ditto here. The return and cleanup was quite a surprise. I doubt many others would have made such an effort to correct their mistake. Certainly the best outcome all around.

I just found this post today--Thanks Mark. I'm glad this worked out the way it did... we may all be better off in the long run because of this event.

"NPN: Making Negatives Positive!"

I'm rather proud of all of you who emailed back to him and thanked him for fixing his mistake.

Right ON, Mark. Thanks so much for your actions and your letting us all know about this. Good Work, my friend. Nancy

I am impressed by the two to go back 1000miles to wash the stuff away. Since they hereby showed their respect for nature and also for your opinions I think they are forgiven now...
Yeah, happy ending!

I somehow missed this thread until today--congrats to everyone on this site for taking direct action on this matter and effecting a positive outcome. And a big pat on the back to the Araujos for going the extra mile--literally--to undo the serious mistake that was made. What a gratifying resolution, all the way around.