I am about ready to give up

[Botany]

In my area of Columbus, OH some people have been working on an urban arboretum project
of planting trees that are native to the region in the curb lawns ( the space between the sidewalk and the
street) with the long term goal of improving the habitat for people, animals, and birds. We
are planting over 300 trees w/ volunteers and some small grants. Well, the first batch went in
on 10/1/11 and by the morning of 10/2/11 somebody or some group went down one of the streets
and cut every one of the newly planted trees down. This area of town is old and all the streets
are tree lined but somebody TARGETED ALL THE NEW TREES in order to send a message that
he / she or they are not happy with environmentalists and our green project. I might be wrong
but the cuts were all clean and if it was kids they could have just pulled them right out of the ground
w/ no problem @ all.

No public money was spent on the project and no home owner had to get a tree planted in front
of their home if they did not want one planted there. What the f*** is the matter with some people
and why do certain people get paid big money to fill these idiots heads w/ lies, hate, and anti-environmental
crap?



Our whacko environmentalist goal .... the return of the Wood Thrush to our neighborhood.

[TwilightGardener]

1. That's awful. People just suck sometimes.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. #OccupyColumbus?

:hug:

[Fire Walk With Me]

81. Seriously. Here is #OccupyColumbus:

https://www.facebook.com/OccupyColumbus

[maddezmom]

3. heartbreaking and revolting at the same time

:(

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I am heartsick to hear this. How awful for the trees, and all of you...

[Botany]

11. We will be able to dig up the trees and let them .....

.... sprout again* ......being fall and what not they all will come back but
that time and effort could be spent in different ways and we will have to
figure a way to protect the other trees too. :grr:


* in 1 or 2 years they will be just as big as they were when planted.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. I had no idea you could do that!

At least they can be salvaged!

That is the tiny sliver of good news in the middle of all the bad news.

Thank goodness!

Thank you for telling me this...

:hug:

[enough]

5. Hard to imagine being that person. (nt)

[greytdemocrat]

6. That is terrible.

Trees are our friends.

[vi5]

7. I was thinking the same thing today...

Not about the environmental issue specifically but in general. But I applaud what you were trying to do and so sorry to read what happened. My heart broke as I read this.

Someone at work today was just spewing stuff that I knew were completely false and total BS lies. But I just couldn't even muster the energy to expend on pointing out why he was wrong, because I just knew in my heart of hearts that there is nothing I could say that would counteract the bullshit he had been fed day in and day out. Everything I said on the subject would be met with skepticism and viewed as just propaganda from "the other side".

I just don't have the fucking time or the energy to counteract the level of bullshit that is out there and I just don't have the energy to counterbalance just how vehement some of these people are with their anti-worker, anti-environment, anti-human, anti-everything except whatever conservative pundits tell them is o.k.

Trying to do so and the level of effort that it requires is literally at this point taking time and energy from my life away from my family and any semblance of a life. Which I would be fine if I felt it was getting me or us or the country anywhere. But at most I just feel like I'm spinning my wheels in place.

[liberalmike27]

77. Nothing worse than doing a good thing

And some jerk beating you down, by being an idiot. I wish I had more, but you just can't let it destroy your own goodness. All you can really control is that, and I'm assuming the other streets left the trees alone? It may have just been some idiot kid.

[Raine]

8. I don't know what to say, some people are just plain mean

maybe whoever did it thought it came from public funds and that was what their problem was. Anyway I'm sorry, I know how sad and depressing this must be. :hug:

[Guilded Lilly]

9. No chance of finding out who did this destruction of public property?

[Botany]

14. We have some very smart people in our group ....

.... and we along with the police will make getting this asshole or these assholes
job #1.

[Habibi]

26. I am glad to hear that. Someone in the neighborhood

must have seen something. Maybe offer a reward, if possible? (I know, who the hell wants to spend money on that, but still.)

[OhioChick]

10. That's terrible...some people are idiots

Don't give up though, that's what they want.

[alphafemale]

12. Could the culprit have maybe been caught on camera?

There's camera's lots of places now. Or I think surely somebody witnessed this.

I HATE TREES!

This doesn't even make sense.

[TheMadMonk]

36. Oh, I dunno. Makes perfect sense when you have to mow around...

...the bloody things when they're "naturally" arranged on a big block.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

71. Botany said they were only planted where people wanted them.

So no one has to mow around anything they don't want.

More power to you and the crew you work with Botany. Hope you can catch the critter cutting the trees down.

[bluerum]

13. That is insanity. Where are the cops during this vandalism.

[Botany]

16. Our local cops are pissed too.

It would have been dumb luck if the shit heads were caught in the act.

Besides it was a dark rainy fall night.

[xchrom]

17. Recommend

[rucky]

18. Did you contact the Dispatch, or TV news?

this is the kind of story they'll be all over. FWIW, it would give some visibility to your project, too.

[Botany]

20. We don't want too much publicity right now so we ...

.... can catch these mother fuckers.

:bounce: Oh I hope it wasn't a DUer. :rofl:
but I feel pretty safe in posting this news here

[Agony]

19. Here is what your Wood Thrush will sound like.

http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/107333 for those that have never heard one. (I am sure you already know what they sound like)

One day, Botany, I hope you meet your goal! Never give up!

Here the deer eat everything that we plant, can't really blame them though. What jerks!

Cheers,
Agony

[MH1]

29. thanks for providing the link

one of my favorite bird sounds :)

[MatthewStLouis]

21. That makes me fume. God, I hate stupid people! n/t

[arcane1]

22. We had a series of similar incidents here in lib'rul old San Francisco

http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2011/04/28/vandals-attack-golden-gate-park-again/



Reminds me of the fools who burn piles of tires on Earth day. Pure dicketry.

[postulater]

23. The idiot who did that

Clearly can't handle anything that lives longer than he will or is smarter than he is.

[pinto]

24. What a damn shame...

Hang in there. :hi:

[roguevalley]

25. I could cry. I hope their karma comes at the end of a giant fist.

[louslobbs]

27. I was taught that if I had nothing good to say about a situation or about people, then say nothing

all. It's good advice and I will follow it tonight by saying, I know how you feel Botany, but don't you ever give up or give in to those who can't or won't control their disgusting and hateful behaviors. I'm sorry this happened and I wish there were video cameras somewhere that might have recorded this vandalism, I'm guessing there aren't. We are stronger than these types, they lack basic thinking skills and in many cases, allow their emotions to dictate their ugly and nefarious actions. I love animals, birds, flowers, trees and the beauty of that which you help to create in life, that others choose to destroy. I'm glad we're on the same team.

All the best,
Lou

[Tesha]

28. One of the reasons societies crumble is that destruction is far easier than construction.

And a single yahoo can quickly undo the hard work
of dozens of folks.

Tesha

[Blue_Tires]

46. +1000

[CrispyQ]

51. So true, isn't it?

Our society is especially proud of our ability to destroy things. The "might makes right" attitude is pervasive & "might" too often means oppression & violence.

[MH1]

30. Please don't give up!

but what an awful collection of protoplasm is that so-called 'person' or 'persons' who did that.

I hope they catch the shithead(s) because what they did suggests they are dangerously antisocial. People should know who they are, for public safety's sake.

[badhair77]

31. I'm so sorry to hear this and understand how disheartened you must be.

But please don't give up. I'm betting the idiot(s) who did this will also be stupid enough to brag about it. So you might have a good shot at catching the culprit(s).

Thanks for all your efforts in trying to improve the environment and make this a better place to live.

[OhioBlue]

32. hugs to you Botany!

Don't give up. If you do; they win. I can understand how you're feeling right now tho... to put so much time and effort into a community improvement project only to have vandals try to destroy it must be so discouraging and disheartening. But, you and your efforts ARE appreciated. thank you for what you do.

[femrap]

33. Plant again....

hide and watch....then grab the a-holes and call the police.

Who the hell would do such a thing???? Some neo-con, probably.

I'm so sorry.

[in_cog_ni_to]

34. That is so damn sad. Who doesn't love trees? That's just mean and hateful.

Trees
By Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

[progressoid]

38. I know someone that cut down all the trees around his new house.

Idiot didn't like to rake leaves.

[Lorien]

43. Same thing happened around the apartment complex behind my home

about eight century old live oaks (huge) and a bunch of other species were wiped out by the asshole landlord who just plain hated trees. I didn't even know that the butt ugly complex was there when I bough the house. Now it's all that I see. :grr:

[OwnedByFerrets]

35. Fucking assholes. I am so sorry.

[glinda]

37. Awful. So many times when a report is on tv of something good, next thing you know they shoot it,

burn it, cut it down. Our humans are sick on this planet. Am so sorry this happened.

[lunatica]

39. Fuck them. Do it again and take turns keeping vigil

catch whoever is doing this on camera and go to the police.

Never give in.

[PETRUS]

40. How discouraging

I'm really sorry. So wrong on so many levels. I don't even know what else to say about this.

[yardwork]

41. What a miserable, sad thing to do.

Talk about bad karma. I would not want to be the person who did that. They are living in hell already.

[Lorien]

42. Columbus sure has changed since I grew up there in the 60s and 70s

like many college towns, it was very liberal and environmentally aware back then. But last time I was up there I saw all kinds of ugly RW bumper stickers on cars-even in Clintonville. This new breed of far right winger that has established itself in Central Ohio is just plain mentally ill.

[a la izquierda]

44. Wow, that's just sick.

I'm in Newark and I didn't hear anything about this on the news.
I hope the police are involved?

[Botany]

62. we are keeping it out of the press for now

n/t

[a la izquierda]

80. Well, I'm terribly sorry about this.

As a vegan tree-hugger, I'm sad not only for the neighborhood, the volunteers, the donors, and the trees.

[madokie]

45. I hate to hear that

The about to give up and the trees being cut down. Here is my story on some newly planted trees once. I planted several trees ago, (arbor day foundation trees) and a short time later they were all gone, upon closer inspection I seen that they'd been cut down at the ground level or about an inch up. Anywho I couldn't figure out what the deal was and it went on for a while my being in wonderment as to who would cut my trees down. I finally planted new trees and just happened to be out doing something early one morning a few days later and guess what I saw, a ground hog or whatever they're called following my trail sniffing out the trees I'd just planted a few days before. The reason I'm typing this is to ask the obvious by now question. Could it have been something like I'm saying that is going on here and not a person. The trees I planted were not much bigger than a pencil and it looked just like I'd taken a knife and cut them off but it was the animals teeth. Deer are fond of small sapling too so that could be it.

Please let it be anything besides your giving up. :hi:

[AmBlue]

48. deleted.... just read up & saw

You're already in touch with police. Don't forget the media at the point it suits your purpose. Some crack reporter will make a good story of this.

[AmBlue]

47. Hang in there dear Botany.

True, this awful. But you just cannot give up. It is not what we do. And we need you. (please)
:hug:

[Doctor_J]

49. Republicans are sociopaths

all of them - anyone who still supports the Repukes has a very deep mental and/or social disorder. Every last one of them them is deeply disturbed. The country will not right itself until they're obliterated.

[defendandprotect]

50. Corporations have encouraged this aggressive and insane anti-environmentalist thinking ...

to protect themselves from what would happen if the public actually figured

out why we have Global Warming and that it will soon make the planet unlivable

for our children!!

Can see you must feel heartbroken -- don't give up --

"No Nothing's" will one day wake up -- !!

:hug:

[onethatcares]

52. please don't give up.

it sucks that some idiots did this but don't let them beat you. There must be someone that saw something cause you don't just cut down trees without anyone noticing.

I'll be planting 6 crepemyrtles on our easement next week in honor of what you've done.

thanx the earth needs all the help it can get at this point. :hug: and them birds are way cool too.

Here in floriduh, I just want to add to the shade factor, the rest will take care of itself.

[The Doctor.]

53. You only need three things;

1) Ski masks.

2) Baseball bats.

3) A few angry folks.


Leave the perps rolling around on the ground screaming and crying, and no one will mess with your trees again.

I've fucking had it with these brainless shitheads. It's time they fucking paid for their mindless, destructive behavior.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

54. I hope the person who did it gets cancer and dies a miserable death

People like that deserve it.

Next time you plant, stake out the place. If you in your group have to take turns pulling a third shift, do it. It's worth it to see these scum caught and going to jail.

[sce56]

55. Now that person or persons are FUBAR!

[russspeakeasy]

56. The world would be a better place with more birds and fewer people.

:evilgrin:

[Vinca]

57. That's a shame. There's nothing prettier than a tree-lined street.

Maybe you should plant some thorny rose bushes instead. Very thorny.

[Enthusiast]

58. kr......They're assholes.......nt

[JDPriestly]

59. Planting gardens and trees in urban areas is a way to lift our spirits

and encourage people to feel pride in their community.

Replant the trees. Don't give up. Call the police to investigate. And maybe you need to organize a Neighborhood Watch and put up a sign by each tree stating that the tree is private or public property -- whichever is true -- and that there is penalty for vandalizing it.

You might want to check to see if the city took down the plantings.

Next time, put a little barrier around the tree. You can get them fairly cheaply.

[tropicanarose]

60. Please, please do not give up!! We need more people like you.

[tropicanarose]

61. Also what kind of sick horrible *$*# does something like that?! No respect for nature! This is.rop

so horrible.

[hue]

63. MG I'm so sorry to hear this!! I can see this hurts You & those who

wanted to give back to Mother Earth!! Botany, don't allow those shallow, anti social ones cut Your spirit down also!!
You seem like a sensitive spirit and not only did they cut those baby trees, but they trampled on Your loving deed! (It does seem pre-
meditated since they had a saw to cut them down & did every one of them!)
Be resilient. Perhaps someone can replant some of the trees & mount a camera to catch the idiot! That person should be made to
plant a forest somewhere after going through a year of training in jail! And he should be made to pay $$ for it, garnishing his paycheck for a
long time!! :-(

[Plucketeer]

64. Incredible!

:mad:

[Papagoose]

65. Most of the trees on Main Street in my town were dying or dead

So the town had them all removed last year. They have not yet been replaced because Teabaggers keep showing up at Council meetings and screaming about Socialism, Obamacare and Atheists. I have NO IDEA what these have to do with trees, but these Teabaggers won't shut up about it.

[Botany]

69. It has to do w/ a fear of big brother and the crap that ....

... they get fed 24/7 & 365. "Hell in my day we would go and buy a bradford pear for $29.95 and plant it out
front on our own but now you have your politically correct trees put in by environmentalist liberals."

When the only tool you have is a hammer every problem looks like a nail.

[Whisp]

66. That is too horrible. wtf is it with some of these cretins? n/t

[Liberalynn]

67. I am so sorry

this happened in your area and for you and all the people who worked on the project.

How stupid and sad those that cut down the trees must be. Its their enviroment too and what you and the others are trying to do is for their benefit too.
:hug: Botany!

[bongbong]

68. webcams

webcams are super cheap. Replant a few within view of a window, set up a webcam with long-time monitoring software (probably freeware), and get the SOBs. Remember that repigs & teabaggers hate life in all forms, that's why they tore these plants out.

[DaveJ]

75. Great idea! Turn from victim to predator!

Get the scumbags then sue and recoup the loss. I'm thinking the webcam could be put in a parked car or a home if someone would agree to it.

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KoKo]

72. That's a Terrible Thing that happened, Botany. But...coming soon to a neighborhood near

the rest of us.

:hug:

It seems these days that it's "One Step forward for Humanity" and "Three Steps Back for the Corporatists."

Again...sad times, indeed.

K.

[aikoaiko]

73. Take heart. The vandalism is proof of the importance of your work.

Best wishes to your next effort.

[TorchTheWitch]

74. what shits

Who the hell can possibly have a problem with TREES for crying out loud!

[thereismore]

76. I lived in Columbus, OH. Which part of town is this? nt

[Kumbricia]

78. Does your group have a web site and paypal account?

Everyone who reads your post on DU ought to donate $5 to your project. When you replant, keep in touch with the police and see if you can get a patrol. Video record it if you can. Don't let the bastards get you down

[blackspade]

79. Sounds like someone needs a little arresting!

How could they have been cut down without someone noticing?