Saturday, January 08, 2011
Arizona Saturday
A friend and I spent the middle part of the day walking the Huckaby trail near Sedona, Arizona and then repaired to a bar and then took a nap, and so it was we missed the tragic news of the killings -- assassinations and attempts thereof, actually -- elsewhere in the state. I did take the time to scroll through my Facebook page, and decided not to react to the eruptions from my many liberal Friends (virtually all of whom are actual friends). The truth will out. Rather than add my own ignorant voice to the cacophony on that vile act, herewith some more peaceful reflections on this Arizona Saturday.
12 Comments:
By 
pam, at
Sat Jan 08, 09:10:00 PM:
By Cassandra, at
Sat Jan 08, 09:53:00 PM:
OK, I am officially jealous of you.
Boy do I miss the high desert sometimes. Enjoy your time out there.
By 
, at
Sun Jan 09, 09:14:00 AM:
As usual, your photos are lovely, TH. It's the use of language, here, I find problematic. Specifically, I take issue with "eruptions from my many liberal Friends". This is not a liberal v. conservative, Dem v. Rep, black v white issue. A nine year old girl and a respected Federal Judge, incidentally a Bush 1 appointee, were among those slain. Eruption implies an irrational, unwieldy response. Rather, outrage, in this instance, is to be expected. Yesterday, I was as shocked as I was when the shuttle blew up, the OK Fed Building imploded and the Towers collapsed. Indeed, the truth may one day help us understand this tragedy. Until then, TH, I invite you to refrain from assigning a political agenda to normal reactions to a horrific event.
By Don Cox, at
Sun Jan 09, 10:11:00 AM:
"This is not a liberal v. conservative, Dem v. Rep, black v white issue. "
Indeed not. The killer appears to be simply a crazy man, like the one who shot John Lennon. That type will go for anyone who is famous or important.
It is just very sad.
Good photos.
By , at
Sun Jan 09, 10:12:00 AM:
EW83, I deplore the reactions from both sides of the political spectrum of those who immediately attempted to link this disturbed young man's vile actions to their political opposition. Most notable were many who immediately pointed out that the Tea Party activists were political opponents of the Congresswoman, or brought up such names as Palin and Limbaugh in a reflexive manner. Paul Krugman's response was an obvious example.
On the other side I saw mostly blog commenters who tried to somehow tie the shooter to far left figures.
None of those reactions honored the dead and wounded, nor did they uphold the highest standards of civilization in decrying this individual's act and acknowledging his sole responsibility for the shootings, as far as current information indicates.
So yes, TH was justified in feeling revulsion at those who seek to use this outrage as just another weapon in their ongoing political squabbles. A pox on their houses, I say (in a strictly figurative sense; please do not accuse me of advocating biological warfare measures as some of these early responders would be prone to do).
By TigerHawk, at
Sun Jan 09, 10:23:00 AM:
EW83, if your muted and non-partisan remarks were even the dominant theme among my liberal FB friends, I would not have written what I did. But the various instantaneous and programmatic condemnations of Fox News, Sarah Palin and the Tea Party were a bit tedious. My point was that I decline to engage.
By , at
Sun Jan 09, 11:06:00 AM:
Beautiful pictures, thanks for posting.
This friend thing looks like it's getting serious.
By daniel noe, at
Sun Jan 09, 01:27:00 PM:
I read an article that mentioned some of the shooter's most favorite books were mein kampf and the communist manifesto. He sounds well-rounded enough for the left to blame the right and the right to blame the left. I prefer to think he's crazy.
BTW, love the pics. Unfortunately, I have no cactus in NH.
By , at
Sun Jan 09, 01:51:00 PM:
Great pictures!
Who to blame?
1. The shooter
2. The shooter
3. The shooter
4. The (if any) accomplice
5. The shooter
etc.
Millions of people left-right, conservative-liberal see things that upset them every day without converting it into a shooting spree.
Nuff said.
Except for, great pictures!
By D.E. Cloutier, at
Sun Jan 09, 03:40:00 PM:
Nice photos, TH.
A number of years ago, I went with an old-timer to look at property in the Arizona desert. "Do you see many rattlesnakes around here?" I asked.
"I have spent 25 years in the desert," he told me. "I have never seen a rattlesnake."
"Come over here by me," I said. "Your're standing next to one."
By Simon Kenton, at
Sun Jan 09, 06:58:00 PM:
Second from the bottom is a text-book-quality view of the Schnebly Hill Ss, and the Fort Apache Limestone (that band about midway up the exposure.)
I hope you were not drawn into the Vortices that have attracted so many of the weird to Sedona.
By , at
Sun Jan 09, 08:28:00 PM:
An angry liberal Idaho lady preacher immediately blamed a local pastor and elder for the assassinations in Arizona. There was no logical explanation for this incorrect, local character assassination other than the fact that the pastor and elder are Bible believing conservative individuals living and preaching a Christian lifestyle and the poster is extremely hateful. Her friends jumped right on the bandwagon and started tooting their hate horns also. Yes liberals hate even if they hide behind the Christian banner.
Liberals don't care about what they say or do as long as they achieve the ends that they want for themselves and all of us. "Throw the mud and hope it sticks" and "Assign improper blame and keep saying it" are two common attack profiles that are used by liberals.
Now we need to wait for the investigation to see Federal Judge Roll or Representative Giffords was the intended target.
Conservative guys are asking for a political end and liberals are calling for revolution. EW83 you should remember that it was radical left commentator Ratigan and radical left cartoonist Rall who recently called for revolution in our country. Well Ratigan and Rall got their desire fulfilled yesterday.
Dave
