There is something more than usually saddening about that.
It is a truth curdling into cliche that American politics is riven by a partisan gap, left wing and right wing estranged from one another like the husband and wife in some long, bad marriage. But in its behavior here, the right does not so much seem estranged from a competing ideology as from its own humanity.
How is this a thing? How is an expression of caring, concern and outrage deemed worthy of mockery and condemnation? Are these people truly that corroded with cynicism and bile? Is their criticism now just a tic, a reflex bypassing thought? Is every damn thing to be reduced to politics?
Apparently, yes.
Once upon a time, we put politics to the side when tragedy came. Nowadays, that’s something we seem less and less able — or willing — to do. That’s a tragedy in itself.
Nearly 300 innocent girls were taken by madmen. Celebrities, political figures and everyday people wrote the social media equivalent of a petition to express their concern. That simple gesture begat a controversy — and gave us a sobering new measurement of that partisan gap.
Apparently, it’s so wide even compassion cannot get across.
2014 NM Voter Guide | Albuquerque Journal News
2014 NM Voter Guide | Albuquerque Journal News
Election day is Tuesday, June 3
Early voting: May 17 – May 31
Don’t forget the young woman killed by the police
Why are there still so many unanswered questions surrounding the shooting death of a teenager running from a SWAT team with dogs?
Woman was shot three times; had meth in system | Albuquerque Journal News By Olivier Uyttebrouck / Journal Staff Writer
The trajectory of all three bullets that hit Hawkes passed from the left side of her body to the right, and downward, the state Office of the Medical Examiner reported. The bullets entered her left ear, left upper arm and right shoulder.
The OMI also described seven blunt-force injuries on Hawkes’ body, including on each knee, the top of her forehead, each forearm, her chest and back of her right hand.
Police were unable to produce lapel-camera video of the confrontation. Eden has not answered whether Dear neglected to turn it on or if the camera malfunctioned.
Hawkes’ death – APD’s 24th fatal officer-involved shooting since 2010 – prompted protests both at the site of the shooting and in front of APD headquarters. Hawkes was the only woman shot by police during that time period. [mjh: And the only teenager.]
Woman was shot three times; had meth in system | Albuquerque Journal News
Autumn stages an Aesop’s Tale
Is the reindeer helping the cow look out the window? Are they going for help or escaping? Do they even know if Dora is passed-out or dead? Only Autumn knows — she arranged this tableaux. (Strangely, Dora calls to mind the landscape painting with Icarus crashing into the water in the distance. I’m getting an insight into the therapeutic use of stuffed animals.)
Here, the artist contemplates her tools.
Senator Howie Morales for governor
‘Charismatic’ senator runs for governor | Albuquerque Journal News By Dan Boyd / Journal Staff Writer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Copyright © 2014 Albuquerque Journal
Howie Morales’ journey from teacher and high school baseball coach to Democratic candidate for governor hasn’t left much time for rest stops.
Morales, 41, is the youngest of the five candidates vying for the Democratic Party’s 2014 nomination, but he says his background as a state senator and former county clerk – in addition to a doctoral degree in education and top hospital job – has prepared him for the responsibilities of statewide office. …
In March, Morales stirred the attention of state politicos by receiving the largest share of delegate votes – about 29 percent – at the Democratic pre-primary nominating convention. He also has received endorsements from two of the state’s largest unions, which have 35,000 combined members in New Mexico and plenty of political heft.
But the Morales campaign also faces stark challenges, chiefly a limited campaign war chest – he reported having $44,700 in his campaign account earlier this week – and a shortage of statewide name recognition.
“A combination of low name recognition and a small bank account creates a challenge,” longtime New Mexico political analyst Brian Sanderoff said
‘Charismatic’ senator runs for governor | Albuquerque Journal News
Say hello and goodbye to Axolotl
The Bing photo of the day brings the dismal fate of axoloti, plus the words neoteny and endorheic lake, to my attention (I’m surrounded by the latter). It’s one thing to be food, another to be poisoned into extinction, but to survive solely to be be mutilated “for science” is tragic [shakes his fist].
Axolotl – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
As of 2010, wild axolotls were near extinction due to urbanization in Mexico City and consequent water pollution. They are currently listed by CITES as an endangered species and by IUCN as critically endangered in the wild, with a decreasing population. Axolotls are used extensively in scientific research due to their ability to regenerate limbs. Axolotls were also sold as food in Mexican markets and were a staple in the Aztec diet.
A four month long search in 2013 turned up no surviving individuals in the wild. Previous surveys in 1998, 2003 and 2008 had found 6000, 1000 and 100 axolotls per square kilometer in its Lake Xochimilco habitat, respectively.
Axolotl – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Endorheic basin – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New Mexico has a number of desert endorheic basins including:
- The Tularosa Basin, a rift valley.
- Zuni Salt Lake, a maar.
- The Mimbres River Basin, in Grant County.
Synchronicity
Though I was born in Hawai’I, I had a Smokey Bear stuffed animal at an early age. Years later, I live in New Mexico, birthplace of Smokey. Like Smokey, my brother turns 70 this year. Returning from a visit to see my brother, we flew over the first wildfire of the season in the Gila, the nation’s first designated Wilderness. It all seems connected.