The world is a safer place for one tall,skinny, pine tree, thanks to a contingent of tree lovers that laughed in the
face of logic. A spindly pine tree
standing in isolation in a postage stamp backyard is now an official landmark
in San Francisco.
City leaders unanimously voted this week
to grant official status for the pine tree after neighborhood residents went to
bat for it. The property owner wanted to
cut the timber down, claiming it was dangerous and too large for such a small
plot of land. SF
Gate quoted Eric Mar, a member of the Board of Supervisors, after the vote.
“It’s a good example of a community standing up to protect the
environment.” Yes, indeed it
is. It goes to show what communities
joining together can do. For instance, imagine if they put as much love and action
into closing down the local abortion clinic. But I digress. Back to the tree.
to grant official status for the pine tree after neighborhood residents went to
bat for it. The property owner wanted to
cut the timber down, claiming it was dangerous and too large for such a small
plot of land. SF
Gate quoted Eric Mar, a member of the Board of Supervisors, after the vote.
“It’s a good example of a community standing up to protect the
environment.” Yes, indeed it
is. It goes to show what communities
joining together can do. For instance, imagine if they put as much love and action
into closing down the local abortion clinic. But I digress. Back to the tree.
There’s disagreement as to the tree’s
age—somewhere in the range of 70 – 100 years old. Although it’s a lone tower of
bark and needles, some neighbors consider it an important piece of the landscape. One biology professor also suggested that it
probably is a resting spot for raptors and other birds on their way to the
Golden Gate Bridge. You laugh? It would not be so funny if it were you that was looking for a place to rest
your wings en route to the Golden Gate Bridge.
age—somewhere in the range of 70 – 100 years old. Although it’s a lone tower of
bark and needles, some neighbors consider it an important piece of the landscape. One biology professor also suggested that it
probably is a resting spot for raptors and other birds on their way to the
Golden Gate Bridge. You laugh? It would not be so funny if it were you that was looking for a place to rest
your wings en route to the Golden Gate Bridge.
An attorney who specializes in law
involving trees (now there’s a major for you) that represents the homeowner,
called the tree ordinary and explained that it poses problems for the home’s
infrastructure. The attorney
claimed: “This is the wrong tree in the wrong place.”
involving trees (now there’s a major for you) that represents the homeowner,
called the tree ordinary and explained that it poses problems for the home’s
infrastructure. The attorney
claimed: “This is the wrong tree in the wrong place.”
It all began last year when an attentive
couple must have smelled sawdust in the air and became alarmed. A neighbor had
just cut down 3 of his trees. Would he
keep going and chop down the big old pine tree?
couple must have smelled sawdust in the air and became alarmed. A neighbor had
just cut down 3 of his trees. Would he
keep going and chop down the big old pine tree?
Like anyone fearing murderous intentions
of a neighbor, the couple got a restraining order to protect old spindly. They also began the process to grant the tree
landmark status over the owner’s objections. The Urban Forestry Council declined to
nominate the tree last October. But in March, after enough fellow tree
nuts—(not the kind that squirrels eat) testified as to the value of old
spindly, the council decided unanimously: Oh, well, okay, I guess.
of a neighbor, the couple got a restraining order to protect old spindly. They also began the process to grant the tree
landmark status over the owner’s objections. The Urban Forestry Council declined to
nominate the tree last October. But in March, after enough fellow tree
nuts—(not the kind that squirrels eat) testified as to the value of old
spindly, the council decided unanimously: Oh, well, okay, I guess.
So now, anyone wanting to do away with old
spindly could face criminal and civil penalties. Vanessa Ruotolo, half of the
couple who got the restraining order for the tree, was quoted as saying: “We’re
thankful that the tree was given its due process.”
spindly could face criminal and civil penalties. Vanessa Ruotolo, half of the
couple who got the restraining order for the tree, was quoted as saying: “We’re
thankful that the tree was given its due process.”
I love trees. I really do. In the town where I live, there’s a road that
was diverted to keep a big old tree standing.
But I have several problems with this story. First off, the property
owner had valid reasons for wanting to cut it down. Secondly, it’s not an historic tree. Thirdly,
people need to establish a hierarchy of life.
I would bet money that the people who fought for that tree, do not put
the same energy into fighting for the unborn.
was diverted to keep a big old tree standing.
But I have several problems with this story. First off, the property
owner had valid reasons for wanting to cut it down. Secondly, it’s not an historic tree. Thirdly,
people need to establish a hierarchy of life.
I would bet money that the people who fought for that tree, do not put
the same energy into fighting for the unborn.
Animal Rights groups are overwhelmingly
pro-abortion. The Animal Liberation
Front website actually has several articles posted explaining why being
pro-abortion does not conflict with being an animal rights activist. Trees are a step down from animals in the
classification of living things. I am confident
that the people who protest chopping down trees are just as radically
pro-abortion. And that is what bothers me the most about this story. If the lovers of trees loved all life,
including unborn humans, I would chalk this up as oversentimental
neighbors. Instead, we are witnessing a disconnect,
where trees and animals are valued more than babies. You already knew that before you read this
story, but I wanted to write it anyways. So if you’ve made it to the end, lets
all pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for tree huggers to become
baby huggers.
pro-abortion. The Animal Liberation
Front website actually has several articles posted explaining why being
pro-abortion does not conflict with being an animal rights activist. Trees are a step down from animals in the
classification of living things. I am confident
that the people who protest chopping down trees are just as radically
pro-abortion. And that is what bothers me the most about this story. If the lovers of trees loved all life,
including unborn humans, I would chalk this up as oversentimental
neighbors. Instead, we are witnessing a disconnect,
where trees and animals are valued more than babies. You already knew that before you read this
story, but I wanted to write it anyways. So if you’ve made it to the end, lets
all pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for tree huggers to become
baby huggers.
~~~~~~
For more inspiration, check out Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families. Follow Patti at Twitter and like her Facebook pages at Dear God Books, Big Hearted Families and Catholic News & Inspiration on Facebook. Sign up at the right column to receive articles in your inbox. God bless you!
