Call me Scrooge. Call me a heathen. Don't call me a tree hugger because that's not really my thing. But I found yesterday's murder of a healthy, living, 72 ft. tall, 8 ton Norway Spruce to be obcene.
She was sawed at her base and subjected to full national humiliation. This magnificant beauty was hauled into Rockefeller Center on a flatbed truck to be propped up by a crain and dressed in lights and plastic balls as our "national Christmas tree", whether we want one or not. During a time of excessive environmental plunder by the Bush administration, the very sight of this offended me.
Planted in 1931, it saw us through the great depression and FDR, war and prosperity. This wonderous thing of beauty owing only to the land beneath her, produced an abundance of carbon dioxide for us to breathe. It provided shade and served faithfully to barrier the wind and hold the snow that would slowly melt and drip down to feed an aquifer. She stood as straight and tall and proud as could be.
Admired. Non controversial. Some owner believed they had the best tree and marveled at the jollies they might one day get seeing their tree chosen by Rockefeller Plaza. She was sold or donated but she was sacrificed just the same on the alter of corporate greed.
Call it collateral damage if you like. The sight of an illuminated national tree signals to the American psyche that it is time to shop. Like a whistle to Pavlov's dogs.
Retail sales are already tanking and the sooner that truck could drag the old girl through mid town and nail her to a cross, the better Saks, Bloomies and Hammacher Schlemmer will be.