I love Joshua Trees and that park is one of my favorite places in the country.

So many humans are just self absorbed creatures, with NO REGARD for anything in nature... assholes...

my uncle who used to work at the UN among other diplomatic posts, used to call humans, a "bad animal." He was right...

What kind of sick asshole does this?!

While drumpf is bitching about security at the southern border, deplorable Americans are chopping down Ancient Joshua trees!

That is their prime directive. Do something libs would find repulsive just to make them sad.

What is it with these fucking Cletuses needing to drive in these sensitive areas? They do it on NC beaches; I mean, I cannot in a million years see the need to drive my car on a beach.

Deplorables! My anger at this kind of senseless destruction is unquenchable. Feh!

...cutting down trees for pure malice. Alas, there isn't a Treebeard around to make the *&%$#&ers pay...

Best for Trump and friends to stay far, far away.

An attitude of "Infidels idolize them, so getting rid of them is a positive good. And bustin' up shit is always fun."

That's exactly what it's like

This is heartbreaking.

Isn't that what it is?

Or "berserkers"

Oh and to the Trump fans who might be lurking here - I don't give a flying rat's ass if I'm "owned" or "triggered" - fuck you, fuck your values, and fuck your president.

All it takes is a long look at human history to see precedent. When you factor in a national culture built on avarice and rapaciousness -- "As one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world only in the answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in?" -Alexis de Tocqueville, 1831 -- then things like this should be expected.

What has kept destruction at bay in the national parks for this last century hasn't been the will or work of a majority of the public, it's simply the threat of law enforcement and penalty. Once that is gone, we see America's id step from the shadows. Just like the scofflaws in Oregon that seized a protected area, were allowed to stay in place then a jury let them go without punishment.

from people, especially places like this.

There are so many beautiful places that should be left alone from people who treat them like personal gymnasiums or theme parks. Sentient beings and fauna grow and die in these places, and they should be left alone.

Now that park rangers aren't in our national parks to make sure things like this don't happen, moron people seem to be taking it to the hilt.

I guess I'm getting old, but people always picture themselves in wilderness areas as if they're on vacation or "conquering the wilderness" or some damn thing, and it's so much about them than the place they happen to be in. It's all about them.

Bet on it. The cutting down ofd these national treasures was done to show that we lefties and liberals can be hurt. This is the same sort of shit as the ICEers blocking Tesla charging stations, only worse. Much worse.

The cutting was political. BET ON IT.

with an open heart.

Who can feel love and awe in the presence of an amazing, ancient being.

It's something to grieve the planet's loss of habitat due to development, climate change, pesticides.

And now to have to grieve the loss of beautiful trees that our "social contract" agreed "Not these ones. These ones we will preserve, and hold sacred."

So we have to grieve the trees, who wanted only to provide beauty.

and grieve humans, who won't even be humans.

The heads will root easily.

Joshua trees are yucccas....

They should grow back from the base. (Although they only grow at a rate of 1.5 inches per year)

Usually people who raid saguaros take them home and root them.

They are fragile with shallow roots and if they develop a multi branched crown they become top heavy and can be uprooted by our fierce desert winds. After nearly 50 years their growth is impercep, but one continues to blossom and regularly bear seed pods that I let germinate around the base. I have 10-12 heathly new little Joshua trees from 6" to 18" high.

I can't understand why people destroy something that could be hundreds of years old.

and ripped and bit her, stuck her with knives in the side of the dawn and dragged her down.

They got the guns but we got the numbers....gonna win yeah we're taking over.

I do find it hard to like people sometimes.

Sons of bitches.

I hope they catch the perps. Someone knows who did it.

Let it turn. Let that anger and hatred turn. Let's turn and face these fuckers. It's way past time.
There's going to be a showdown. Get yourselves ready.
We've accommodated the enemy for too long. They KNOW dt is compromised and they don't care bc they're senseless. Either they get on the train or stay at the station, but, this country is moving forward. STAMP OUT THE GOP.

I tend to agree.

The longer we avoid this, the longer this national nightmare is going to go on. Turn and face them down...today, tonight, tomorrow and beyond. Support our Congress and let's take back what the russians and unjustified anger (theirs) has cost us the last three years.

Link to tweet

I know how you feel.

When Trump cult terrorists take over a national park, they do the exact same thing.

Those trees only grow in the Mohave Desert; and I also heard the MAGAts are spray painting graffiti on the ancient unique boulder formations there. FUCK YOU TRUMP AND YOUR FKING ILK. Your boss, Vlad, couldn't be more proud of you and your efforts to destroy this country. You're the WORST thing that's happened to the US in my life!

They also don't have much odor?

Some of the ones in the park are 1200 years old

Higher up on the Sierra, though

I'm not in the Mojave but have been around Joshua Trees a bit and never noticed an aroma (there are several other yucca species here, though same - even in bloom there isn't much scent, though bugs are crazy for them)

I do remember it vividly though

bastards

eco terrorism is when people respect nature and prevent business from making money!

I can’t take seeing every beautiful natural living thing heading towards extinction... I can’t take it. 💔🖤💔

These trees are a wonder to see and a damn shame that they can't be protected from idiots.

No to the stupid wall.

I am disgusted by these people! Anyone that mows over or cuts down trees in ANY park is an asshole!

I've visited plenty of natural places that are not manned and have ALWAYS packed in and packed out! The people that are taking advantage of this shutdown are not lovers of nature and the responsibility that goes along with enjoying it.

These people fucking suck!

Trump and the Complicit Republican Congress and deplorable citizens are doing to our Constitution and Country. Destroying it.

a couple of years ago, and was just blown away by the beauty of the place. The idea of these cretins running roughshod through there...I'm so sorry that it had to come to this.

I’m so sorry. For you. For the trees. For the planet...for all of us. Godammit.

Why would anyone do that?

Is Zinke guilty?

5 U.S. Code § 3331 - Oath of office

An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: “I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” This section does not affect other oaths required by law.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 424.)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/3331

That's the point. Without people to safeguard the parks, they should be closed. He directed that they remain open in spite of being unable to provide protection.

Like unruly, wasted teenagers when Mom & Dad leave them home alone.. They just want to destroy stuff..

Instead of people who might have seen the shutdown as a way to go free to places they used to have to pay for..these freaks just want to ruin stuff and leave trash everywhere

Joshua Trees are very special indeed.. ..

We also have some Joshua trees on our property, and I can't imagine living in the high desert without them.

The national parks need to be closed. Fuck the people who bitch about it -- they're probably the same ones who want to ride their ATVs to chase the coyotes and destroy the delicate ground cover that will take decades to recover.

Trump is committed to destroying this country in every way he can. I don't believe in an afterlife, but for him I'll make an exception so I'll know he'll burn in hell for all eternity.

...to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron, the oil, and the gas are exhausted, when the soils have still further impoverished and washed into the streams, polluting the rivers, denuding the fields and obstructing navigation."

-- Theodore Roosevelt

US President. Republican (once-upon-a-time version).

Or to modern Republicans: "Just another damn tree-hugger"