NM at the Nation's Capitol

Mikaela says:
New Mexico's holiday tree was selected to be placed in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

Do you think this was about our governor? Or because we're still considered "exotic"?

Or because they figure they should do this now before all vestiges of our living cultures are polluted to death by natural gas interests increasingly gaining power within New Mexico and nationally as the rhetoric moves to vilify oil and foreign dependence and valorize national resources (without a concomitant understanding or acknowledgement or moves to mitigate of the pollution this will cause for our own communities)?


Granted, all energy production pollutes the communities whose resources we use. Even solar panels cause pollution because of the highly toxic chemicals used to produce them.

Still, it's a beautiful tree. And it's nice to know that maybe a few more people will discover the state that's usually missing from the panopoly of 50.



I have to wince a little at the "decorative" use of culture imported for holiday viewing. It rankles a little in the same way that the Mardi Gras discussion hits me as a massive co-optation of the living culture of vibrant people who are not being compensated (or even considered worthy of planning efforts to mitigate impacts caused by the dominant cultures that take from them) for this "celebration" taking.



Yeah, happy holidays, New Mexico. You make a beautiful tree. Keep that gas and coal coming! Thanks for ornamenting our capitol.