SENSELESS TRAGEDY -- BIG BEAR EAGLE'S RISK

MEMORIAL DAY COMMEMORATING ALWAYS  .....

     THOSE WHO SACRIFICED FOR OUR FREEDOMS.

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SENSELESS TRAGEDY

 "May Gray" has greeted us many mornings with an overcast sky here in SoCal but one morning this past week the world darkened with the loss of children's innocent lives once again -- this time in Texas.  

School shootings -- 27 this year -- NPR reports HERE.  That's right, shootings in schools 27 times so far ... with  seven more months left in the year!    You've all heard and read by now about this "unspeakable tragedy" in Uvalde, Texas.

We hear all the same platitudes we've heard with every one of these indefensible human tragedies since 2012.  Prayer isn't enough.  

Weapons of war do not belong in the hands of civilians, those mentally ill, perhaps not even with teens whose judgement has not yet matured until well into their twenties as summarized by NPR HERE.

Our U.S. Senate has done nothing to correct the gun problem despite the fact the vast majority of the American people have called for reform for years. 

"Australia, Britain, Canada, and other countries have enacted reforms ..."   How they did it described in John Cassidy's New Yorker article "HOW TO PREVENT GUN MASSACRES?  LOOK AROUND THE WORLD" you can read HERE.

In the Senate, legislative bills to address the issue passed by the House of Representatives, forwarded to the Senate, are not even allowed to come up for a vote.   Aren't these legislators supposed to reflect the will of the people?  Or is it only a few minority views that take precedence?  

Those who misinterpret our constitution as to gun ownership rights to politicize the issue serve only to mislead our citizens that all guns will be taken from them.  This falsehood couldn't be further from the truth.  

I hope when election time rolls around that all those politicians stonewalling firearm ownership reform ... they certainly aren't leaders ... are voted out of office.

Jimmy Kimmel on Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas

Ten years ago Ronni Bennett wrote about the Connecticut Sandy Hook atrocity on "Time Goes By" HERE.  Just substitute Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas for her words which apply to this recent massacre.  This time 21 people -- 19 children killed -- an 18-year-old shooter.   

Here's a taste of what Ronni wrote:

"No matter the gazillion words that have and will continue to pour forth the bottom line is that this is a gun crime.  Got that?  A person who was barely an adult himself shot 27 people with a lot of guns."

"...we must do something ... yeah, yeah, yeah ...

"... the NRA, its lobbyists and Congress members who readily accept that organization's campaign contributions will continue to make it easier to buy and own guns."

"...there will be a lot of calls for more armed guards in schools and no useful changes to gun laws."

Ronni hoped she would be wrong a decade ago when she wrote those words as I do now.  

Law enforcement, school guard, with all their guns did not protect those children and 2 teachers from being murdered in Texas.  The husband of one teacher died with a heart attack a few days later.

How many more slaughters over how many more decades must pass before we reform gun laws?

Maybe this time no one will allow this assault to fade out of consciousness, moving on to the next story.  Instead, holding all those legislators feet to the fire until they act to resolve this.

Maybe this time the people will keep the pressure on all those spewing the same ol' rhetoric so we can begin to end these horrors ...

"June Gloom", not just in the weather sense, has regrettably arrived early in a most unwelcome form.

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Eaglet Spirit was to be the focus of this blog post and then there was the unexpected tragedy above.

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I had to take a break once again from all that's happened here and elsewhere in our world to retain my sanity, so I visited the birds -- the Bald Eagle birds and their eaglet.   I hope you take similar breaks for whatever gives you pleasure for your own mental health.  

I don't forget what's happening, but viewing these eagles, especially any eaglets, or listening to music, and instances prompting lots of laughter offer positive health stimulation and healing to offset incessant brooding and worrying violence-laden events can trigger. 

I will keep the pressure on for meaningful change in every way I can, however limited, but certainly by how I vote for all federal government offices -- legislators especially.   Focus on local offices, also  -- school boards, sheriffs, city councils, mayors, board of supervisors, state offices, and judges at all levels of government.  I hope you and others will too.

Big Bear Bald Eagle couple, Jackie and Shadow, live in a nearby Southern California picturesque popular mountain resort area in a large twig and limb-filled nest 145 feet high up in a Jeffrey Pine tree.  Their nest overlooking a scenic fish-filled lake of bluish water at lowered level now due to our drought is where they've raised their family each season.  Their daily lives have been of ongoing interest on this blog for a number of years. 

There's a live camera focused 24/7 directly on their nest, and a second wide angle camera focused on the tree area to cover eagle flights from a distance.  This year only one of two eggs hatched an eaglet thought to be a female that local area school children named Spirit.

I checked in on the bald eagle family earlier one night this past week, heard coyotes howling in the distance.  Then I saw Spirit awaken, to sit and scratch her baby fluff away from new adult feathers growing in while Mother Jackie continued her watch close by perched on the nest's edge.

Spirit is on fledge watch, could make her first flight from the nest any time now.  She periodically jumps up and down, twists and turns, hops about from her nest's front porch to back porch, spreads and rapidly flaps those massive wings at an increasing rate to strengthen all her muscles, but just hasn't risked leaving the nest yet to soar in the sky.  If you want to check in on Spirit, the link is HERE.

One afternoon mother Jackie and father Shadow were both at the nest with daughter Spirit.  After eating the fish delivered and partially fed to Spirit she demonstrated all her flight preparation moves flitting from the front porch to the back porch.  She bombarded her parents with lots of vocal "squees" communicating who knows what which they seem to understand but gave no sound response.

I peeked in on the nest later that night.  Shadow had departed, probably to a nearby tree where he positioned himself as a security monitor.  Jackie remained on the front porch with Spirit close by.  A couple times mother with intense gazes joined her responding daughter as their bodies appeared to press close to each other.

I was startled twice when Jackie after glaring at something out of camera range suddenly leapt forward with slapping wing flaps in attack mode.  It may have been the notorious flying squirrel, Fiona, or cohort Fast Freddy as these strictly nocturnal creatures attempt to invade the nest disturbing everyone's sleep.   

Big Bear Eagles Fiona Proves That She is Indeed A FLYING Squirrel 

(Thanks to Cali Condor and Friends of Big Bear Valley for this 2021-04-06 video)

"Upon seeing spread eagle Shadow, Fiona launches ... into the air .... Hopefully the landing was successful"... since "Flying Squirrels can't really fly".

These Bald Eagles are threatened by another proposed development in Big Bear once again I'm concerned to read.

Many letters of protest have been written to California U. S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Alex Padilla to aid in preserving these eagles' home there.  A recent Chat post requests no more letters be sent to them due to "an amazing show of support".  This Facebook link provides details of the Moon Camp Conservation Purchase HERE.

Local area school children also wrote letters to save the eagles their teachers report in comments on that Facebook site if you scroll down the screen.

More Moon Camp development information is provided about this threat to the Bald Eagles that can be read HERE.   Increased fire risk is also reported which the Big Bear mountain human community wouldn't welcome either, any time, but especially not now in our drought-ridden state.

Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam web site provide lots more particulars including photos and a history of the area HERE

Another major concerning issue for the lives of bald eagles everywhere is a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  An alarming number of bald eagles (in recent years an endangered species), other raptors and birds are dying due to bird flu you can read about in this Phys Org. article "Bird flu takes unheard-of-toll on bald eagles, other birds" HERE. 

I end this commentary on a cautious but optimistically hopeful note for long overdue resolution of these distressing human and avian challenges to all desiring to lead a tolerant peaceful life, or just to live -- period.

update 5/31/22

BIG BEAR BALD EAGLE SPIRIT HAS FLEDGED!

BECOMING WOKE

I received an interesting phone call the other day.  A gal I know said she wanted to ask me a question.  She prefaced her enquiry by noting how we disagreed on a number of matters but she seemed to think the matter she was enquiring about was associated with views of mine, even though she repeated not agreeing with some of them.

Her query was, "What does woke mean?"   I explained I understood its use today referred to individuals becoming aware of realities they previously might have not believed to be true.  Probably one of the most significant areas of being "woke" was with regard to the prevalence of racism.  

She replied she had begun to think that was what the meaning was, then immediately related the topic to those today becoming "woke" to discriminatory actions, even racism in our law enforcement.  She noted those people who had that belief would be sorry if funding was altered which she seemed to assume would result in loss of the protection from our police -- as though any proposed change in our police department policies, functions, or re-allocation of funding would result in undermining the safety our police could provide.

I reminded her of a decade or so younger mutual acquaintance (deceased now) who had years earlier shared with us stories we all found quite appalling, even objectionable, of actions of some of her family members in law enforcement,  even one who had been a very high official in state law enforcement.  Yet, this person's overall beliefs were very much aligned with that of the gal with whom I was talking, that no change in law enforcement practices relative to discrimination was needed.

My caller acknowledged recalling our mutual acquaintance's examples she, too, found unacceptable behaviors, but there was no further progression of thought that just maybe something needed fixing.   Apparently, both of their beliefs are that those law enforcement individuals were just a couple of rare instances of bad attitudes but no recognition the system might need some overall adjustments to lessen the prevalence of such actions reported elsewhere, too.

How does that make sense?  If the problem is so prevalent not only with those two officials but most everywhere else, too, as is being revealed, perhaps there is more of an issue than just a few so-called "bad apple" law enforcement persons.  Something more may need reassessment and change -- hiring requirements, training, policies, to name a few areas that should be re-examined.

I mentioned to her that some years ago, here in California -- perhaps in some other states, too -- there had been significant decreases in our mental health care system services to decrease costs.  The unintended consequence placed more burden on law enforcement to criminalize some of these people's actions absent the health care they needed.  

Mentally ill patients were released from care settings back into ordinary life for which they were ill-prepared to function effectively.  They often did not have adequate access to, support for their mental issues, or receiving monitoring to try to ensure they take necessary medication.  Some individuals, unable to cope, initiated behaviors necessitating law enforcement being called to protect law-abiding citizens, and even these ill patients from themselves.

I think of family issues, neighbor quarrels, acquaintances squabbles, distorted thinking with poor judgement resulting in calls to the police to quell disputes -- social issues others might be better trained to resolve to avoid violence, the challenge of helping those with the inability to reason rationally.   

Perhaps some adjustments to our law enforcers responsibilities might not only be better for all by relieving officers from the responsibility of coping with such, though I don't profess to be an expert on such matters.    Officers might even welcome a focus back on more traditional criminal activity.   What do you think?

TRAGEDY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA -- Update 12/04/15

"Act of Terriorism"  declared by FBI -- Fri., 12/04/15 Update


More violent madness unbelievably explodes, but now in  Southern California east of Los Angeles in  San Bernardino -- Redlands -- a mere thirty minutes freeway drive east of my community.   This has been a day of mayhem, tragedy and mystery.   We're all mourning.

All media news has been focused on this evolving story beginning with a mindless shooting event around 11 o'clock yesterday, Wednesday,  morning.   Law enforcement is laboring through the night as I write this to ensure public safety -- uncover the facts.   You can readily access particulars through your news source as ongoing information continues to surface surrounding the circumstances of this tragedy that has taken lives, maimed others, grieved so many of us, but still has unanswered questions.

Two now deceased shooters in their twenties, engaged or married (with a six month old baby girl they left with her grandparents)  have been identified.    The male, born in U.S., was a five year San Bernardino County Health Dept. employee. Further information about the female presently not known.

A distraught member of the male shooter's family, supported by cultural and religious community leaders, briefly spoke on TV expressing their surprise, shock and sadness this had happened.  Religious leaders stressed such violence was not supported by their religion.

Law enforcement investigation continues disarming bombs and considering the possibility of other conspirators.  Meanwhile, thank you to law enforcement for swift and effective efforts to prevent further carnage.

Police officials revealed additional specifics that the male had angrily left an annual holiday party, then returned later with his companion to initiate the shooting.  Officials speculate all the equipment and masks worn by the shooters, their firearms, bombs in their possession and left in other locations raise questions about motives for the shootings and suggest long term planning.

So many questions in the beginning and continuing -- work place anger -- terrorism ?  Maybe it's both.   Other conspirators?  The FBI's investigation is now considering this a possible act of terrorism, but we don't yet know for certain.

News reports state two recovered guns involved in the shooting were legally purchased.

Would tightening gun control laws in this country have lessened or prevented this happening?

Does it make sense individuals on airline watch lists who are prohibited from flying be allowed to purchase guns?

Should there be limits placed on gun purchase by those with select diagnosed mental illnesses?

What if gun purchase registration was required at gun shows?  Would it be different than what we require to buy and sell a car, motor vehicle? 

When do we start answering these questions ...... taking action?

We must find a way to preserve our liberties and be safe.

Why isn't Congress addressing these issues?