The Extra Penny: More than just the trees
I had to put my penny in w/the thousands of others who are blogging about Toomer’s Corner because I think some people are missing the point here.
To those of you who are posting such things as “Wow, I didn’t know you people were so attached to your trees down there” I think I can speak for many when I say, this is about so much more than just those big, beautiful trees on Toomer’s Corner. This is about memories of laughter, engagements on the corner, toddlers learning to throw-the-roll before they can count to 20. This is about generations of families sharing traditions, and about good fun having no age limit. This is also about the sadness of shear hatred and selfishness.
For years SEC teams have enjoyed the rivalry, teasing, and heightened emotions of the ‘big game’ in the fall; perhaps above all, Auburn and Alabama. How many of us have been vacationing in another state or even another country and heard the cry “War Eagle!” or “Roll Tide!” and instantly felt a connection with a stranger?
Mr. Updyke, in his attempts to destroy the Auburn camaraderie, the tradition, the legacy, failed to think through the bonds that the Auburn family has. He failed to even think through the bonds that the SEC family has, because as of right now, no one wants to claim someone who would show such profound hatred toward another family. Many devout Alabama fans have posted their outrage and sadness at such an act of vandalism.
Many Auburn officials are reminding the fans to keep showing the class that Auburn fans are known to show. I hope that if anything, this act of malice will remind us of how quickly things can be taken ‘too far’ and gently prod us to put things back in to perspective.
Attacking Mother Earth was a very low move. The trees will probably die. We know that already. The memories, the legacy will not.
Nice try, Mr. Updyke… and War Damn Eagle!
BW
February 17, 2011
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