I am Just Going to Drop This One Off Here

Marc801 Cwrote:

A callback to sometime in the 70's when the canoe stunt was first done.

Twas 1986. A great year for canoelian traversi.

Is it a political statement or one of social consciousness? I would like to see political statements kept away from our outdoor recreation. Resolve these issues, if indeed they can be resolved, in an appropriate arena. But please not at the crags, or the river, or the slopes, and so forth.

So what kind of statement is it then, political or social? It's both, depending on who says it. I have neighbors up and down the street who display Black Lives Matter signs in their windows, or on bumper stickers on their cars. The statement, in its own right, is both righteous and good. I'm quite certain that's as far as they've thought it through. But the intentions of the movement are intensely political.

My vote goes to keeping this stuff where it belongs, in the arena of public debate, and away from our climbing.

My old friend Bob Kamps said "Never talk politics or religion with a friend, why would you want to spoil a good relationship with crap like that." I'd hope that we climbers can put our common love of our sport (if indeed it is a sport) ahead of our politics. 

Now this retro-bolting sh*t is another story...   

Long Live Ed Drummond

Morty Gwinwrote:

Long Live Ed Drummond

Help us out here. I know about Ed Drummond, but not in the context of politics.

Morty Gwinwrote:

Long Live Ed Drummond

He's dead.

Choss Cowboywrote:

Thoughts on putting Trump on Mt. Rushmore? 

Is there a backside to put his face on?  If you know what I mean

FrankPSwrote:

If you're OK with displaying a Trump 2020 banner, too, then at least you're being consistent with your principles.

Personally, I think none of that should be at the crag.

I would not be OK with a Trump 2020 banner, for the same reason that I wouldn't be OK with a Biden 2020 banner.

BLM and pride flags are a completely different category.

Choss Cowboywrote:

Thoughts on putting Trump on Mt. Rushmore? 

That would be immoral. Public hangings are no longer acceptable.

 If you need to execute him for treason, it should be behind closed doors like any other execution.

This is great.  Thanks to all who put the time and effort in.

I now am aware that there are gay people in America, as well as black people who’s lives matter.

Awareness = change 

Keep up the good work. 

Jim Tittwrote:

He's dead.

Of course he’s dead, and may he rest deeply in peace. That’s a common expression to honor his memory.  Plus it directs readers to remember this public protest is not new in climbing history and in fact was perpetrated by one of the respected masters. How much educating must I do here, in arts and letters, Mr. Titt, or in the history of political action?  I’m waiting patiently for the glibly disingenuous answer common to Mountain Project. Long live Ed Drummond.

https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/ed_drummond_1945-2019_-_a_retrospective-11940

being respectful and considerate to someone born gay or black isn't a progressive ideal, it's a basis for simply being a decent human being.

Choss Cowboywrote:

Thoughts on putting Trump on Mt. Rushmore? 

Thoughts on tearing down Mt. Rushmore?

What an embarrassment.  It's one thing to commit genocide against 500 nations of people who already lived here, including giving them smallpox-infused blankets.  It's another to carve an enduring monument to that mass murder into a mountain cliff, then sell popcorn to people in RVs who enjoy looking at it.

How about a compromise for everyone?    Put Trump under the hooves of Crazy Horse’s horse.   Satisfies everyone.   Trump is now at Mount Rushmore (sorta), still honor flawed but important historical icons, and Crazy Horse gets his revenge while pointing the way forward.  

Not Hobo Greg wrote:

The problem with stuff like this is that people only support what they think is right. How many of you super progressives would be ok with banners reading “abortion is a crime” or “yes to fracking”?

I have enjoyed watching the side stepping and attempts at explaining why some people are okay with the football player who put a cop on his helmet instead of the police victim. Some of my right wing friends have been promoting it and I chuckle when they are asked why it is okay for him to take a political side all of a sudden. On the other side I have enjoyed watching others try to explain why he is not allowed to do it. 

In the end we tend to default to accepting what we agree with as okay and that which we disagree with we will never support. 

Princess Puppy Lovrwrote:

The author kinda assumes crags belong to climbers but North Conway crags can be seen from the road by hikers or just people driving by so treating it as just a crag is oversimplification. I feel like protesting there is like protesting in your city park.

And what is wrong with protesting in city parks? See it all the time these days from both sides?

I miss the days when you just ignored the stuff you didn't agree with.

I miss the days when climbing wasn't political and I could go pull rocks without having to think about how some groups of people are greatly disparaged in this country.

James Riverawrote:

I miss the days when climbing wasn't political and I could go pull rocks without having to think about how some groups of people are greatly disparaged in this country.

Haha, yeah adulthood sucks so bad.

Righteous or not, it's still advertising. If it is done without permission on public land then it is a form of civil disobedience. With all the caveats, responsibilities and consequences that go along with it. I kind of wonder how many people who are taking part in these forms of protest have tried  methods within legal channels to produce change? 

Dave Olsen. Banner in the sky is classic