Happy 100th Birthday New Mexico!!!

 

On Friday January 6, 2012, my beloved Land of Enchantment is turning 100 years old!

January 6, 1912 is the date New Mexico became the 47th state in the United States, signed into statehood by President William Howard Taft.

But statehood didn’t come easy for New Mexico.

It took more than half a century for New Mexico to achieve statehood. The U.S. government established the Territory of New Mexico in 1850, two years after Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the end of the Mexican-American War.

The terms of the treaty required Mexico to cede its northern land holdings in what is now the American Southwest and California. In 1851, Santa Fe became the capital of this new territory, which sprawled across lands that eventually would become the states of Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.

Visit my previous posts of our visits to Santa Fe

Many people will be visiting the Palace of the Governor's in Santa Fe to celebrate this special day, because that building is the oldest continuously occupied public building in the U.S., is 400 years old and has some fascinating history.

My post from our visit to the Palace of the Governors last Christmas

The Palace of the Governors, built in 1610, originally served as Spain's seat of government.
When Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, the Mexican government designated Santa Fe as the capital of the Mexican province of Nuevo Mexico, and the Palace continued to serve as the seat of government. In 1846, when the U.S. declared New Mexico an American territory, the Palace became New Mexico's first territorial capitol.

Link to a video showing a glimpse inside the Palace of the Governor's

And some people will be celebrating by visiting New Mexico’s State Capitol Building in Santa Fe, the only round Capitol Building in the United States.

It combines elements of New Mexico Territorial style, Pueblo adobe architecture and Greek Revival adaptations. The 232,000 square-foot Roundhouse was dedicated on Dec. 8, 1966. (The same year that I was born!)

From a bird's-eye view, the Roundhouse is fascinating! It resembles the Zia sun symbol, which is also emblazoned on the New Mexico state flag. The image, which originated at Zia Pueblo, incorporates elements representing the sun's rays, the four directions, the four seasons, and the four phases of life. For more info on our very special State Capitol Building, visit: New Mexico Capital Building

And it does truly makes sense to celebrate New Mexico’s 100 years of Statehood in Santa Fe, because, not only is Santa Fe the highest State Capitol in the U.S at 7,000 ft above sea level (yes even higher than Denver, which is only a measely 5,280 feet), Santa Fe is also the oldest capitol city in the entire United States!

But not everyone knows that Las Vegas, NM was New Mexico's first territorial capital (just for one day). Las Vegas was the largest city in New Mexico at the turn of the 20th century, and it was established long before its Nevada counterpart. Las Vegas, NM has 900 buildings in nine historic districts on the National Registry -- more than any city in the United States!

And I bet many people also don’t know that in some isolated villages in New Mexico , such as Truchas, Chimayo', and Coyote in the north-central part of the state, some descendants of Spanish conquistadors still speak a form of 16th century Spanish used nowhere else in the world today.

So, as you can imagine, there are many events planned for this weekend and throughout New Mexico’s entire Centennial Year. I have already started filling up my calendar with the events that I know my family and I will enjoy.

If you’re a New Mexican or have plans to visit New Mexico this year, check out: Official Site of the New Mexico Centennial 

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So, where am I going to be on Friday January 6th? And how am I going to be celebrating New Mexico’s 100th Birthday this weekend?

Well, on horseback, of course!!

(Me riding Etta Bay in the Manzano Mountains)

Yep, I’ll be outside in the warm sunshine, under the gorgeous blue skies of New Mexico, riding a lovely mare up to the top of the beautiful Indian Hills.

 

Once we arrive at the top, our group of about 40 riders and horses will join together to sing Happy Birthday to our beloved Land of Enchantment.

(Apache and I exploring the Carson National Forest)

And that’s not the end of the celebrations!

I’ll also be riding all day Saturday and Sunday, too. I’m so excited!

(Apache and I at the Founders Ranch ACTHA CTC last July)

If interested, you can read more about this event by clicking this link:

New Mexico Centennial Trail Ride

 

Now with this next part, you may think I’m mushy, but I just can’t help but feel sentimental about New Mexico.

First of all, as a Navy brat who has lived in a lot of different places and states across the country, and who was born in Texas, I can tell you that New Mexico is the only place I’ve ever felt that has welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like I belong. New Mexico is a melting pot of some very special and historically significant cultures, and everyone has a sense of pride, independence, freedom and individuality. Did you know that there are 19 Pueblo groups in New Mexico , speaking four distinct languages? The Pueblo people of the southwest have lived in the same location longer than any other culture in the nation. You don’t have to fit in here, you just have to be yourself. Not many places embrace that way of life.

(Me and Apache riding in the ACTHA Guinness Book of World Records Trail Ride in Estancia, NM)

Second of all, New Mexico is just drop dead gorgeous! It’s easy to feel like you’re on vacation all year round with so many visually stunning natural, historical, and cultural locations to visit. New Mexico has seven National Forests including the nation’s largest, 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest and includes the Gila Wilderness, which just so happens to be the first officially designated wilderness in the world! Though many people picture New Mexico as desert terrain, ¼ of the state is actually filled with forests.

(Apache and I riding on BLM land in the Sandia Mountains)

 

Third, New Mexico is not a cookie cutter state. There are things here that you will not see, smell, taste and hear in any other state or country. (Did you know that Hatch, New Mexico is known as the "Green Chile capital of the world"?) And once you leave, if you can even bear it, you will never get over your cravings and desires for these unique New Mexico attributes. Trust me on that one. My family had to move away for a few years due to hubby’s job and I missed my beloved home state something terrible! I can’t even begin to explain the sense of calm, relief, and joy that filled my heart and soul the day we arrived back home. By the way, did you know that Albuquerque hosts the world’s largest hot air balloon festival the first weekend in October? It’s a Must See!

Fourth, my twin sons are Native Born New Mexicans and were born here 15 years ago, next month.

And I saved the best for last……..this month my family is celebrating an anniversary, too! This month it has been 20 years since we moved to New Mexico to make her our home.

So, as you can see, we have much to celebrate here in New Mexico!

My Thoughts on Bodies

 

Odd title, isn’t it?

I’ve been thinking about something for the past week. Every time I move on to something else, this subject keeps coming back to me in some way. I suppose I just need to face it, talk about it, then put closure on it.

This may be a controversial post for some, and I wouldn’t be surprised or offended if some of you aren’t interested in my thoughts and leave right now.

No worries.

For those that stick around to read, just know that these are just my thoughts and ponderings on an often talked about subject. I’m interested in knowing what you think, too.

But first be sure to visit the bathroom and grab some refreshments. This promises to be a long ride……..

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A couple months ago our Homeschool Group and Girl Scout Troop went on a field trip to the traveling exhibit called Bodies- The Exhibition (click link for more info)when it was in Albuquerque. Have any of you seen this exhibit? It’s truly fascinating and so much more educational than looking at pictures in a biology book. All 3 of my kidlets and myself were mesmerized and spent over 2 hours studying the amazing physiology of the human body.

We even had them take a silly photo of us against a green screen as a keepsake of our day.

 Anyway, after the exhibition, time went by, the holidays rolled past, and I forgot about Bodies. Then recently The Tucson Massacre became headline news. The tragedy was shocking and heartbreaking on so many levels, and controversial on so many more.

A lot of the controversy surrounded the gunman, Jared Loughton. Everyone wants to know more about this young man and what drove him to murder innocent people. Is he insane? Did he plan this massacre over many months? Or did he just snap one day? What was his childhood like? Did his parents know their son was bound for trouble? Did they try to help their son? As a parent with two sons of my own, this is something I wonder about. I wish I could sit down with Jared’s parents and ask them if there were any signs that their son was steadily falling off the deep end.

As someone with a Mother who committed suicide, I wonder if there was anything that could have been done to help Jared before he caused such terrible mayhem in this world. Because of my own personal tragedy, I also think about the choice that Jared made. It’s one thing to kill yourself, but it’s completely different when you decide to kill someone else. What is obvious is that both are extremely selfish acts, because they affect so many people in such a heart-wrenching, long lasting way.

Because of what my own Mother did and how it has affected me throughout my entire life, I’ve always searched for definitive answers as to why some people choose these kinds of paths in their lives. Some studies say that these people just become overwhelmed with life and see no other way out. I can understand that, to a point. But I tend to see life as the glass is half-full and live my life with the “Little Orphan Annie” mind set:

The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There'll be sun!
Just thinkin' about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
'Til there's none!
When I'm stuck a day
That's gray,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
Oh,The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
'Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I love ya
Tomorrow!
You're always
A day
A way!

 

No matter how bad today is, tomorrow is a new day filled with new opportunities to take your life in a different more positive direction. But I suppose there are some deeply troubled individuals that can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, and they only see one path to take, and it’s never a good one.

~~~~~

Anyway, another controversy about the Tucson Massacre involves the public’s easy access to guns, namely guns that are able to quickly fire more than 10 rounds of ammo. Personally I don’t want to get into a whole Second Amendment argument because that’s not the issue here. The issue is if not allowing the public access to guns that can cause a massacre, would have made a difference in the Tucson shooting. I don’t think so. In Tucson, only 6 people were killed. That leaves 4 more that could have been killed, if that new ruling goes into affect. It’s a silly ruling, imo. Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.

There are a thousand different tools that people can use to commit a mass murder massacre, without even having to pick up a gun. Throughout history we have seen this, as in New York City on 9/11, in Oklahoma City, and with Biological warfare, like Anthrax. If you think about it, Jared could have probably killed more people in that Tucson shopping center just by renting a moving truck and revving it straight through that crowd of people.

~~~~~~~~~

So, you’re probably wondering then, why the Bodies title for my post? Is it just to do with the Bodies Exhibition?

Well, sort of. It was just the catalyst that got me thinking and pondering about many different, but related subjects.

You see, a couple days ago, I completed stitching all of my daughter’s girl scout patches on her Daisy Vest. One of those stood out glaringly above all others.

I’m sure you figured out which one. I don’t know what I’d expect them to create, but it would have been nice had they made the patch a little more colorful, and maybe not so big.

But that patch spoke to me (not in the literal sense, of course), and it made me think and think some more. It caused me to do more research, too. I tend to be a deep thinker anyway, but this subject really made me delve deeper still.

But I won’t bore you with a lot of philosophical mumbo jumbo.

Instead I will ask you what you think about the idea that what we feed our brains affects who we are and who we become. And this includes TV, movies, books, video games, and music….especially music. Do you believe music can affect our moods, our desires, our interests, and even our personality? Do you believe the music we listen to says something about who we are?

I often tell my kidlets that what they expose themselves to can affect their innocence, their outlook on the world, their opinions, and their choices in life. I encourage them to question everything that they are considering watching, reading, playing, and listening to. I want them to experience the world without being negatively influenced by all of it’s evils.

Have you had the opportunity to watch this video? Be prepared. It may give you chills.

(Note: You’ll want to turn off my PlayList Music at the bottom of this page. Just click the round button in the center of the Playlist widget)

This was on Jared Loughton’s You Tube Channel’s favorite list. It is believed that Jared made this himself, and may even be the creepo wearing the hoody and trash bag skirt.

Did you notice that song?

It is sung by a group called Drowning Pool. Here is their music video. I suggest you watch it.

 

Do you find it as interesting as I do, that Jared chose this song, especially in light of the Tucson Massacre?

What bothers me about this song (besides the obvious) is the band’s statement and claims about this song, after what happened in Tucson:

“We were devastated this weekend to learn of the tragic events that occurred in Arizona and that our music has been misinterpreted. 'Bodies' was written about the brotherhood of the moshpit and was never about violence." The band also added: "For someone to put out a video misinterpreting a song about a moshpit as fuel for a violent act shows just how sick they really are. We support those who do what they can to keep America safe. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this terrible tragedy".

Maybe they really do believe that the song is all about the brotherhood of the moshpit, but from someone who dated a hardcore California punk rocker in my teen years, and who did my own floatin’ in a moshpit or two (or three), I don’t agree.

Do these lyrics sound like they’re preaching “brotherhood” and non-violence?

Let the bodies hit the floor(x4) 
Beaten why for (why for)
Can't take much more
Here we go!
Here we go!
Here we go!
One - Nothing wrong with me
Two - Nothing wrong with me
Three - Nothing wrong with me
Four - Nothing wrong with me

One - Something's got to give
Two - Something's got to give
Three - Something's got to give
Now
Let the bodies hit the floor(x6)
Now!

Push me again
This is the end
Here we go!
Here we go!
Here we go!
One - Nothing wrong with me
Two - Nothing wrong with me
Three - Nothing wrong with me
Four - Nothing wrong with me
One - Something's got to give
Two - Something's got to give
Three - Something's got to give
Now
Let the bodies hit the floor(x6)

Skin against skin blood and bone
You're all by yourself but you're not alone
You wanted in now you're here
Driven by hate
consumed by fear
Let the bodies hit the floor (x4)

One - Nothing wrong with me
Two - Nothing wrong with me
Three - Nothing wrong with me
Four - Nothing wrong with me
One - Something's got to give
Two - Something's got to give
Three - Something's got to give
Now
Let the bodies hit the floor(x6)

How about the video that portrays a person with an obvious case of insanity?

After doing more research, I discovered that Jared’s not the only person who easily “misinterpreted” that song either.

You can do a search for “Bodies Hit the Floor” on You Tube and come up with about a thousand videos…none of them showcasing love and brotherhood. In fact all of them, portray violence. Like this Military Style video:

 

How does that video make you feel? Did it affect your mood?
Speaking of the military, they seem to have “misinterpreted” the meaning behind this song, too. Have you ever heard of Torture by Music?

Apparently “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” is a popular song used by the military to get prisoners to ‘talk’.

Music has been used in psychological operations throughout history. The term music torture is sometimes used to describe the practice of playing loud music incessantly to prisoners or people besieged.

A BBC News report claimed that music by band Metallica, and from children's TV programs Barney and Sesame Street, was being used to cause sleep deprivation and culturally offend prisoners.

I found it quite fascinating to read that Steve Benton of the group Drowning Pool had this to say about their song, “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” being used for Music Torture:

"I take it as an honor to think that perhaps our song could be used to quell another 9/11 attack or something like that."

Ironic that their song may have actually had a part in helping to cause a massacre, instead of quelling it.

~~~~~~~~~~

Apparently, the military and You Tubers aren’t the only ones who have “misinterpreted” their song either. It’s been used in many different ways…none of which extoll non-violence and the virtues of the brotherhood of the moshpit:

Boston Red Sox closing pitcher Jonathan Papelbon while jogging to the mound from the center field bullpen during a Fenway Park game.
By World Wrestling Entertainment: the official theme song for SummerSlam 2001, One Night Stand 2005 and 2006, December to Dismember 2006, and ECW on Sci Fi.
The promo video for the Xtreme Freestyle Alliance (XFA) racing team.
The video game Arena Football.
John 'The Ogre' Koziol was intending to use this song as an entrance theme before the downfall of UWA.
The video game Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear in the Urban Operations addon.
The theatrical trailer for the film The Punisher
The theatrical trailer of horror film Jason X, Friday the 13th series.
The theatrical trailer for the film Daredevil.
The film The One
The TV spot for the film Rambo
The film xXx
Opening song for UFC's Ultimate Knockouts 2
It appears in the 2010 music video game Guitar Hero
Mentioned in the film Fahrenheit 9/11 as a song the troops like to listen to heading into battle.
Promotion for the films Rambo and Stop-Loss.
A United States Marine Corps commercial.
The film Stop Loss
The series finale of the WB's cult show Popular
The HBO television miniseries Generation Kill
The comedy metal band Psychostick made a parody of the song called "I Can Only Count To Four".
According to the Associated Press "Bodies" was a song interrogators used, played at high volume, over and over again, to break the will of captives held in extrajudicial detention.
The entrance song for UFC heavyweight fighter Shane Carwin.
Used as the main music in various YouTube videos of Televangelist Benny Hinn. 
The game Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has US troops occasionally shouting "Let the bodies hit the floor!" when an enemy on the opposing team is killed.
The HBO television series True Blood

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If you’re still hanging on with me and reading, you deserve a big bowl of dark chocolate M &M’s.

And I’m curious to read your thoughts on all of my ponderings. But the big question is:

Does music have the potential to affect our moods, personality, and even our actions?

Sunday Stills ~ History ~ The Anvil

 

This week’s Sunday Stills Challenge is to photograph people, places, things or events that are older than 60 years old.

There is something rusty, scratched and very heavy sitting in our barn, that could tell us some fascinating stories that go back to the 1600’s.

This historic anvil traveled across the ocean from Germany with my husband’s family, who had been blacksmiths for 1,200 years.

In 1677, my husband’s family received a personal invitation from William Penn to settle in Philadelphia. Some of the family stayed in Philadelphia while some moved to what was then Virginia, (now West Virginia after it became it’s own independent state in 1863).

Around 1862-1863, the Confederate troops stormed through my husband’s family’s farm, after discovering that they had been shoeing and maintaining the Union Calvary’s horses. So in anger and retaliation, they burned his family’s farm to the ground, and threw the anvil into a nearby river (Tygart River) in what is now the man-made Tygart Lake in Harrison County, West Virginia.

 

Sadly, this anvil now just gathers dust in our barn, because my husband’s father was the first generation not to carry on the blacksmith family trade when he chose to go to college to study engineering and computers.

This is the way of modern times. But at least we have these icons of history to remember the past.