I'm disgusted. Apparently a University of Alabama football fan allowed his hatred (and this must be a real hatred) of Auburn University to do something that greatly disturbs me. He poisoned a grove a old tree on the Auburn, AL campus, an area of campus where Auburn fans gather to celebrate football wins. The trees cannot be saved. Yes, I know that Auburn and Alabama are bitter sports rivals, but killing a grove of trees because your rival won the national championship and you don't like the fact their quarterback was cleared to play in the game by the NCAA is off the charts stupid (and that word doesn't even fit what I'm trying to express). Why take your hatred out on trees? Trees didn't score any touchdowns. But because Auburn fans like them it was deemed they should die. Senseless acts of violence when it comes to sports allegiances will not end because people in our country, the United States, is becoming more an more intolerant of anyone with who holds a different opinion, political stance, or allegiance.
I am a University of Tennessee sports fan. The Universities of Alabama, Florida, and Kentucky are our rival teams. But I don't hate their fans, I want my teams to win those games but when we lose I don't lose sleep or think I need to cause them harm. That being said, I have had conversations with people who upon learning I'm a Volunteer fan have expressed themselves clearly that they hate Tennessee. They hate Tennessee. Hate?
I feel sorry for the people who enjoy Auburn and celebrating wins around those old trees. Someone's uncontrolled hate over college sports teams has damaged something very special, a grove of trees. Trees are living things, trees that provide nests for birds and shade for people. Trees are creations of God and one man's hate will kill them. For that my heart aches.
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