Friday, October 9, 2020

Breakfast Anyone?

 This morning we had the pleasure of watching a Coopers Hawk devouring a Mourning Dove for breakfast.  Cooper had caught the dove and then landed in our Jane Magnolia for his respite.  I hate to see the poor dove being torn apart and eaten but I guess that is part of the circle of life.










Sunday, October 4, 2020

Louisville - City Under Seige

 As a participant in the 2020 Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk I ventured to downtown Louisville, KY (and Jeffersonville, IN) to capture some of the images of the city as it remains "under siege" from protesters as a result of the alleged Breonna Taylor murder by local law enforcement.

This post is neither a commentary for nor against the protests, it is not to condemn the protesters nor support their cause, and it is not to judge the actions of the police officers involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor.  It is merely to showcase the city in it's current state of disruption by both the protests and the Covid-19 Corona Virus.

The facts of the Breonna Taylor case have been thoroughly investigated by local, state and federal agencies and vetted by an impartial Grand Jury comprised of citizen's of the Commonwealth.  A verdict was presented and whether you agree or disagree, that is your right to do so, but however you feel about it you should respect the decision of the Grand Jury and be grateful that we have such a powerful and unbiased process at our disposal to unravel such complicated issues as the Breonna Taylor shooting.  Whether you believe they got it right or got it wrong, it is your right to speculate on that, none of us were there when it happened and we have all been biased by media accounts and emotional displays by family and friends of all parties involved which have been exascerbated by flamboyant defense attorneys who, if not for the unfortunate shooting of Breonna Taylor and others such as George Floyd et al, would remain as insignificant and unknown entities in the criminal justice system.

I could ramble on about the issues surrounding the shooting and the ensuing protests, whether I believe either are or were justified, but in reality there are only the parties directly involved that night that truly know what transpired, and of course the God that was watching over them all.

I fully support the rights of the people to gather and protest, albeit peacefully accomplished.  I will say that I do NOT believe that those who engage in criminal misconduct during their exercising of those rights have any rights or justification for anything except to be held accountable for their actions.  The unfortunate and horrific incidences of racism, oppression and ultimately murder are no excuse for those who feel they have a cause and a right to protest and steal, burn and destroy under the guise of defending or "seeking justice" for those who have been wrongly persecuted, prosecuted and that may have met their demise at the hands of those law enforcement officers who decided to take another person's life in a brief moment of self-defense, crisis, indecision, or for what ever other ulterior motive they may have exercised.

Here are the images from the 2020 Worldwide Photowalk presented as "Louisville - A City under Siege".  Unfortunately there were no protesters on this early, chilly Saturday morning, I only see them protesting after dark...I guess the rest of the day isn't conducive to their cause?  The photos depict businesses and government buildings closed and boarded shut; streets barricaded by concrete barriers and large vehicles; homelessness and tributes to Breonna Taylor.  There are also photos showing sunrise on empty streets and events and places seemingly unaffected by the seige.

The city of Jeffersonville, located one mile from Louisville across the Ohio River remains unaffected by the protesters who have yet to cross the border to Indiana.

Photos from Louisville, KY


Louisville Visitor Center, seemingly untouched by protester violence

Louisville Skyline from Clarksville, IN

Fourth Street Live mostly boarded shut

BLM on closed business


















Ad Lib Campsite at Breonna Taylor Memorial in Jefferson Square



Sunrise on Liberty St.




Bronze guarding "The Brown"














 
 









Photos from Jeffersonville, IN