"I voted for Trump. Now his wall may destroy my butterfly paradise."

[Demovictory9]

I work at the National Butterfly Center — which is along the U.S.-Mexico border — documenting wildlife and leading educational tours. Many of our visitors are young students from the Rio Grande Valley. When they first arrive, some of the children are scared of everything, from the snakes to the pill bugs. Here, we can show them animals that roam free and teach them not to be afraid. We talk about how we planted native vines, shrubs and trees to attract some 240 species of butterflies, as well as dragonflies, grasshoppers and other insects. The bugs brought the birds — including some you can’t see anywhere else in America, like Green Jays and Chachalacas — and from there, the bobcats and coyotes. We want to teach kids what it takes to create a home for all kinds of animals.

President Trump’s new border wall — which he has threatened to shut down the government to fund — will teach them what it takes to destroy it.

-----

We’re not the only ones standing in the wall’s path. It will also slice through the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, and in Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park — which draws birdwatchers from all over the country and has hosted countless picnics and barbecues for local families like mine. The wall will cut through the park’s land that is behind its parking lot and visitor center. There isn’t much public open space in the Rio Grande Valley. What’s there is fragmented and precious to all of us: According to a 2011 estimate, ecotourism brings $463 million a year to our economy and supports more than 6,600 jobs.

I’m a lifelong Republican who voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016. I want our immigration laws to be enforced, and I don’t want open borders. But Mission is not a dangerous place. I’ve lived here all my life. Here at the National Butterfly Center, 6,000 schoolchildren visit each year. Girl Scouts come here when they camp overnight just a mile or so from the Rio Grande. When the president says there’s a crisis at the border that requires an action as drastic as building a massive concrete wall, he either knows that it’s not true or he’s living in an alternate reality.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/12/17/i-voted-trump-now-his-wall-may-destroy-my-butterfly-paradise/?utm_term=.3c7994d87409

People have asked me, “Didn’t you listen to Trump when he said that he would build a wall?” I didn’t take the idea seriously during the campaign. I knew he couldn’t get Mexico to pay it — that’d be like asking Hurricane Harvey to foot the bill for rebuilding Houston — and thought it was just talk: another candidate making big promises he couldn’t keep. I never thought it would actually happen.

By backing the wall, my party has abandoned the conservative principles I treasure: less government, less spending, and respect for the law and private property. The wall is expected to cost between $8 billion and $67 billion to build, and its rushed construction requires the waiver of 28 federal laws meant to protect clean air and water, wildlife habitat and historical artifacts. As I followed the news [last week], I was amazed to find myself agreeing with Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who called the project “immoral, ineffective and expensive.” Here was a Democrat telling a Republican that a policy would cost too much.

[vlyons]

1. Yes, I have often thought that tall wall would be an ecological nightmare.

It's not just butterflies that would be adversely affected. All kinds of wildlife move up and down the river and cross between the US and Mexico. But the good news is -- that wall will never be built.

[Coventina]

2. I am so sick of hearing "I didn't think he was serious."

What a stupid excuse!

[In It to Win It]

27. So am I...

Got tired of hearing that when he was campaigning also. “It’s all talk.” “He’s not going to actually do it.”

[gratuitous]

3. I wonder why he thinks Republicans are the party of his principles?

Republicans certainly don't believe in less spending, respect for the law, or private property, except to the extent that less government makes it more likely that they can do all those things (spend more, break the law, and take someone else's property) and get away with it.

Sorry that you're suffering with the rest of us. We tried to stop the guy you enabled.

[Corgigal]

4. People who hear someone

say things over and over and then are amazed they meant what then said.

He warned you, its wasn't up to you to determine what he meant. We on the other side, didn't have the same faith that he didn't mean what he said. We knew we had too much to lose if he did only a quarter of what he ran his mouth about.

Now it's up to us to help the butterflies. Move out of our way.

[ismnotwasm]

5. Dumbass republicans sow what they reap

And reap what the sow

[Hermit-The-Prog]

19. and the rest of us get caught in the reaper

Dumbasses vote for dumbasses and cry about the after effects.

EDUCATE THE ELECTORATE.

Sorry for yelling. It gets to me sometimes.

[The Genealogist]

6. Cry me a river, buddy.

I hate that this idiot squatting in the White House could potentially create an ecological mess with his shitty wall. Any wall like this, built across the border, is bound to cause all sorts of ecological and human horror stories. And that fucking sucks.

Donald Trump couldn't personally care less about immigrants coming in. Rather, Trump's desire is to keep his deplorable base amped up and falling all over themselves to worship him like the deity they think he is. This wall crap just pushes their buttons.

As for this guy pissing and moaning, I couldn't care less about his own personal plight. He made his bed, and now he can lie in it. He can drift off to sleep knowing that he helped the shithead in Washington get our country to this terrible place.

[rockfordfile]

15. No kidding

[Downtown Hound]

7. Dumb ass has nothing to be worried about

That wall is never going to happen.

[Delphinus]

10. The wall might not,

but so many are up in arms right now about the butterfly sanctuary that sure does seem like it's getting ready to be bulldozed.

[hatrack]

28. And don't forget - bulldozing the sanctuary would "own the libtards" . . .

In the end, that's really all that matters to MAGAmurcans.

[NickB79]

16. The effects of climate change will still wipe it out

And Trump is making damn sure we're gonna hit apocalyptic levels of CO2.

[Ferrets are Cool]

8. Well, don't you feel stupid!

My two words to ANYONE who voted for that asshat is FUCK YOU.

[SharonClark]

9. The environmental hazards with the wall were well documented prior to the election.

Guerra is a typical republican who only cares about policy when it negatively impacts him.

[Autumn]

11. So sad. When it impacts you and what's important to you. Typical fucking Republican.

[stopbush]

12. Fuck that person. They were fine with tRump taking healthcare away from millions,

fine with tRump assaulting women, fine with tRump’s xenophobia, fine with tRump’s racism, etc, etc, because they thought none of that would effect them personally.

Well, guess what, asshole? It is going to effect you personally.

Asshole.

[ffr]

31. +1 People like them are one dimensional "I want" voters and thinkers.

We could have had the most qualified candidate, but because of people like this, the entire country suffers.

[Norbert]

13. It's just a shame he had to drag the butterflies into his own stupidity

Other than that I couldn't care less what he is going through.

[TheBlackAdder]

14. Butterflies: Thoughts and Prayers. Luciano Guerra: Zero Fucks!

[DavidDvorkin]

17. After "I voted for Trump" I lose all interest.

[Totally Tunsie]

20. Demovictory is quoting the author of the article linked, not making a personal statement.

It doesn't appear that Demovictory actually voted for tRump himself. In the interest of clarity, he should have excerpted the paragraphs posted to be more understandable.

[pecosbob]

21. My bad...totally did not understand...will edit comments.

Should have read the link.

[Totally Tunsie]

22. It's an easy error to make when the OP posts without specifying the text is an excerpt from someone

else's article. Indeed, the way it's posted, it appears as though these are OP's original thoughts...until you follow the link.

[Demovictory9]

25. I guess I should have put the article title in quotes. My error

[Totally Tunsie]

35. I've learned over time that it's not a good idea to insert oneself into another's situation,

but it was becoming obvious that posters were responding to your OP thinking that your post was your personal thoughts and actions rather than a quoted article. You were receiving lots of heat just for the lack of quotation marks or the excerpt shadow.

ETA: I see you added the quotes...such a difference!

Hopefully, other posters will be kinder as the thread moves on!

[herding cats]

23. Elections have consequences and this person voted for the "border wall" candidate.

Sure he says he didn't take the claim seriously now. He's destroyed something precious and beautiful with his partisan stupidity and is trying to ease his guilt. It has to be on US land and his sanctuary, and the Rio Grande Valley, are literally ground zero for the wall placement. Just like they were when he voted. Trump is as willing to turn a blind eye to ecological issues as is Abbot, Paxton, Cruz and Cronyn as they were when this "lifelong Conservative" voted for them. He's one of many painfully ignorant voters who helped bring this about in Texas. Hell, he probably voted for the judge who ruled against the sanctuary, too.

They lost the fight in court, the sanctuary is gone. He's responsible, in part, for the loss of the habitat. This loss pains me, but I find it extremely difficult to muster any pity for a person whose been voting for so much ill intent for their entire adult life in this state and nation. They're only sorry now because this one time they're the victim and recognize where it came from. Be damned all the people they harmed in the past.

He better take a lot of photos now while he can. His life, his families lives, and millions of people he never bothered to consider, are changed dramatically for the worse... thanks to him and many more like him.

[JI7]

24. ok, so he thought that was just talk . how about the Pussy Grabbing ? how about Mocking disabled

reporter ? how about attacking veterans and gold star families ?


democrats always make sure to pay for the shit we support .

[hatrack]

26. So? You voted for Trump. FUCK YOU.

End of story.

[jberryhill]

29. Luciano Guerra is obviously too stupid to be entrusted with the care of butterflies

Gee, how could anyone have possibly known that Trump intended to build a wall between the US and Mexico?

What an idiot.

[Blue Owl]

30. Get some critical thinking skills, buddy

You think trump and his sick elephant-slaughtering family give two shits about animals or the environment???

[WeekiWater]

32. This person is a bit sick.

They double down on their ignorance with this line.

"I knew he couldn’t get Mexico to pay it — that’d be like asking Hurricane Harvey to foot the bill for rebuilding Houston"

The wall was a cornerstone of Trumps campaign.

"We want to teach kids what it takes to create a home for all kinds of animals."

Yet you have no yearning to teach them what it is like to create a home for all kinds of humans."

He just can't stop.

[tymorial]

33. Who the hell votes for someone who they dont believe/want to follow through?

I am so sick of this argument. It's almost like you're tempted to just tell them just f****** deal with it it's your own damn fault suck it up. Problem with that is it affect everybody andaz this points out our environment and ecology. These people are so damned infuriating.

[Luz]

34. Womp womp.

[lostnfound]

36. So does this person care about 7-year old children or only butterflies? Nt

[Demovictory9]

39. Only butterflies

[ProfessorGAC]

37. So If He Said "I Intend To Help Rich People Loot The Treasury"...

...this guy would have voted for him thinking he wouldn't actually follow through.

What an idiot.

[demtenjeep]

38. another dumbass

when people show you who they are BELIEVE them