Last updated on 2018-06-01
Skyler Anders and Shelby Johnson of Rapid City have been charged with intentional damage to property and petty theft for the now infamous destruction of Poets’ Table in Custer State Park last Saturday. Custer State Park employee Kobee Stadler tells the Custer County Chronicle (whose coverage of the crime has been so avidly sought that its server has crashed) that the vandals told park officials that Poet’s Table was an “eyesore… destroying the Black Hills and it didn’t belong there because it wasn’t there originally.”
Oh. Well…
Put down the dynamite. Anyone acting on the principle that only original things belong the in Black Hills has a lot more to remove than a hidden table and some poems. Perhaps our energy could be better focused on invasive activities like Canadian gold miners:
ROCHFORD – Canadian gold prospectors expected to resume drilling operations near here and the Indian trust land of Pe’ Sla during the week of May 6, they said in a media advisory.
Their announcement came May 3, following their assertion that they have secured a source of water unregulated by the South Dakota state public hearings and monitoring process.
“Nine (9) additional drill holes are planned to resume next week,” said the advisory from the Vancouver, British Columbia-based Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd.
The company had been operating on its second consecutive state permit to use 1.8 million gallons of Rapid Creek water. It shut down operations in April after its heavy machinery and its truck traffic made U.S. Forest Service roadway impassable. The permit expired April 30.
By then company contractors already had drilled three of the 120 holes permitted by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or DENR [Talli Nauman, “Drilling near Pe’Sla Resumes,” native Sun News Today, 2018.05.09].
Poet’s Table, the water table… pick your battles, and fight the power.
How can one tell from a single pic that that thing is not the wooden frame of an oversized back pack?
We should be able to fight multiple battles on multiple fronts. Granted that the intrusion of mining on the Black Hills is a priority and should be fought with all the strength we can muster.
Poet’s Table is an interesting place to visit and there is a sense of serenity as well as to gain inspiration for your writing.
Pick your battles, yes. Pick your outrage, too. I can’t work up very much bile about carting off Poet’s Table. Yeah, it was a stupid thing to do, and they should do some public service as a result, but it’s hardly the worst thing that’s happened in the Black Hills, starting with the original desecration: the gold rush. These women will be charged with more than any of Brohm Mining Company’s executives for creating a Superfund Site. Or how about getting angry over South Dakota officials taking a bribe from a Canadian mining concern to reopen the Gilt Edge Superfund Site to mining. When Jackley and Pirner are put in the slammer, that’s when things will have changed in South Dakota.
The table issue was just a small battle in the war on America. The girls won because they destroyed the table. That is all they won. Now they are going to lose forever forward. As trivial as it may seem, in the grand scheme of things, poets table may not have ranked in your world of important things but it does rank to those that found solace at the site. Most people have never visited poets table but in truth the “majority” were shocked that two individuals took it upon themselves to decide what is an eye sore for others and took action on what they saw as THEIR superior enlightened view. This incident, much like how Obamacare was forced on the people, is the same. A small group decided they knew what was best for everyone else and went about forcing their views on others. This is also why you see the “rules”, as opposed to “laws”, “agreements” as opposed to “treaties” being cancelled, destroyed or abolished.
What these two people did is not a lesson for others but rather a reflection of the actions those who set a standards of cheating, taking a shortcut and assuming a superior moral position all over the majority in this country. This is also why the left will never win. No matter how much you tell us it is for our good, as you force us to attend diversity classes, give up out private property rights, ban our religious beliefs while forcing us to embrace the evil of discriminatory islam, remove the security of our homes through open borders and destroy what was the best medical care in the world, “we” the majority do not like it and will not tolerate it. You cannot force people to like you, You cannot pee on my leg and tell me it will cure me, You cannot slap my mother and say it is for her own good.
Nobody likes a bully and that is what you on the left have all become. You know using force, cheating and middle of the night actions may win you a battle but you will not win this war and every time you and your ilk commit these acts against the people more and more of the majority turn against you. The reason your lemmings do you bidding, attacking and trying to bully others, is that they see the world through what they think is your eyes but remember; they are not as smart as you and you are not as smart as you may think.
Yeah, I’ve gotten lost in the Black Hills a few times, but never as lost as Old Sarge. How he got from the Poet’s Table to Obamacare to diversity training to Islam-hate to peeing down his leg is a mystery. It’s not on any Forest Service map. Apparently, he’s getting his moral map from Trump and Alex Jones.
But I understand the idea that a small group of people are deciding things for the rest of us. For example, just make this local, a very small group was involved in the attempted Jackley-Pirner-Pruitt corruption at the Gilt Edge Superfund Site. There were no public hearings on that; not even a public notice before it was all negotiated in the back rooms. Yet Old Sarge somehow thinks Obamacare, which had over a year of Congressional hearings, and public input in which record numbers of public comments were taken is somehow “a small group of people.”
The truth is Old Sarge doesn’t want YOU in the meetings helping to decide things. He just wants oligarchs, nutcases and moral degenerates who proclaim that they alone can do it deciding things for you.
old sarge: you really need to be pitied ,liberals or conservatives i’m sure are against such actions.you need help & so do the people who committed this stupid action!
Dang! Did OldSarge ever go off the deep end over a table.
I see a logically fallacy between Poet’s table the things identified in the pictures above. The objects in the pictures are clearly permanent fixtures. Poet’s table was not meant to be a permanent structure or it wouldn’t be that easily removed. Further, Poet’s Table doesn’t attract the number of people these other landmarks do.
While it was probably in poor judgment for the girls to remove the items, I don’t see a reason for the big backlash. I’ve seen many call for jail time or a permanent ban from the park. For me, it is hard to see that a crime was committed as I’ve never known Poet’s Table to be officially recognized as a landmark. I’ve lived in the Black Hills my entire life and wasn’t even aware Poet’s table existed until a couple of years ago. It’s much ado about nothing as far as I am concerned.
People need to settle down. Much more important things in life to get worked up over. Time to forgive and forget. Move on already. Sheesh!
The vandals were not girls, they were women, adults that exercised extreme poor judgement and caused unneeded stress to the community.
The courts will determine the punishment so even suggesting what kind of sentence is futile.
What should be noted is the number of private citizens that stepped forward volunteering materials and labor to repair the damage.
LS, you are totally missing the point. Because it is not on the map, its not a check mark in a tourist guide that makes it so special to begin with. You have to be in the know to find it, to ever hear of it. It must be researched, learned about, before the quest to find it can begin.
We spend most of our lives speeding past the historical markers, all effort taken from us, we miss out on our rich history and significant places and events.
It’s like the secret to the fishing hole got out and everyone showed up and ruined it.
Dave, thanks for reassuring me that Poet’s Table was not an official landmark. That in and of itself is enough to say there was no crime, in my book. If I haul my old refrigerator up to a scenic place, fill it full of graffiti and such, and give it a special name does it automatically become a protected place? What is the official criteria that has to be met? Rich history and significant places and events are things everyone should be able to enjoy, not just a few people “in the know”.
Dave is right: people have reacted strongly specifically because it was not an official landmark but a place made important by the community that made an effort to create that place off the map.
LS does raise an interesting legal point. Did the women commit any crime by taking and destroying abandoned property. Did John Raeck commit a crime 50-odd years ago when he built that table on the site and left it there (illegal dumping?)?
Not many wasicus belonged in the Black Hills originally. A table for people to commune with nature in a special environment? Wasn’t that the whole reason the Black Hills were sacred?
OS: “Nobody likes a bully and that is what you on the left have all become.”
That’s rather ironic considering the history (and twitter feed) of the POTUS is a textbook example of bullying.
Reality is fun… you should visit sometime.
As to Poet’s Table, or Poets’ Table (depending upon who you ask), I am the first to admit I had never heard of it prior to this story. I asked several people I know including those who I would classify as outdoorsy types who have spent a lot of time in the Black Hills, and none of them had heard about it either. From that, I cannot help but think that there may be some good to come from this act of vandalism and theft as it raises awareness of something most people weren’t aware of.
I would guess if someone attempted to leave a piece of furniture in the middle of a State Park today we would certainly considering it littering. Yet because something has been there for decades there is a sense that it should be protected. I find that interesting only because had this been a large cross instead of a table the reactions to it being torn down and removed would be quite different. So are we “protecting” our parks by preserving something simply because it has been there for many years, or is that merely an excuse to support an emotional connection to an item or a symbol?
I don’t have the answers. I don’t even have a strong opinion on the table itself – I just find the level of outrage leveled at these two women to be rather interesting. Like it or not they are now celebrities.
It is a big deal. It is about decency and respect. Obviously thousands of people have been there over the years and have connected to the place and sat at that table. It is very arrogant to make a choice to tear down or destroy something that has meaning to others if that thing is not blatantly offensive. I was shown the table in the 70’s while attending camp in the hills and I remember I thought it was a park thing since it was painted the same green as the picnic tables in the parking area at the time. So, while it doesn’t rise to the level of crime of the year, or even of the day, it is wrong and disrespectful and sad and to have to hear that this unnecessary demonstration of ignorance is NOT wrong and to just dismiss it and say move on is sickening and very indicative of character.
I’m guessing a cross would invoke a much different response. I would suspect Native Americans would have something to say about it. It would be just like some wingnut to decide to plant a cross for his kristian god just because he/she could.
I could see that as clear desecration of sacred lands.
I had heard about Poets’ Table years ago when some writer friends were talking. I’m not sure if I was or wasn’t invited to go, but I never did. I never knew where it was, and just assumed it was at some picnic area or somebody’s hideaway on private land. I knew it was some sort of thing among a few folks.
Everyone who hikes in the Hills probably has a favorite spot or two they might share with a few folks. My daughter and I had “the crystal mine,” where she would pry crystals out of a small pit in the rocks beside a creek. Very few people know of this place, and I think I will keep it that way.
That is sort of my point Mike. Religious symbols have tended to invoke very different responses when on public land. However you’re correct that Native Americans may be more concerned about a religious symbol – although probably not as big of an issue as carving faces into mountains.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/supreme-court-rules-cross-can-remain-in-federal-park
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/06/19/cross-in-pensacola-park-must-come-down-violates-constitution-federal-judge-rules.html
Note Craig’s point: yesterday’s litter becomes today’s treasure. ;-)
Many of us in this conversation have special places in the Hills, spots we’d be happy to just sit and think and watch all day long, spots we don’t want overrun by a whole bunch of other people. (Ah, that tension, which I feel on Trail 9 and Black Elk Peak: precious places that I want to share with everyone but which suffer when too many people crowd them.)
Now maybe some people dislike the places we like. That’s fine. That’s a matter of taste. Basic respect says we don’t go trash a place that we dislike but which others treasure.
But then I get back to the fundamental conflict: here’s a public place, a state park, open to all. One guy changed that place by adding human furniture. Over time, many others affirmed that design choice. But some members of the public felt that use of this natural public space was inappropriate. How do we resolve these conflicting views of the use of public resources?
It seems obvious that we don’t resolve it by unilateral individual action. Public places should be governed by public decisions, reached through public conversation. These two women arrogated power over this public place to themselves. Maybe that’s the real crime.
But did John Raeck seek public discourse in the 1960s when he placed the original table?
Republicans = if it makes money it can stay
Democrats = if it’s beautiful and provide free public use it can stay
It actually did both, people came to c it and spent money somewhere a long the way and people did use it.
There shouldn’t be anyone upset with the table being there
But should be upset it’s gone,
Wharf, Gilt Edge, etc…..
They should be the ones arrested.
We also once had a statue downtown in Rapid of a Lakota Brave with his hands bound by barbed wire behind his back. To me it represented the the Native Brave bound by the the government restricting him from the freedom he once lived. To others it represented a derogatory representation of the Native American man so people they protested until the statue was taken down and replaced by a Native Grandmother with her arms wrapped around a child. What do you think was the intent of the original artist? No one cared. . .
This is the message of the table as well. It wasn’t official but people left it alone other than the poetry, thoughts and songs they left behind. Yes, it was just a table. It wasn’t a part of the park. It wasn’t even protested but two girls decided they knew what was best for everyone else and they cut it in half and carried it off the mountain. The table was just art. Just art. That is all.
One day someone will also see the little colored strips of cloth tied to the brush on Bear Butte and they will collect it all in a trash bag and carry it away because in their view it is just trash. What will be you view then?
It’s all okay for the book burners.
Women in their mid-twenties are not girls.
LS clearly was not paying attention. People who were paying attention knew about the Poet’s Table many years ago, before social media and blogs ruined it and the bastards graffitied up the rock. I say post the whole place off-limits now, haul down all the trash, and power-wash the rock. The only other alternative is to build an ADA path and escalator up there for old fellows like me. Not me, mind you, I mean fellows old like me. For I will measure my poetness from within, and will not paint it on rocks or boxcars. That is the way the old owners of that slice of land, the Arikaree, would have done it.
So one is on FB and one is not
If the one that is on FB is really thee one
She is an RN by day and destroyer by night
Thanks Roger. They are definitely adult women.
I knew of Poets Table, but hadn’t been there. It sounds like Devil’s Bathtub in Spearfish Canyon. I lived going there in the summertime. I’ve heard a rock slide higher up changed the flow. Does it still exist?
I have lived in south dakota for many many years and I had never heard of this table until it was cut in half by a couple idiots. Accordingly, I don’t have a strong opinion about whether it should be there or not. I do have a strong opinion about that Kermit the Frog meme Cory found on twitter. Whoever created that is an idiot. For goodness sake, get your memes right. That’s a “…but that’s none of my business” meme, not a batman/joker “…and everyone loses their mind” meme.
OldSarge – you said: “…ban our religious beliefs while forcing us to embrace the evil of discriminatory islam…” Most people on this blog seem to disagree with everything you say. I disagree with most. I think quotes like this one aren’t helping you to seem credible. How exactly have your religious beliefs been banned? And who has forced you to embrace islam? That level of exaggeration just makes the rest of your comment fade away into the shadow of your silliness.
Poet’s table obviously suited the purpose of the park and fit in quite nicely.
Had the place been named Inspiration Point you might have seen an X-rated movie house on the property.
Ryan, I believe Nelson meant to send this to you- Stace Nelson
2018-06-01 at 00:29
@John W When you have to write a novel to convince yourself you had a point? You didn’t. Thanks for making the point that this supposed ineffective legislator is living rent free in so many heads. :-D
Have a sweaty day.
@Ryan I believe Mike from Iowa meant to tell you that he is ignorant and unable to formulate an intelligent response so he needs to lie about others. Always fun when granny’s basement cartoon character wannabes try and slime real life people. :-D
Ryan, I understand most people on here don’t agree with me. I would be what you would call a “Classical Liberal”. Most of those on this web site call themselves “liberal” but don’t understand the meaning.
–When I said “forcing us to embrace the evil of discriminatory islam…” I was referring to islam today and how it treats those who believe different than islam professes to believe. Their views on the killing of homosexuals, abuse of their wives (plural), children as sex slaves, and slavery in general all bother me but the majority of those on this site somehow find this behavior acceptable.
–As far as how the people of this Nation have lost their religious freedom I am referring to the ignorance of those who do not know the difference between “Freedom of Religion” and “freedom from religion” and it’s impact of suppressing the free exercise of one’s faith.
No exaggeration there. It’s the way it is. I didn’t bend the truth or exaggerate.
Muslims don’t believe in the killing of gays, abusing their wives or prostituting out their children, OS. What are you talking about? Just unbelievable, just totally unbelievable what some people believe.
Speak of ignorance and up pops Stace Nelson. I did not lie to Ryan. You are just making stuff like usual.
Ryan, as goofy as he is, will understand how your post to John W relates to him. As for you, that info is on a need to know basis and you don’t need to know.
You can commence with the physical threats anytime.
OldSooey can’t dazzle anyone with brilliance so he baffles them with BS.
MFI,
What semi – auto rifles does the US military use?
Jenny,
Do Muslims believe in female genital mutilation?
Stace – pleasure to make your acquaintance. Mike doesn’t like me because my comments are often longer than the fortune cookies he considers literature and because they contain my own independent thoughts rather than just kissing the democratic party’s metaphorical ring. He is usually wrong, but he is usually confident in being wrong. He thinks I’m a republican and he thinks “republican” is an insult because he thinks all political issues are black and white.
Mike – let me know when you finish reading the back of your lucky charms box, I’ve got a book about a big red dog you will love!
Good news for the Cactus caucus, I found the Poet’s board table…4615 North Lewis Avenue Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Debbo,
Yes, the Devil’s Bathtub is still there and continues to draw mostly locals.
Unfortunately there have been several suicides there.
Would making the Poet’s Table a public attraction have deterred the vandals? Somehow I don’t think that whether or not the Poet Table’s was public or private would have influenced the vandals decision to destroy the site.
Every year the Rapid City Journal has a article about some of the best kept secrets listing both the Devil’s Bathtub and Poet’s Table as places to visit, for locals.
Ryan, you give yourself too much credit. I neither like you or dislike you. And like Nelson said about novel length comments, that still holds true.
mike – and you call me a fence sitter!? haha I wish I knew how to review only your comments about me over the last few months without spending the whole day doing it. I’m sure there was one that said something along the lines of “something about you…I just don’t like you…” but if your opinion of me has increased from that to absolute neutrality, I must have lost a step in my old age.
BTW, great comment in summarization Mike.
[Now for some off-topic meta-discussion:]
It says my comment is awaiting moderation. I already know it won’t be approved because liberals silence anything that strays from their agenda. Liberals love them some fascism
[Actually, “gman565”, it was awaiting moderation because you’re a first-time commenter, and my system automatically sends all comments from new handles and/or e-mail addresses to my moderation queue, so I can check the comment to make sure it’s not spam (my spam blocker doesn’t catch Viagra ad) and so I can ping the commenter to get verification that he or she is a real, distinct individual. Alas, the e-mail you provided didn’t work, so I couldn’t verify that you’re not just Pat Powers or some other campaign hack trying to spoil the conversation or make some false crybaby accusation to affirm his own worldview, which is really the only purpose your comment here serves. Please try again, with a real name and real e-mail address. —CAH]
Great catch Cory.
Thanks, Debbo. There’s a certain flavor of smug drive-by guff that I’m no longer willing to take.