Thursday, March 22, 2012

Do we need more state symbols?

By S. Derrickson Moore
dmoore@lcsun-news.com
LAS CRUCES — It’s three months into New Mexico’s statehood centennial. Do you know where your state bird is — or even WHAT bird is our official state symbol?
It’s the roadrunner of course, a wonderful critter that would also be my nominee for a proposed new category of official state pet, after the happy years I spent with Errol, a dashing and companionable bird who hung out in the rafters outside my bedroom when I lived on the slopes of Picacho Peak.
You, too, could find yourself pondering the best things about the Land of Enchantment after a visit to “It’s all Symbolic: The State Symbols of New Mexico,” currently on exhibit at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum.
I was familiar with most of our official symbols and was intrigued with the interactive portion of the exhibit, which welcomes suggestions to add, change or eliminate symbols.
Some say we may many have too many state songs (in addition to Elizabeth Garrett’s “O, Fair New Mexico” we also have an official state ballad, plus cowboy, bilingual and Spanish songs).
Are we limiting ourselves with “hot air balloon” as our official aircraft? What about rockets, Roswell’s UFOs and Richard Branson’s new spaceships launching from our very own Spaceport America?
We are apparently lacking such crucial categories as an official state breakfast (huevos rancheros was suggested, but my pick would be green chile chicken blue corn enchiladas, good for any meal or snack).
Here are some of the ideas that museum visitors have suggested for additional categories.
State food: Chile. !Si, bueno! This would also eliminate the controversy over whether it should be our state vegetable or fruit. It’s our everything.
State mountains? The category was blank the day I visited, but it’s obvious: The Organs, of course.
State nut? Top nominees were pecan and peanut, but piñon is a contender, though it already holds state tree status.
State pet? Dogs were winning, but I’m open to suggestions. Dogs seem very happy here, but cats probably think they rule the state, along with the rest of the universe.
Cattle breeds? Corriente was one suggestion at the museum. It’s not my area of expertise, but I’d like to see some nod to the buffalo, especially since we’re doing so much to bring them back on Ted Turner’s nearby spread.
Some things are so obvious that it might be fine to let them go without officially saying: Our architectural style is clearly adobe, for instance. Door decoration (and seasoning and snack resource) could only be the chile ristra.
State occupation? Opinions seem divided between “artist” or “rocket scientist.” Let’s call it a tie — a tie that could only happen in New Mexico — and that’s yet another reason I officially love living here.
What do you think? Are we missing some crucial, official state categories? Is it time to retire a few symbols or make some additions and substitutions? Look over the list and let me know. E-mail me at dmoore@lcsun-news.com, drop me a line: S. Derrickson Moore, Las Cruces Sun-News, 715 E. Idaho Ave., Bldg. 4, Las Cruces, NM 88001, or go to www.lcsun-news.com and click on Blogzone and Las Cruces Style and add your comment to New Mexico Symbols column.

New Mexico Symbols, Emblems, & Icons

Aircraft: hot air balloon
Amphibian: New Mexico Spadefoot Toad
Animal: black bear
State Ballad: “Land of Enchantment — New Mexico”
State Bilingual Song: “Mi Lindo Nuevo Mexico”
State Cowboy Song: “Under the New Mexico Skies”
State Song: “O, Fair New Mexico,” by Elizabeth Garrett
Spanish Language Song: “Asi Es Nuevo Mejico”
Bird: roadrunner (chaparral bird)
Butterfly: Sandia hairstreak butterfly
Colors: red and yellow
Cookie: biscochito
Fish: New Mexico cutthroat trout (Rio Grande cutthroat trout)
Flower: yucca flower
Fossil: Coelophysis (small late Triassic dinosaur)
Gem: turquoise
Grass: blue grama grass
State Historic Railroad: Cumbres and Toltec scenic railroad
Insect: tarantula hawk wasp
Motto: “It grows as it goes” (Crescit eundo)
Slogan: “Everybody is somebody in New Mexico”
Nickname: “The Land of Enchantment”
Poem: “A Nuevo Mexico” by Luis Tafoya
Reptile: New Mexico whiptail lizard
Tie: bolo tie
Tree: piñon tree
Vegetables: chile and frijole
Source: www.statesymbolsusa.org.,awesome america.com., NMFRHM

S. Derrickson Moore can be reached at (575) 541-5450. Follow her on Twitter @DerricksonMoore.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Magic great deal brazen child's list. Enveloping tolerate are away from magicians championing they adopt what they are seeing is yes happening. dominate one: undiluted there's admirable show.
Microsoft Structure مشغل Ř§Ů„ŮŮŠŘŻŮŠŮˆ Ů„Ů„Ř§Ů†ŘŻŘ±ŮˆŮŠŘŻ
برامج مجانية 2013
Magic unexceptionally child's list. contemplate are unconnected with magicians for the sake of they simulate what they are seeing is surely happening. diversion one: ask pardon there's uncomplicated show.
Upon are contrary types for entertainment. stroke retiring clown, peculiar stirring all. Consequently what are more than their list? What are goods your m?nage can't loathing without, despite the fact that is intensity success?

Anonymous said...

Unquestionably imagine that that you stated.

Your favorite justification appeared to be on the internet
the easiest thing to have in mind of. I say to you,
I certainly get annoyed at the same time as people consider issues that they
plainly do not recognize about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the
highest and defined out the entire thing with no need side effect , other people can take
a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thank you

My blog post: Pure Garcinia Cambogia

Anonymous said...

By maƙing ѕmall goals lіke tɦis, yοu aге mоre likelү to
achieve thеm, if yօu were to sett massive goals гight from tҺe get gօ.
Sifes oonline provide you աith ѕome gooԀ quicdk weight loss tips tҺat
аre veery uѕeful and planned ɑccording tο different lifestyles.
Sine losiing weight ɦaѕ becоme tiresome and frustrating tօ most people, thеy tend to resort tօ these products tҺɑt
can Һelp them lose weight, safe, fast, ɑnd easy.


Hеre is my homepage ... ลดความอ้วน

Anonymous said...

The cave symbolizes the darkness of the soul from which he has now emerged.
This means, that if he is not careful, he just might drop off.

Some photos make us feel pleased and some make us really feel sad.



Also visit my web-site: love psychics ()

Anonymous said...

This is a good concept in principle and also the reason that these designers include plenty of animation is it
is beneficial in grabbing and retaining the notice of visitors
for the site. Finally, you'll be able to see you animated gif file inside your image viewer.
However, they made a decision to stop and begin through
the beginning, which guided the development of the open source browser and soon expanded to a complete application platform.



Feel free to visit my web blog: gifs (mittelohr-workshop.de)

Anonymous said...

buy chanel bags outlet
Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your content seem to be running off
the screen in Internet explorer. I'm not sure if this is a formatting
issue or something to do with browser compatibility
but I thought I'd post to let you know. The design look great though!

Hope you get the issue solved soon. Cheers

Anonymous said...

I've been browsing online greater than 3 hours as of late, yet I by no means found any attention-grabbing article
like yours. It is pretty value sufficient for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did,
the web can be a lot more helpful than ever before.


Also visit my site; fotografia ślubna poznań

Anonymous said...

It's great that you aree gewtting thoughts from this piece of writing as well aas from our argument made here.


my webpage; powerball lotto results

Anonymous said...

Lord Strathclyde told profit The Maill on Sunday:" Michael Ashcroft gave several assurances regarding his tax status, when he contended that railroads had been far less important to the U. The things they're doing now are qualitatively the same thing.

my blog post :: księgowość [www.wingedsouls.com]

Anonymous said...

Hearthstone Android vous
plonge dans l'univers de WoW avec un jeu de carte qui reprend les sorts de
Wow et Warcraft.
Incarnez divers héros du jeu et affrontez des champions cultes de la saga autour de parties de cartes façon Magic.


Votre aventure commence sous les traits de Jaina la
magicienne et se poursuit en fonction des héros que vous
arriverais à vaincre. En effet, pour obtenir de nouveaux champions,
il faut les défier et les vaincre en duel dans des parties tactiques où la moindre erreur peut vous coûter la victoire.
Vous obtenez ensuite, au fur et à mesure, de vos réussites de nouvelles cartes qui
offrent différents pouvoirs de défense ou d'attaque.

Jeu en ligne, Hearthstone Android propose aux joueurs de s'affronter autour
de parties de carte immersives et stratégiques.
Collectionnez un deck de carte et partez défier d'autre joueurs à la recherche de cartes
rares aux sorts les plus dévastateurs.
Remportez des parties contre d'autres joueurs
et recevez des récompenses ainsi que des succès exclusifs à votre compte Battle.net.

Anonymous said...

Hi to all, how is everything, I think every one is getting more from this site, and your views are good in favor of new viewers.


Feel free to visit my page ... intoxicated driving lawyer Palmdale

Anonymous said...

Then don't worry ,you will get the solutions of all your
questions. Hyperlink that connects laptops smartphones seems to gain more ground in the marketplace.
Following completion of set up you would discover HS2300 driver.


Here is my website :: cydia tweaks compatible with ios 7.0.4

Anonymous said...

It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is
time to be happy. I have read this post and if I
could I desire to suggest you few interesting things or
suggestions. Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article.

I want to read even more things about it!


Here is my web site - Projektowanie Stron Internetowych Poznań

Anonymous said...

Check out my hard earned money on them. I don't zynga poker hack strategy on changing it.
Mobile phone games are much more about the tiny legend
Crazy knight and also not a simple however enslaving
online game Travian. Your game ideas need to also.
Downloads Available are neatly zynga poker hack categorized by
date. Ask the game comes at a corrupt sports town. You will build a deck that is done by using your swipe, tool,
he creates uplifting and exciting recreation.

my homepage :: Zynga poker hack key

Julieta said...

I found the content very informative, very good! Highly recommend!

John said...

I really liked it ! Very relevant content! Blog added to favorites.

thais ortins said...

I found the content very informative, very good

como fazer cupcake para vender said...

very good, I liked the blog, thank you for sharing this content good

comprar roupas para revender direto da fabrica said...

I liked the blog, very good

curso de porcelanato liquido 3d said...

very good, I loved the article.