Anywhere in the world where trees are recognized as precious objects, works of natural art, the citizens of that place will survive.   And places where trees are sometimes used as surfaces where people carve their initials or their names, the very idea of art in that place is distorted and the education of citizens lacks something important. 

In a beautiful space behind the library in National City where I live there grows a beautiful tree.  It is respected by citizens who use the park and there aren't carved initials anywhere on the trunk of the beautiful tree.  In Balboa Park, not far from several museums where wonderful art is exhibited, near a parking lot there stands a tree that is marred by names and initials carved in the bark. In National City, there is a building which declares that "Arts" are a reason to survive.  That building with its colorful sign on the front looks out over the park where the beautiful tree with leaves that don't fall in the autumn stands boldly, unscathed by people with knives who carve their names on tree bark.  All of us who recognize that "Arts" are among the reasons we survive are invited to come and celebrate and appreciate art... and all of us who recognize the truth of the idea that art helps us survive come to Balboa Park to enjoy art from all over the world.  Why isn't it obvious to everyone that spoiling the bark of trees is basically wrong.