War On Caterpillars and the Band Heart

Butterfly at Indiana Dunes

In response to a question about the Republican war on women that has created an enormous gender gap problem for the GOP, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said that “if the Democrats said we had a war on caterpillars, and mainstream media outlet talked about the fact that Republicans have a war on caterpillars, then we have problems with caterpillars”.  Of course this was a terribly insensitive analogy, comparing women to insects, and though it was a genuinely stupid comment, I don’t think it was calculated to offend.  However, the GOP might really have a problem with caterpillars if they continue to dismiss climate change science.

It turns out that warmer summers can cause an infestation of caterpillars who shed their skins and release tiny hairs that are major skin irritants.  On the Isle of Wight, a caterpillar infestation was so bad that people were warned to stay indoors and wear protective body suits and masks when venturing out.  Doctors advised the use of Calamine lotion to combat skin rashes.

But all this talk of caterpillars takes me back in time to one of my all-time favorite albums, Dog and Butterfly by Heart, one of the great rock bands of the 70’s led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson.  Dog and Butterfly is a underrated masterpiece  and one that I always had spinning (pun intended) on my turntable as a teen.