Vanessa Hudgens is in the spotlight once again, but it is not because of her performance as Rizzo in "Grease Live!" on Jan. 31. According to Coconino National Forest Spokesperson Brady Smith, Hudgens and Austin Butler are currently under federal investigation for defacing a United States natural feature.
The investigation began when Hudgens posted what was supposed to be a romantic photo of her and Butler's name enclosed in a heart and carved on the famous red rocks of Sedona.
The authorities were not too pleased with the romantic gesture. In fact, existing federal law that forbids anyone to vandalize natural surfaces and property in U.S. soil, and that happens to include carving declarations of love in a protected State Park.
The Instagram photo had been taken down so authorities are reaching out to possible witnesses as they probe further. If found guilty, the couple could face misdemeanor charges, up to $5,000 in fines, and up to six months imprisonment.
The punishment seems like a pretty steep "price" for a little carving, but what people have to understand is that, as authorities have repeated time and again - ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
It is possible that the Coconino National Forest (PDF) needs to put up more signs or reminders against carving on natural surfaces and vandalism, but it should also be common sense that such a thing should not be done anyway.
The Red Rocks at Sedona are especially important because of its archaeological significance. There are evidences that old cultures have inhabited the land from 11,500 B.C. and left old tools and pictographs. Incidentally, none of those pictographs contained names and hearts.
The first settlement of white people established in the canyon only dates back to 1876, so it's a good reminder that the land is rich in history that predates the current American population. While it is nice to see declarations of love, perhaps it is best to keep nature out of the equation.
