Hate vs. Peace

I condemn the violence that occurred last weekend in Charlottesville, Va. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/local/charlottesville-timeline/?utm_term=.53126ef6d1a7 when white supremacists and nationalists gathered and march, and were met by counter protesters, and violence ensued, including death. 

In the mix was the discussion of taking down a statue of Robert E. Lee.  I understand the honoring Confederate leaders is repugnant to people of color.  It commemorates the War Between the North and South which, as we know was very much about the issue of slavery. Many of these monuments were erected during the Jim Crow era in the early part of the 20th Century. 

I think that these statues and monuments should be kept in a historically appropriate place, not as decoration for public places including parks.  There should be historical context for keeping the statues and monuments, because we cannot change history, and we need to learn from it. I think of a movement in Germany by white supremacists who denied that the Holocaust over occurred. We can never deny the history of  racism and bigotry in our country.

We have to keep our history alive and teach it because that is the only way we can learn from our past, and frankly, we have a lot to learn.

I think one of the good things that has come out of this is that the dialogue about racism in this country is more open and realistic, and many people who did not realize that racism is still out there are becoming more aware. 

I grew up with "White Privilege" and could not begin to know what someone of color or minority experienced in their lives.  But I do know that we have an obligation to speak out against hate and violence. 

Today, the white supremacists and nationalists had a "Free Speech Rally" in Boston, and the counter protesters came out  in huge numbers http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/thousands-march-boston-counter-protest-free-speech-rally-n794156.  There was some tension and a few problems leading to arrests, but not the massive violence that occurred in Charlottesville, Va.  I think that the authorities in Boston learned from Charlotteville and took the possibilities seriously and prepared appropriately.  

I think we will see more marches and protests and rallies, because people are being energized to be more active.  Sadly, a lot of that is coming from the controversial comments by President Trump http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/19/politics/trump-remarks-alt-right/index.html.  He has just inflamed the people of this country who believe in peace, not violence, and want to work on improving conditions for all.