People, driven by their individual sense of outrage against historical offenses, gather together, and tear down monuments/statues to former Confederate leaders.
I mean, the Confederacy LOST! So, why protect the heritage of a rebellious group?
It's not about them. It's not about keeping the statues up. It's not even about whether or not the monuments should be removed.
It's about a minority using their personal feelings - and, acting on them in a criminal way - to bypass public discussion (NOT screaming), legislation, and referendums, to remove the monuments.
We are a divided people. We are NOT joined by blood ties, a shared culture, or common religious traditions. But, we share the same framework - the Constitution - and the laws that have built on that.
If we substitute direct action by factions, we tear down that framework - and its protections. This is a dangerous road to travel. It's one that can - and I fear WILL - end in suspicion, fear, tribalism, and no more United States.
The argument that personal belief in the Rightness of a Cause should be used to guide public decisions was the basis of the call for Secession. They, too, believed in Their Cause.
In America, the tradition has always been that if you feel strongly about an issue, you have to persuade others to agree to support it, as well, in order to get legislation passed.
Not vandalism. Not criminal action.
Snopes thinks this is OK, because it wasn't the Official DC Vietnam Memorial. I don't.
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