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I wish I could say I am surprised, but I am not. I wish discussions surrounding this past week's events were honest, but they are not. I wish those that have selective memory of history would take a step back before antagonizing those they disagree with - especially those with actual knowledge of the history. I wish we could unite over what makes us a great nation instead of finding excuses to hate one another. I wish...
Sometimes, I wish those that have recently voiced strong feelings based solely on emotion would just take a step back and think through their arguments - long enough to see the holes that can be poked through them. It is hard. It is meant to be hard. We have hard work ahead of us to heal our nation.
Anyone else tired of the tried and true response to the 2016 election of "Hillary lost, get over it!?" Yes, I got over it last November. Perhaps those giving such flippant responses should think twice then when they proclaim Whites are protecting their heritage symbolized by statues commemorating the Confederacy during in the Civil War (even though a majority of the statues were erected over 50 years AFTER the war ended) (See:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_monuments_and_memorials_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America). I mean, if many think others should "get over" the 2016 election, why can't these same people realize they themselves are refusing to get over the Civil War? The Confederacy lost over 152 years ago. Why can't some "get over" that? But history also includes some very sad decades of racial discrimination and hatred. Lynchings used to be considered worthy of postcards celebrating "Southern Culture." Is this the history some want to preserve and uphold as being worthy of veneration? (See: withoutsanctuary.org/main.html). Can anyone tell me where statues commemorating the lynching of Blacks are located? That's also a part of Southern White history too, right? How come we don't see those kind of statues in the public square? At least White Supremacists and Neo-Nazis would support that!
Perhaps the most ludicrous argument I saw was the claim that removing statues commemorating the Confederacy is somehow "erasing history." I have a simple response to this claim. When was the last time you went to see a statue in a park? As a life-long student of history, I have never gone to view a statue to learn history - never. Don't get me wrong, many are beautiful pieces of artwork. But I did not learn history from them. Instead, I learned history from taking classes, reading books and articles, discussing with historians and now reviewing video presentations - yet, I have never relied on statues as a source of my knowledge of history. Have you? So why the faux concern about their removal? But Rubin - it's about "free speech!" So it's reasonable to be outraged when professional athletes use the same principle of Free Speech by refusing to stand for the National Anthem but Neo-Nazi and White Supremacist chanting hate filled slogans must be protected under "Free Speech?" There is a name for those folks. It's spelled "H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E-S!"
So if you thought this week's blog would be a condemnation of the president, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am less disappointed with the president than with those that blindly support him. Trump is not going to change, no matter how many staffers exit his White House. Trump is who he is. Isn't it time to call out some Americans supporting the president for what they really are? Lets never forget our real history and never cease to remind people that American history includes many great and many equally truly awful events. Statues really do little to educate us but to reinforce already "revised" views tailored to appease the sentiments of the ill-informed. And for those that think I am alone, consider the words of Benjamin Franklin when he wrote; "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." Try to have a great week!
Sometimes, I wish those that have recently voiced strong feelings based solely on emotion would just take a step back and think through their arguments - long enough to see the holes that can be poked through them. It is hard. It is meant to be hard. We have hard work ahead of us to heal our nation.
Anyone else tired of the tried and true response to the 2016 election of "Hillary lost, get over it!?" Yes, I got over it last November. Perhaps those giving such flippant responses should think twice then when they proclaim Whites are protecting their heritage symbolized by statues commemorating the Confederacy during in the Civil War (even though a majority of the statues were erected over 50 years AFTER the war ended) (See:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_monuments_and_memorials_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America). I mean, if many think others should "get over" the 2016 election, why can't these same people realize they themselves are refusing to get over the Civil War? The Confederacy lost over 152 years ago. Why can't some "get over" that? But history also includes some very sad decades of racial discrimination and hatred. Lynchings used to be considered worthy of postcards celebrating "Southern Culture." Is this the history some want to preserve and uphold as being worthy of veneration? (See: withoutsanctuary.org/main.html). Can anyone tell me where statues commemorating the lynching of Blacks are located? That's also a part of Southern White history too, right? How come we don't see those kind of statues in the public square? At least White Supremacists and Neo-Nazis would support that!
Perhaps the most ludicrous argument I saw was the claim that removing statues commemorating the Confederacy is somehow "erasing history." I have a simple response to this claim. When was the last time you went to see a statue in a park? As a life-long student of history, I have never gone to view a statue to learn history - never. Don't get me wrong, many are beautiful pieces of artwork. But I did not learn history from them. Instead, I learned history from taking classes, reading books and articles, discussing with historians and now reviewing video presentations - yet, I have never relied on statues as a source of my knowledge of history. Have you? So why the faux concern about their removal? But Rubin - it's about "free speech!" So it's reasonable to be outraged when professional athletes use the same principle of Free Speech by refusing to stand for the National Anthem but Neo-Nazi and White Supremacist chanting hate filled slogans must be protected under "Free Speech?" There is a name for those folks. It's spelled "H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E-S!"
So if you thought this week's blog would be a condemnation of the president, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am less disappointed with the president than with those that blindly support him. Trump is not going to change, no matter how many staffers exit his White House. Trump is who he is. Isn't it time to call out some Americans supporting the president for what they really are? Lets never forget our real history and never cease to remind people that American history includes many great and many equally truly awful events. Statues really do little to educate us but to reinforce already "revised" views tailored to appease the sentiments of the ill-informed. And for those that think I am alone, consider the words of Benjamin Franklin when he wrote; "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." Try to have a great week!
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