Well, this whole issue is going nuclear, all across the South by the looks of things. Now it seems to be turning into a free- for- all for those who want to 'correct' all the 'wrongs' regarding statues everywhere.
Also saw this headline:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/charlottesville-target-alt-right-jewish-mayor-emerging-national-voice-120253532.htmlFile that one under things that make ya' go 'huh'. Not quite sure how the mayor of that city got to be a hero by not doing anything about the riots in his city but instead blaming the leader of the Federal Gov't for [not] saying something that the mayor thinks he should have said. ?? What might be those magic words that would have altered the course of the events of last weekend one iota? "Stop it"? "Everybody go home"? It boggles the mind....
Anyway, I guess the new method is:
1) Everyone loves everyone.
2) If someone is [different, non- conforming, non mainstream, and 'not average'], they must be loved, both privately and publicly, even more.
3) Anyone who does not love everyone is hateful, horrible and must be savaged in all ways possible, up to and including those outside the law. Clearly, these people are not and cannot be part of the group including 'everyone'.
Special note here: at first, numbers 1 & 2 may not seem compatible with 3 but it must be understood that those who are in charge of determining who is to be hated are immune from rules 1 and 2, and in fact are even MORE lovable for dumping hatred, abuse and as much punishment as possible on those in group 3. Also, while some things such as The Constitution at first glance seem to support the rights of people in group 3 to believe, think, and even speak whatever they want, that is not correct. The Constitution only protects those speaking out AGAINST those in group 3.
4) All of these rules are retroactive and apply to all in the past.
5) All people are subject to instantaneous change from being of no consequence to category 3, from which there is no escape, end to any and all corrective actions needed to put them squarely and firmly into categories 1 or 2.
6) Once deemed to be in category 3, no person or group can ever escape from that category.
7) To paraphrase Eric Blair (as George Orwell), 'All people are equal, but really only those on the left are equal. Those anywhere else are despicable'.
Normally a moderate, all of this garbage is driving me further and further away from the center. Either that, of 'the center' is going further and further left, with a side- order of obnoxious prejudice and hatred for dessert. I have been thinking about moving toward the middle of the country (both physically as well as figuratively, they seem to meet-up) but now I am thinking about looking into moving to 1957 and going into the asbestos / mercury / lead paint distribution business.
Brian