I am truly astonished. Not that there was violence in Charlottesville, but that the ultra extreme left actually thinks they are justified in their attempts to deny basic constitutional rights to someone they disagree with. I am even more astonished after watching CBS news that Face The Nation moderator John Dickerson has sided with the ultra extreme left – in essence taking a literally warlike posture.
Make no mistake, I am and always have been opposed to the extreme right i.e. KKK, neo-Nazis, Aryan Nation, etc. I am the guy who, as president of my high school senior class, literally [ took down the confederate flag ] when it was flown in violation of the rules by rowdy classmates. I am the guy who recently presented my opinion that [ confederate monuments should be removed ] from places like the courthouse square and moved to be displayed in appropriate context. I am the guy who recently tweeted that demagogue Roy Moore of Alabama amounts to a cult leader that more closely resembles radical Islam than Christianity. And, I stand by my opinions.
Nevertheless, the extreme left does not have a right to become violent when they don’t like what someone else has to say. The Alt Right protesters in Charlottesville had a permit. The counter-protesters did not. The counter-protesters crashed a party that they weren’t invited to. There would have been no violence, or death, if the counter-protesters had stayed home and scheduled their own rally for another time. Over and again, my observations are that the ultra extreme left are the ones who incite violence. I’ve seen this locally as well, and I was frankly amazed when I realized their willingness to engage in violence and vandalism based on enforcing their opinion.
And, I don’t exactly understand how one hot headed guy in a car, who clearly had reason to feel threatened himself, and who went off impulsively and without premeditation, can be construed as “domestic terrorism.” He definitely is guilty of manslaughter – not terrorism. The politicos right and left are irresponsible for branding the situation in Charlottesville in this way – and it also portends of a warlike posture.
And, I have to echo President Trump’s notice that twenty something black people killed each other in Chicago last weekend. There are some serious cultural problem in parts of the black community that white folks are not responsible for, and frankly can do little about – and frankly, and sadly, are more cause for grief and concern than a couple hundred extremists that few American’s really agree with.
The real story here is about the constitution – freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of press. The rest of the undertow are the attacks on the Internet, the “death by texting” story, the attempts to censor “hate speech” based on someone else’s definition of “politically correct,” the invasion of privacy, and all the excuses that continue to literally add up to a war on the constitution, liberty and freedom – for all. Someone on the Internet today intoned the suggestion that it’s all a big training program. Years ago when I first started seeing the extremism, I thought of it as a “continuing education” program. I can now assure anyone that listens – it is not. These issues are shaking the underpinnings of our nation and slowly but surely the tectonic plates of government and politics are moving. There are things that need to change – there are things that do not. Rest assured, however, these events are not innocuous or benign.
In my estimation, a new line is being crossed by the media, the corporate executives turning their backs on Mr. Trump, and even some conservative politicians. All of which are taking that warlike posture that is literally an attack on the constitution. I didn’t vote for Donald Trump, but I sure as hell didn’t vote for Hillary. When the rubber hits the road in regard to the U.S. constitution and it’s protocols I won’t be voting for Roy Moore – but I sure as hell won’t be siding with the ultra extreme left either.
And for Mr. Trump, I’ve stated my opinion that the monuments should be moved. Beyond that, I can’t possibly see how you could have handled the situation in Charlottesville any better. You’ve got my approval rating for this one.
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© 2017 – Jim Casey
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