Charlottesville, Virginia Violence & Law Enforcement's Ineffective Response / Confederate Monuments - what next?

I’m not sure that I have a vested interest in the current turmoil in Charlottesville, Virginia and the follow-up movements for the destruction of any monuments, plaques– any reference really – associated with the Confederate Army.  I live in the West where to my knowledge the Civil War and those who fought in that war are not given a whole lot of thought unless you have a particular interest in the history of the Civil War – the outcome, the unimaginable suffering and the courage by both the Southern and Northern soldiers. 

Now, it appears that serious (I suppose) individuals are advocating the same destructive treatment to historical memorials dedicated to anyone who owned slaves - including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.  Regardless of the great contributions to our country by individuals such as Washington and Jefferson – it now seems they must be historically diminished and/or forgotten – due to their slave ownership.

I’d just like to make a couple of comments.  I don’t usually buy-into conspiracy theories; but I think the current uproar, demonstrations (and yes violence) on both sides is not entirely spontaneous.  There are organizing factions pushing this; and it is dividing the country.  There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground for those willing to compromise.  So who is pushing this and why?

Well, of course – as usual – it's those with something to gain.  The ‘usual suspects’ come to mind:  manipulative politicians and wealthy people in the position to make even more money, as well as organizations that profit from donations – no matter how unworthy those organizations might be.  And, to my mind, there is a faction that has the sole purpose of destroying or greatly weakening the Constitution and the rights guaranteed therein.  How often have we heard liberal judges opining that the U.S. Constitution is a ‘living document’ and needs to be interpreted / changed as time passes and as they (judges) feel appropriate?  That said…

Here are some facts:

• Most Confederate soldiers never owned slaves.  They were forced to leave their families and farms to fight a war that was purportedly about States' Rights (a concept few common soldiers understood).
• Tens of thousands of Union soldiers died to preserve the Union and to free the slaves.
• Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
• Appomattox 1865:  General Grant could have had Robert E. Lee hanged – and General Lee anticipated that would happen.  But Grant was wise enough to let the Southern soldiers return home with a horse (if they owned one), a rifle for hunting; and, more importantly, with a modicum of pride.
• In our present day, great strides have been made – such as affirmative action – to right wrongs and discrimination against African Americans, discrimination that continued well into the 1970s.  The treatment Blacks received was shameful.  However, isn’t it interesting that most of the discrimination and bad treatment of African Americans was at the hands of Democrats in the South.  Now, they (present day Democrats) would like us to believe that they are pure of heart and without blame; but it is they that perpetuated the worst forms of discrimination well after the Civil War was over.  So, if I might, lets just speculate that modern-day Democratic politicians see the latest controversy over the Civil War memorials and those who owned slaves in the distant past as a way to regain, cement, lockup, the political support from the Black community.  And, it seems to be working.
• No American, living today, was ever a slave - or ever owned a slave.
• Historically, many other nationalities were once enslaved, in the United States, as indentured servants.
• The FBI has had entire squads working White Extremist matters for decades; and almost certainly they have developed informants within the current ‘hate groups.’  Neo-Nazis have no place in American society.

Finally, the local law enforcement response to the brawling and rioting which occurred in Charlottesville was disgraceful.  Law enforcement seemed to merely standby as those two groups went at it with clubs.

Local law enforcement’s ineffective actions to take charge, including failure to use crowd dispersal techniques such as ‘tear gas,’ must share some responsibility for the violence, injuries and the death (Heather Heyer, age 32).  Law enforcement and City officials are trying to spin it otherwise; but watching what occurred on television, it seemed pretty clear that city and county law enforcement were either impotent or ordered to ‘stand down.’

 True Nelson