"These are the things you must do: Speak Truth to one another; make true and sound decisions within your gates." ~ Zechariah 8:16
The truth is often not easy to hear, as humans we generally want the sugar coated version of what is going on. We have spent so many years being told by our government what we wanted to hear or what was politically expedient, the truth is now apparently shocking and appalling for us to hear.
Yesterday the President spoke the truth, both sides were equally culpable for the violence in Charlottesville. Only one side actually at a permit to be there, the other side came in with force and anarchy as they typically do. Both sides had people who committed acts of violence. Both sides spewed hateful rhetoric. Not all people on either side acted badly. Neither side was virtuous in their actions and responses. Both sides had the right to speak their minds, neither side had the right to engage in violence. Additionally, the President made another good point, their are factions within our society who seek to erase History by tearing down monuments and flags.
America like any nation has made mistakes but you cannot change history (unless you successfully create a time machine and if you have one let me know I want to give it whirl). Additionally, the American Civil War did not have one good side and one evil side, it was extraordinarily complicated. My family who Fought for the confederacy did not love this country any less than someone else's family that fought for the union. Many American families had family members that fought for both sides. These same families that fought on either side of the civil war descended from family members that fought in the Revolutionary War where America gained her independence. All those who fought and died in the Civil War deserve to be honored even though none of them were perfect.
This idea that ripping down flags and monuments will change history and cure all of the biases in society is nuts. In fact it is counter productive.
Number one in ripping down flags and monuments you are disrespecting either swaths of heritage in this country, how does that accomplish anything?
Number two who decides which monument is virtuous enough to stay up, what is the criteria? If you look at any prominent historical figure close enough you are going to discover skeletons, like us each of them are human. General George Washington was a a founding father, a general in multiple wars including the Revolutionary War, the first President of the United States, and a slave owner, do we tear down the Washington Monument? Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. a preacher, a civil rights icon, a war protester, ran afoul of the FBI and committed adultery multiple times, is he worthy of our remembrance and honor? Sitting Bull, a Hunkpapa Lakota holy man, a warrior who fought for his people and against the US government, a performer, do we ensure there are no remembrances of him left about? Outside of Jesus, pick any historical or current prominent figure in any area of life and all will have made mistakes.
The truth is American history is replete with awesome people who were human and thus not perfect. Our history is what makes America the Great Country it is. History shows where we have come from and to rewrite it will lead us to repeat the mistakes of the past at some point.
Truth is not the enemy, in fact nothing will change positively in America until we are willing to hear the truth.
Blessings,
Mel
