House Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO, 4th) made a heartfelt statement about the violence in Charlottesville, saying, “Over the past few days America has witnessed the disturbing events in Charlottesville and the racism and violence that continues to inflict harm on our nation. It breaks my heart that today's young generation is still having to witness this unAmerican way to settle disagreements. Racism is not acceptable in our society in any form and should not be tolerated. It is one thing to have disagreements on the validity of historical monuments but violence is not the answer. It cannot be tolerated. This is not representative of America or the values that we hold dear.”
I appreciate how she refused to name either side as sole culprit. Of course, not everyone had the same view. House Representative Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL, 20th) shot back, "Today’s comments by President Trump were completely appalling. What took place in in Charlottesville was an act of domestic terrorism, not a two-sided affair." I'd like to ask Mr. Hastings if he was there at the rally, or did he speak to anyone at the rally to make this assumption. Just because there where White Nationalists present did not mean that there weren't black bigots taunting and instigating them, throwing feces, urine and spraying pepper spray.
"The President has lost all moral authority to lead this nation," he continues. It takes a lot of morals to look at both sides of an issue before deciding which bandwagon to jump on. "By continuing to stand with white supremacists promoting the abhorrent, anti-democratic ideology of inequality, injustice, and fascism, President Trump is fueling the fires of hate." Nowhere did Trump say he stood with white supremacists. What he said was that the violence was the responsibility of BOTH sides, and BOTH sides need to be held accountable (not in those exact words). "This is completely outrageous, and every single elected representative to Congress, regardless of party, must hold him to account." Go ahead, and when you do, make sure you bring the unedited version of the Youtube video in which Trump speaks to the press about Charlottesville.
House Representative Brian Higgins (D-NY, 26th) made his viewss known by saying, “Over the past several months, a regular barrage of words and actions coming from those entrusted to lead have demonstrated disrespect for women, refugees, transgender service members and others based on race. We are witnessing a dangerous and dismissive attitude toward some people as less accepted and less valued than others. This display of intolerance is hurtful to individuals and the noble principles that genuinely make our nation great.
“I am proud to call Buffalo -- the ‘City of Good Neighbors’ -- my home. As a country and as humans we could all benefit from being more neighborly. Each of us face our own struggles but they are better overcome when we are united rather than divided. Each of us bring our own strengths as individuals but we are wise to recognize we are significantly stronger together.
“Genuine leadership doesn’t embolden hate; instead, it should promote kindness and understanding. These exhausting distractions tear us apart, preventing us from working together and making real progress. We need less confrontation and more collaboration, fewer outbursts and more outcomes, and less heat and more light.”
Promoting kindness and understanding does not mean shutting out the voices of those who are different from us. It means being willing to listen to what they have to say, even if you don't like them, and finding a way to accommodate that won't hurt either side of the issue, and may even help both. THAT, Mr. Higgins, is what TRUE leadership does. Demonizing someone who thinks differently than you do doesn't do anything to help the relationship. The next step after demonization is extermination, and if you would look at history and learn from it, you will see the truth in what I have just said. But, I digress, most of those who think like you are for getting rid of any reminders of that history.
House Representative French Hill (R-AR, 2nd) condemned what happened by saying, ""During World War II, my father-in-law helped to liberate Buchenwald concentration camp. He bore witness to Nazi terror – a terror that started with an ideology of hate and superiority based upon race and creed. He and so many other Americans and Allies fought against that ideology, which was an affront to American values and continues to have no place in our civil society. I reject, in the strongest terms possible, the speech of hate and bigotry of white supremacists and others. It's repugnant and un-American. I condemn acts of domestic terror as the tools of cowards. Let's pray for civil discourse in our country, and my thoughts are with the community, those hurt, and those grieving over loss and injury."
My granddaddy was one of 300 soldiers who rode in a ship to Normandy. He fought for freedom so everyone, including his wife (who he encouraged to get her high school diploma, so she could better help with the war effort at home), could have the opportunity to better themselves and the world around them. When it came time to come home, there were only 73 men from the same ship who survived. He fought the war every day of his life since then. I would not be here today if he hadn't survived -- and I will not let his sacrifice be in vain by picking and choosing who has rights regardless of race, creed, religion, color or nationality, and that includes those who wish to preserve their heritage...even if I don't agree with their views. The First Amendment was not written for popular opinion holders.
House Representative Jim Himes (D-CT, 4th), who obviously has no idea what the President said, retorted, "White supremacy in any form has no place in our society, our politics or our civil discourse. It takes surpassing ignorance, total moral bankruptcy and a pathetic sense of entitlement to have marched with the KKK and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville. Period, full stop, and I am shocked I need to say so, much less to the President of the United States.
"I condemn the violence in Charlottesville and the hateful ideology behind the late night march and the daytime rally, and I stand aghast with the rest of the nation and leaders in both parties at the President's equivocation on this fundamental principle of decency. The President betrays the ideals and legacy of the country he leads - a country which paid with the lives of millions of its people to defeat white supremacy and Nazism."
While I agree with Himes about the characterization of those who marched with the KKK, I would like to extend that same characterization to the BLM group who decided that the KKK didn't have First Amendment rights and disrupting their Freedom of Assembly, which is also a First Amendment right. As far as what he said about the President, the President did not betray anything. He is not going to condemn one without condemning the other, and he is working to make those guilty of breaking the peace accountable on BOTH sides.
