Despite the fact that, as we hilariously documented on Wednesday evening, even the great-great grandson of Robert E. Lee thinks his ancestor’s statues should probably come down, Donald Trump isn’t going to let this go.
Just hours after suggesting Lindsey Graham isn’t really concerned about racism in America but is actually just jealous that Trump is President, the commander-in-chief is back at it on Twitter this time with more statue rants:
At this point, we are watching a man self-destruct in real-time.
Even if you agree with Trump’s stance on monuments to the Confederacy (which, again, Robert E. Lee’s own great-great-grandson doesn’t), you’ve got to admit that he would be better off holding his tongue for at least a day or two.
And you know what? Maybe some monuments to the forefathers do need to be removed.
Progress is about recognizing what we’ve done wrong, acknowledging the fact that it was indeed wrong, and moving forward to do whatever it is we’ve decided is right.
If, implicit in that effort, is the idea that we need to rethink how we remember and memorialize the historical figures that built the country, then so be it.
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Oh, and this:
All these folks worried about erasing history when the Confederate statues come down will be thrilled to learn about the existence of books.
— Jamil Smith ???? ???? (@JamilSmith) August 16, 2017
Please note the importance of these tweets. There is a buddhist heart peaking out of the devil. He is uttering words that imply compassion, almost empathy.
So, what’s so wrong with having compassion for beautiful statutes and monuments, or for “beauty,” you know the “beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns and parks.”
Because, what’s next? Banning the beautiful swastika?
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/06/24/germany_banned_its_ugly_historic_symbols_should_we_do_that_too.html
Learn the history of Lee. He was not as these crazies portray for their perverse purpose of erasing American history. What’s next? The Statue of Liberty? Books can be burned. If the objective is to destroy our history to rewrite it the way THEY want it to read then say goodbye to Liberty and anything else that’s a reminder of our hard fought freedoms.
Books can be burned? Really?
The objective is to not rewrite history (although some in Texas are doing just that in school books), it’s to acknowledge and move past times in our history that were not the best show of character. We should have new/different memorials that embody the Nation as a whole, not when segregated.
IGNORANCE, I almost agree with your comments – especially about moving past our history that does not show our best character and we should have better memorials of our Nation. Well said.
What I am really curious about is what school books in Texas and what part of history is altered from legitimate history?
– Murphy
I, a member of THEY I suppose, decided to brush up on history. I include a link below (you may have to copy and paste) but you will probably write it off as fake news because it does not fit your narrative. I did learn that Lee did indeed call slavery a “moral and political evil” as did Jefferson 70 years prior. As Lee explains in his own words:
“I think it however a greater evil to the white man than to the black race, & while my feelings are strongly enlisted in behalf of the latter, my sympathies are more strong for the former. The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally, socially & physically. The painful discipline they are undergoing, is necessary for their instruction as a race, & I hope will prepare & lead them to better things. How long their subjugation may be necessary is known & ordered by a wise Merciful Providence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild & melting influence of Christianity, than the storms & tempests of fiery Controversy.”
The article goes on to list other “qualities” of Lee. To sum up, Lee was a vicious slave owner that picked up arms against his very own government. Today he would have faced execution or life imprisonment for treason
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/the-myth-of-the-kindly-general-lee/529038/
The history of Robert E. Lee is that after the Civil War he argued strenuously against Confederate monuments, especially to himself. He was concerned that a dark chapter in American history would be glamorized. He died in 1870, after which his fears came true.
Trump empathizes with Lee as Lee is most remembered as a traitor to his country no different than Benedict Arnold. The three own the indelible stain of Treason and shall be remembered forever in that fashion.
The rest that apologists quibble about are of zero moment and should be jettisoned to the trash heap of the delete button.
You and I remember Lee differently. You may want to read some of those books.
*whispers* It really has never been really about the monuments
How many statues of Rommel are there on public display in Germany?
yeah see that’s a great point. we can’t base who we have monuments to on whether or not they are prominent historical figures or even whether they did some good or even great things. I mean look at Hitler – strip away the genocide and the bit about trying to take over the planet, and he was one of the greatest leaders in the history of the world. so should Berlin have a giant statue of him based on that? obviously not. same thing here. Jefferson owned slaves – “bigly” bad. doesn’t mean we forget that he is a founding father and otherwise an incredible man, just means that maybe 2017 is the year when we finally decide to take down monuments to slaveholders.
and you know what? I bet Thomas Jefferson would agree.
You will not be surprised to know there is a memorial for Erwin Rommel. What’s your first thought as to what body politic erected it in 1951?
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/monument-to-german-military-commander-erwin-rommel-and-his-news-photo/74320570?#monument-to-german-military-commander-erwin-rommel-and-his-africa-in-picture-id74320570