“If there is one thing I’ve learned throughout my lifetime, it’s that people of every background have something to contribute to the world.”
Like much of the United States, I have watched in horror at the events that have unfolded recently in our great nation. I can’t in good conscience defend the constitutional right to freedom of speech without also mentioning that it applies to everyone. This includes white supremacists.
These vile people have every right to march in the United States with their white sheets and Nazi symbolism. Citizens also have a right to assemble and counter-protest the absolutely dangerous and disgusting ideology these groups represent. If there is one thing I’ve learned throughout my lifetime, it’s that people of every background have something to contribute to the world.
Those who stand against racism and hatred do so bravely and without question. There’s no place for this in America. There’s no sugar coating what we used to be.
Like every nation, the United States has a dark past. Those who were indigenous to America were treated horribly. They were slaughtered. The Native American people have held onto their history and their heritage. I come from a very tight-knit community and was taught about my tribe, told their stories, and participated in the celebrations. We don’t need monuments or memorials dedicated to the ancestors that we honor. Native Americans can tell you their stories. They can offer an understanding of what it truly means to remain resilient in a world that began with their destruction.
It’s horrifying to see so many people hesitant to denounce racism, hatred, and Nazi symbolism without adding a caveat. I have dedicated much of my writing to defending free speech. I have blasted violent protestors for interrupting conservative speech. I have even defended Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos. I can’t find any portion of my conscience that will defend white supremacy.
I also can’t agree that monuments and shrines to the Confederacy have a place in the American public. I’ve come across several arguments lauding Confederate generals for bravery and pointing out they were simply being loyal to their homes. Some have even said these generals didn’t stand for slavery, they hated it, they didn’t want to mistreat people, etc.
In the context of that same argument, I have seen the statement that the monuments are a reminder of a horrible past that we all need to remember so it doesn’t happen again. So which is it? History cannot be erased. Statues don’t define who we are as a nation. The Civil War was fought, battlefields were preserved, and museums exist. Books exist to tell the stories of American history.
If groups of historically marginalized American citizens speak out against symbolism that doesn’t support the American way of life, why can’t the majority try to understand? White supremacy is disgusting. Those protesting bigotry, hatred, and Nazis are not the enemy.
History will never repeat itself because as a nation, we have collectively evolved past turning the blind eye to things like white supremacist rallies. We all saw this in Virginia when several counter-protestors showed up to challenge hatred. The United States of America has changed, is changing, and will continue to change.
