by Joseph P. Tartaro | Executive Editor
Symbols are important, at least to some people. To others, they are little more than a meaningless emoji. The problem seems to be what the symbols represent.
Much has been written and said recently about the evil connotations of statuary honoring long dead heroes of a longer dead Confederacy, and even more about the Secessionist stars and bars flag representing sentiments that may still exist more than 150 years after they became irrelevant. Thus, statues are torn down or taken away to some warehouse of history, while the flags are taken down, to be burned or shredded.
That the removal of symbols associated with white supremacy and racism will not remove the beliefs of strangers is ignored.
And much has been written and said about the xenophobic and pointless cause of racism, both “white” and “black” —both pro and con.
Nowadays, many also seem to have exhumed the moldering carcasses of fascism and Nazism to represent the hated extremes of causes that seem to further divide a nation with many still smarting from disappointment with the outcome of the presidential election of 2016.
Elsewhere in this issue is a report about the gun and knife show in Westchester County in New York State and opposition to allowing the show to resume because some past exhibitors have displayed symbols of the Nazi German military, including not just decaying uniforms, arms and accoutrements but of swastikas that symbolize the failed Nazi era, and the misery they brought to the world.
This is an example of rights in conflict and a misjudgment of the First Amendment.
On cable news programs particularly there seems to be an inexhaustible pursuit of reports that highlight the divisions of the relatively small number of disaffected Americans among us. But one is forced to wonder whether Americans are as divided by extremes of a political nature as the media would have us believe.
The media, particularly CNN, keeps dredging up the conflict between what they have labeled the “alt-right” and the leftist Antifa. Their reporters are committed to portraying the conservative faction as composed entirely of racists and fascists, while the masked and hooded members of Antifa are portrayed as defenders of the First Amendment in particular and democracy in general.
They also continue to flog President Trump for his post Charlottesville statement condemning violence and intimidation on “both sides,” when they want to portray him as siding with the “alt-right.”
They seem to ignore the old explanation that while the First Amendment gives people the right to “peaceably assemble” and to say whatever they want, it does not give them the right to yell “fire in a crowded movie theater.” Nor does it give them the right to violently attack people they disagree with.
CNN, Huffington Post and others of their political bent are determined to portray a nation divided. And while they reported on the devastation and misery visited on people in our Southern states by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma they failed to learn from the example of Americans rushing to the aid of the victims.
If ever there was needed proof that Americans are more united than divided, it came in the example set by so many volunteers who rushed immediately to rescue and assist their fellow Americans regardless of political philosophies, race, religion or economic status. The example set by both wealthy people and poor people with access to boats putting themselves in harm’s way to save strangers old and young who might have been of a different economic status, color, religion or political leaning was a living symbol of a united America. If you were stranded by the rising waters, sick, in need of drinking water and food, you didn’t ask if it was the “Cajun navy” that was coming to help or a cruise ship.
And it was not just the volunteers with boats who symbolized the unity but the professional first responders and countless others who helped in any way they could.
Without being asked, Americans joined in raising a symbol of meaning to other Americans, including the media, and the world. That was the right way for us. A lving symbol we can all be proud of.
