Yesterday violence erupted at a white nationalist rally held in Charlottesville, Virginia. Protesters opposed to the rally protested, both its presence and its message. The white nationalists, labeled as alt-right, have done their best to make this about politics. So has the far left. Believe me when I tell you the alt-right is not the spokesperson for Conservatives everywhere. Sadly, the violence turned deadly, and ultimately 3 people died in direct relation to this rally. Heather Heyer, 32, was killed when a car driven by James Alex Fields, Jr.
was driven into the crowd. In addition, two Virginia State policemen, Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen, 48, and Trooper Berke M.M. Bates were killed when the helicopter they were monitoring the rally from crashed.
News about Charlottesville
Today, I was hard pressed to find information on the victims in the news. The first full page of headlines focused on President Trump's response to the violence. This is where we, as a nation, have gone off course. The bottom line is that the only people that support the alt-right is the alt-right. White nationalists have been around a lot longer than President Trump, and to blame him for the violence yesterday is just asinine. It is using every gimmick to decry and bedevil his presidency.
For such a large gathering to take place, one would guess that somewhere, at some point in time, a permit was issued. I could find no information about that either. Because TRUMP. What does it say about our society that we will use any opportunity to point fingers at the leader of our country? We did the same thing during former President Obama's administration, although not to this extent.
This has gotten out of control, and as a nation, it is time to work together to address the things that make us weaker. Pointing fingers isn't working together, and it doesn't address problems we have had since long before President Trump took office. Our presidents did not create the problems we have. We did that. Look no farther than your closest mirror if you want to play the blame game.
Ask yourself honestly, what have YOU done to address racism in America? What have you done to address criminal justice reform, or human trafficking, or the opioid epidemic here? Merely voting for someone is not doing your part. You have to work to correct the wrongs you see.
Affect a Change
Marching on the capitol, or Trump Tower isn't working to affect a change. Try volunteering for your local Innocence Project, or spend a day with crews cleaning up the streets of your city. You can work in local shelters and get to know the disenfranchised people you claim to champion. Until every person does their own part to help right the wrongs, your finger-pointing hue and cry will be largely ignored. If you don't like how things are, get out of your comfort zone and DO something. Don't just preach change, BE THE CHANGE.