Marissa's writings about individual rights, justice, neurodiversity, and being different from the norm
Another piece of positive news: the site of a huge Confederate battle flag in Alabama has been spruced up with a new sign. The flag, along highway I-65 between Montgomery and Birmingham, is maintained by the Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp. It received a new, permanent sign this past weekend after the previous one was destroyed by a storm.
Source: Dixie Forever
More photos can be seen at this Facebook post by the Prattville Dragoons.
Another piece of excellent news regarding statues: the Confederate monument at Arlington National Cemetery will be put back up!
Last night, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued the following statement:
“I’m proud to announce that Moses Ezekiel’s beautiful and historic sculpture — often referred to as ‘The Reconciliation Monument’ – will be rightfully returned to Arlington National Cemetery near his burial site. It never should have been taken down by woke lemmings. Unlike the Left, we don’t believe in erasing American history – we honor it.”
What happened at Arlington National Cemetery in December of 2023 was one of the absolute worst atrocities committed as part of the statue genocide. Proponents of the genocide frequently argue that statues of unpopular historical figures do not belong in public parks or city squares, and that it is more appropriate for them to be located at museums, battlefields, or cemeteries. But this statue was located in a cemetery, marking soldiers’ graves, and people still demanded that it be removed.
Now, this wrong will be righted. This atrocity will be undone. Just as with the Albert Pike statue that I posted about yesterday, on this monument, the bullies have lost. The trauma inflicted by the statue genocide will never fully heal, and most likely the majority of these sickening instances of destruction will never be reversed. But two particularly despicable instances will actually be reversed, if everything goes according to plan. And that is something that, a year ago, I did not think possible. Things like this are exactly why I voted for Donald Trump. I am thrilled by this amazing news. Hallelujah!
Here are some links to posts and coverage:
A truly fantastic piece of news: the statue of Albert Pike, sickeningly attacked and destroyed by vicious bigots on Juneteenth of 2020, will be put back up.
According to the National Review, the National Park Service will be re-erecting the statue in October. “The restoration aligns with federal responsibilities under historic preservation law as well as recent executive orders to beautify the nation’s capital and re-instate preexisting statues,” the NPS said.
It’s not clear exactly where Pike will be going, but this is excellent news indeed. Pike was both a Freemason leader and a Confederate general, and his statue depicts him wearing Masonic garb, making it somewhat unique. The statue had been severely damaged in the disgusting attack and had been held in storage by the NPS. My guess is that repairs have been done on the statue behind the scenes, making him ready for his resurrection.
At the time of the appalling act of intolerance, President Trump called the police’s failure to intervene “a disgrace to our country.” I wholeheartedly agree with him. Trump also personally asked for the statue to be re-erected, but with so many things going on at the time, and with his term nearing an end, he lacked the leverage to make this happen. Five years later, it is happening. Just like me, President Trump never forgot about this statue. This is exactly why I voted for Trump. Pike’s resurrection demonstrates that to President Trump, my perspective matters, my feelings matter, and my life matters.
The images of what was done to the Pike statue on Juneteenth of 2020 are absolutely horrifying and will live in my consciousness forever. Reading the description of what happened – which I will not reproduce here – makes me sick to my stomach, and probably always will. It is completely incomprehensible that a person – let alone multiple people – would choose to do this to a statue. An innocent statue, that never hurt anyone. A statue that signifies people who are different from the norm, and our right to be accepted and included in society. There are no words adequate to the task of fully expressing my hatred of this action and the people who committed it.
(I appreciate the National Review‘s characterization of the perpetrators as “rioters protesting against what they saw as racial injustice.” Emphasis added by me, to point out some very important words that most media outlets do not bother to include, but all should be required to.)
I’ve sustained so much trauma on the subject of statues that any positive news on this topic seems, on some level, too good to be true. But if Pike’s resurrection does indeed come to pass, it means that on this particular statue, the bullies lost.
The bullies, who have no tolerance for anyone different from themselves, no empathy, no regard for others’ perspectives, feelings, viewpoints, or thoughts.
The bullies who chose to celebrate Juneteenth by engaging in a vicious demonstration of intolerance and cruelty.
The bullies whose goal is the obliteration of anyone who is different.
They lost.
And there is nothing more beautiful than that.
PS: Confederate Coffee Company phrased it pretty eloquently as well:
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According to the Italian American Alliance, the Massachusetts Republican Party has unanimously passed a resolution in support of Columbus Day:
“On Thursday July 31st, the Massachusetts Republican State Committee held their quarterly meeting. One of the resolutions to be voted on was offered by State Committeeman Nicholas Miceli. Mr. Miceli was unable to attend the meeting due to a prior commitment in Washington DC and so extended the honor of reading the Resolution to Virginia (Papa) Gardner, Chair of the National Chapter of the Italian American Alliance. The resolution was passed unanimously.”
The full text of the resolution is as follows:
Whereas: The Massachusetts Republican Party stands with the Commonwealth’s Italian Americans, Spanish Americans, Catholic Americans, historians, and other devoted citizens in steadfastly supporting preservation of the second Monday of October as “Columbus Day” which is currently the federally recognized holiday.
Whereas: The Massachusetts Republican Party acknowledges the history of the holiday. Columbus Day was instituted as part of an agreement between the United States and Italy to avoid a pending war in the aftermath of the horrific lynching of eleven Italians in New Orleans in 1891. Ever after, it has been commemorated for Italians to celebrate their heritage and collective contributions to the United States.
Whereas: The Knights of Columbus celebrate Columbus Day, knowing that the explorer brought Christianity to the New World – giving voice and representation to generations of Catholics.
Whereas: We already honor and celebrate the Indigenous community, on Native American Heritage Day the Friday after Thanksgiving in November.
Whereas: The Massachusetts Republican Party stands with the sentiment expressed by President Donald J. Trump who stated that he is “bringing Columbus Day back from the ashes.”
Be It Resolved: That the Massachusetts Republican Party stands in opposition to the repeal of the Federal Holiday of Columbus Day. The Massachusetts Republican Party will stand against canceling the historical figure who has served as a symbol of pride for many Americans and:
1. Recognize Columbus Day
2. Oppose the destruction of Columbus statues
3. Acknowledge the discrimination against Italian Americans
4. Oppose efforts to erase culture
5. Stand against hate of ALL ethnic groups
6. Celebrate both Italian and Indigenous peoples both on their respective holidays
Thank you to the MassGOP for taking a stand for what is right.
(source here)
I agree 100% with the following post from the Firearms Policy Coalition:
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To implement a $4,709 tax on gun products is mean-spirited and despicable. By proposing doing so, Murphy demonstrates his aggressive bigotry and his contempt for people who are different from him.
Sickeningly, the organization Brady United Against Gun Violence thanked Murphy “for introducing this critical amendment to strike the provision in the big UGLY bill that removed taxes on deadly silencers & other uniquely lethal weapons, and instead adjust taxes to reflect inflation today.”
First of all, Murphy’s amendment is not “critical” – it’s actually critical not to pass an amendment like Murphy’s because it violates people’s rights. Second, the bill in question is not “UGLY” as Brady nastily claims. It is called the Big, Beautiful Bill, and for the most part it lives up to that name. Third, taxes on silencers and other gun products should not be adjusted to reflect inflation. They should be eliminated, exactly as the provision in the Big, Beautiful Bill does, because people are not doing anything wrong by buying these products, and therefore should not be punished with an exorbitant tax for doing so.
Both Chris Murphy as an individual, and Brady as an organization, are dedicated to hurting people who are different from them, punishing people who have done nothing wrong, and violating people’s fundamental rights, They act as if hurting and punishing innocent people somehow gives them the moral high ground, when in reality that is the exact opposite of the truth. Seeing them sycophantically praise each other for their hurtful and mean-spirited actions is disgusting. It’s about time that these actions and words be called what they are: immoral.
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“A gunman from a state with weak gun laws”
As a commenter on the post wrote, “‘Weak gun laws’ you mean states that don’t infringe on the 2nd amendment.”
Yup. States that actually – gasp! – respect people’s fundamental rights. Can’t have that, apparently.
News flash, Governor Hochul: Respecting people’s fundamental rights is not “weak.”
It’s a basic moral obligation.
It’s basic human decency.
There’s nothing “strong” about punishing innocent people for the actions of others.
There’s nothing “strong” about violating people’s fundamental rights.
How about, when a person does something bad, we actually blame the person, rather than blaming the government for not violating the rights of all people in an attempt to prevent a person from doing something bad?
Just a thought.
Some good news out of Charleston, South Carolina: the Robert E. Lee highway marker that was removed by intolerant bullies as part of the statue genocide will be coming back! The highway marker, which was cruelly removed on July 20, 2021, will be put back up in a prominent location within the city. The American Heritage Association sued to reverse the removal, and its president, Brett Barry, said: “President Trump has provided Americans an opportunity to turn the tide in the historical monument debate, and we are succeeding.”
Although this is only one small victory in the fight to reverse the statue genocide, it is a step in the right direction.
Source: Dixie Forever
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Bingo!
I would also add, hate for people who have trouble making friends, people who are bullied, people who don’t fit in, people who think for themselves, people who hold minority views, people who resist authority, people who decline medical interventions, and people who are different from the norm in any way.
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Attention, racist bigot: maybe stop generalizing about, criticizing, and insulting people based on their race. Just a thought.
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No one’s rights or liberties should ever, ever depend on the conduct of other people.
No one should ever have their rights or liberties taken away because of the actions of others.
To do so is to punish one person for the actions of another. And punishing people for the actions of others is never, ever okay.