Another thought-provoking article by Roger Carlton, columnist for the Graham Star newspaper in Robbinsville, NC.
The great American author John Steinbeck wrote novels that
captured the angst and suffering of disadvantaged people. The Grapes of
Wrath was about the extreme poverty of farmers leaving the Dust Bowl and
being held in camps at the California border. Of Mice and Men was
about migrant workers and some very tough decisions regarding guilt of a murder
by a mentally challenged person. His last novel written nearly 50 years ago, The Winter of Our Discontent, was about a wealthy family that lost
their fortune and had to adjust to a much less privileged life style. Do these
themes seem relevant today? You bet.
As a nation and a people, we are entering the summer of our
discontent. Women are tired of gender abuse. The #MeToo movement has formed as
a result. Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Jeffrey Epstein and many other big
players have toppled from their seats of power and prominence. Abused women
have found the courage to speak out. African Americans can no longer tolerate
police brutality and form organizations like Black Lives Matter or take action
with peaceful protests or destructive acts. A rapidly diminishing 40 percent of
conservative voters are tiring of the chaos caused by incendiary tweets and
lack of leadership in crises like the COVID 19 pandemic. So, the question seems
to be who, if anyone, is entering this summer as a content person?
There is a big word in our wonderfully complex English language.
"Iconoclast" means someone who believes in the importance of
destroying icons, images or monuments usually for political or religious reasons.
There are nearly 1700 monuments and other symbols of the Confederacy that
remain in place today. These symbols are slowly tumbling down by negotiation or
by force. It is easy to understand how a Confederate flag symbolizes the
horrors of enslavement and racism to many. It is also easy to understand how
the southern iconic statuary symbolizes a heritage that is valued by many. This
dichotomy should be the stuff of dialogue and compromise. Unfortunately, it has
become too late for reasonable resolution.
There are other icons that have fallen into disrepute and need to
be erased. The KKK's burning crosses, the Nazi Swastika, the alt-right's WP
hand signal that stands for white power come to mind. On the other hand, the
goal of erasing hateful symbols or monuments to people who sanctioned or
committed hateful acts can go too far. Both Washington and Jefferson owned
slaves. Should we destroy their monuments in our national capitol? The Pharoahs
enslaved the Israelites. Should we destroy the pyramids?
This columnist has great admiration for people willing to risk
their careers to make a statement. Colin Kaepernick got down on his knee and
sacrificed his football career as a result. 1968 Olympic runners John Carlos
and Tommie Smith raised a black gloved fist during the playing of the Star
Spangled Banner. They were banned from the rest of the games. Both went on to
professional football careers. A sympathetic Australian runner stood with them
on the award platform as a symbolic protest to the mistreatment of the
aborigines in his home country. That ended his career. Closer to home, NASCAR
racer Ray Ciccarelli will retire over the decision to ban the Confederate flag
from NASCAR tracks. The key to my admiration is sincerity and not political
expediency.
Where is the salve to end the pain of this summer of our
discontent? Where is the leadership to make the necessary changes to end
police excessive use of force? Who will calm the rage we see in our
streets? Will we destroy all the statues and symbols that remind us
of our good or bad past? One of my friends wisely stated a few days ago----when
you attempt to destroy history you run the risk of repeating it.
