Taking a Stand

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for enough good men to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke.

   Evil in America has raised its ugly head from a long sleep and has sent its devotees on the march, waving the flags of bigotry, prejudice, racism and violence.
   The current president of the country has defended them, claiming they have an equal right to express their views and their opponents are equally responsible for the violent confrontations at Charlottesville, Virginia.
   An equal right to have and express an opinion is one thing. Violence is quite another, and is not protected by the Constitution or by any other law or moral code.
   But when certain opinions are so vile and evil that they not only condone violence but openly encourage it, then society must take a stand against them and those who promote them, and to combat their evil results.
   It has been said that there is always a choice when faced with a problem: Change it, learn to live with it, or leave it. Citizens of America have decided that ignoring the existence of evil will not make it go away.
   It has festered in the America body politic for many years, and has recently broken out, spilling its infectious venom on the public. Now, however, key leaders in politics, government and the military are taking a stand against it, joining with the general public in opposing bigotry and violence.
   Members of Congress have repudiated the president's remarks that defended and excused the violence in Charlottesville, blaming "both sides." Others are preparing a Congressional censure of the president's talk and action.
   All five members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have said they will not follow the president's tweeted suggestion that transgender people not be allowed to serve in the U.S. military. They also disavowed the commander in chief's comments on racism, emphasizing that such attitudes are not tolerated in any branch of the American military.
   Next week, the president plans to attend a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, and there are reports he will use the event to issue a presidential pardon to former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was convicted of defying a federal court order to stop harassing Latinos -- including U.S. citizens -- he suspected of possibly being illegal immigrants.
   The mayor of Phoenix has asked the president not to come, citing the recent violence in Charlottesville.
  Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has already repudiated the president's recent words and actions, and is not likely to attend the scheduled rally.
   Whether the rally and the potential pardon of the rogue sheriff actually happen is still an open question, as are the consequences of opponents and counter-demonstrators confronting those at the rally.
   Stay tuned.