Police protests have been growing over the years. Commensurate with an increase in police power. Such must stop and be corrected for the good of those suffering suppression.
Two more black deaths of concern in the past 24 hours. The nation is out of control. Beginning with the police.
A black man shot in a Wendy’s parking lot in Atlanta. I viewed the shooting on the internet. The scene one of police out of control in the manner they handled a simple situation.
The other in California. A black man was found hanging from a tree dead. Police claim a suicide. The matter is under investigation, including an autopsy.
One need go no further than the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence to understand there is no difference between black and white when it comes to the law.
The second paragraph.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. — That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED. — That WHENEVER ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT BECOMES DESTRUCTIVE OF THESE ENDS, it is the RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ALTER OR ABOLISH IT, AND TO INSTITUTE NEW GOVERNMENT, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, AS TO THEM SHALL SEEM MOST LIKELY TO EFFECT THEIR SAFETY AND HAPPINESS.” (emphasis added)
I have 2 major concerns.
The first is a government cannot operate without some sort of police power. “Defund” actually means “reorganize.” It should if it does not.
Society requires some sort of policing. Whether you like to believe it or not, people are not all the same. There are bad people out there. Some intrinsically evil.
My other concern involves property rights. Yes, there is such a thing as property rights. A person buys a piece of real estate, he owns it. His money paid for it, performed improvements, etc.
In comes a group of protesters. Most black. As in Seattle. They have taken over a 4 or 6 block area, including a police precinct.
I saw a black man at the protest site on TV yesterday explaining what they had p planned for that area (pointing) and then another. Not his to do with. He had not paid for the properties nor earned them.
Property owners have rights also. Not as valuable as human life. However to be considered.
If the police/black problem is not resolved, eventually you will have the blacks and property owners at each others’ throats.
I wrote yesterday re the removal of Confederate statues, changing names of military bases, etc. The point I sought to make was one cannot be selective in so doing. Do them all or none at all.
The question then becomes what is “all.”
Take Arlington Cemetery for example.
In 1900, Congress approved the burial of Confederate veterans in Arlington Cemetery. They numbered 482.
Arlington is divided into sections. The Confederate soldiers lie in section 16. Section 16 is not far from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
There is the Confederate Memorial authorized in 1906. Unveiled by President Wilson in 1914. Intentionally unveiled on the 196th anniversary of the birth of Jefferson Davis.
Since erected, most President send a wreath to be placed at the Memorial on Memorial Day.
There is a Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns in section 26. Dedicated in 1866. The remains of war dead arising from the fields of Bull Run and the Route to the Rappahanak River.
Two thousand one hundred eleven dead from the battles buried in Arlington. Some Union, some Confederate. Scattered remains across the battlefield within a 25 mike radius of Washington. The result of mass carnage. Remains could not be identified.
All buried together. One grave/vault for all.
The history of the land known as Arlington interesting. Reveals connections with both sides of the Civil War.
George Washington’s step grandson was George Washington Parke Custis. His grandmother was Martha Washington.
Custis inherited what he named the Arlington Estate in 1802. From whom, I could not determine. George Washington himself? I do not know. All I could discover was he inherited the property.
Custis wanted the property to be a living memorial to the former President.
So far, everyone concerned with the Arlington property on the side of the angels.
Custis had a daughter Mary. She married Robert E. Lee in 1831. The same Robert E. Lee who led Confederate forces in the Civil War.
When Custis died, he left the estate to his daughter Mary for the duration of her life, and upon her death, to her eldest son.
Robert E. Lee never owned the property himself, though he was executor of his father in law’s will.
The Lees abandoned the property at the start of the Civil War. Union soldiers were coming. The Union seized the property on May 25, 1861. The land had value from a military perspective. It was located on high ground and was perfect for defense purposes in protecting Washington.
The taking by the Union had nothing to do with punishing the Lees. It was taken strictly for its strategic value.
The first Civil War Union dead was buried May 13, 1864. There were 2 national cemeteries at the time. Both overloaded with bodies due to the War. Arlington not a national cemetery yet. Nevertheless, the 2 national cemeteries closed to any further burials the day the first Union soldier was buried at Arlington.
Arlington became a national cemetery June 15, 1864.
Arlington was segregated. As all national cemeteries were at the time. Arlington remained segregated till 1948 when President Truman desegregated it.
White soldiers buried in section 13. African Americans and freed people in section 27. Today there are 3,800 freed African Americans buried in section 27.
Arlington is huge. It has expanded several times. Today 400,000 veterans and eligible dependents are buried in Arlington.
The Lee home long gone, of course.
A law was passed soon after the War began. Property on Union soil could be sold for back taxes. One condition. The owner had to pay the taxes in person.
Mary, wife of General Lee, had failed to pay the taxes. All of $92.07. She claimed illness the day she was to appear to pay the taxes. She sent her cousin Philip Fendall in her place. The authorities refused to accept payment from Fendall as the law required the person who defaulted to appear in person.
The Union purchased the property.
Custis sued. After many years, the case was settled with the Government paying something like $3 million.
Now for the question. Should all the Confederate monuments be removed and as well as all the Confederate graves?
Many, if not all, will say no way. I say why not. What is good for one, is good for all. Otherwise leave everything alone. Do nothing.
The situation not as simple as it initially appears. I may be wrong. The question a tough one.
I apologize for not writing about Key West as frequently as I did. This is day 95 of my self-quarantine. If I do not go out, I do not know what is going on. When I am back in circulation news of Key West will be more prevalent.
Enjoy your Sunday!