Analysis of a Robert E Lee quote about slavery seems pertinent to today's conversation

[Yonnie3]

10. This is local, so it jumped out at me.

I was in the general area of it and was unaware of what was going on. People I know went there to counter, but they had dispersed already. I'm reading via Facebook that the police showed up very quickly after some sort of disturbance and the racists left with haste. I've worked and ran events in that park and permits were required, perhaps that is why they left so quickly.

I thought about your question about Lee and these racists and can't seem to get my head around it. I feel that Lee is long dead and what he thought and wrote so many years ago has little relevance today. I think that the statue and whether it stays, goes, or is modified is just a power game for all sides of the issue. The same goes for Lee himself in the dialog. There are just so many other things that could be worked on, but this debate is absorbing attention, resources and energies that could be more productive elsewhere. There is not enough affordable housing, there are drug overdoses every day, etc.

I despise these racist assholes. I'm hoping they get out of line and get some jail time. I don't think a Charlottesville jury would be easy on them.