Personally, I am not a fan of “Executive Orders,” regardless of which U.S. President issues them. However, when our national historic heritage is at stake and when local police and city officials do NOTHING to stop mad mob destruction of our historic monuments, maybe I’ll make an exception, especially if a bill is also introduced to the same effect.
On Friday, June 26, 2020, President Trump signed an executive order to protect America’s monuments, memorials, and statues from those who seek to erase our history.
“They’re tearing down statues, desecrating monuments, and purging dissenters,” the President said. “It’s not the behavior of a peaceful political movement; it’s the behavior of totalitarians and tyrants and people that don’t love our country.”
Under the new order, any person who causes willful damage to federal property will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. President Trump will not tolerate violence and intimidation from a mob to impose its fringe ideology on law-abiding citizens.
As we all know, for more than a month, there has been a sustained assault on American civilians, law enforcement officers, public and private property, and national treasures such as the Lincoln Memorial.
“These attacks aren’t the actions of peaceful protesters—they are the violent criminal acts of rioters, arsonists, anarchists, and left-wing extremists,” says the White House, “Anarchy in our streets is unacceptable and anger is not enough.”
It is the sacred first duty of America’s leaders—federal, state, and local—to ensure domestic tranquility and defend the life, property, and rights of our citizens. In a letter to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday, President Trump offered a partnership to end the violence in Chicago and bring about real change.
“If you are willing to put partisanship aside,” the President wrote, “we can revitalize distressed neighborhoods in Chicago, together. But to succeed, you must establish law and order.”
Across our country, provocateurs who are ignorant of American history are attempting to rewrite it.
Some politicians hope to appease this mob by negotiating with the extremists who are destroying their communities and even claiming entire city blocks. (click to see details of Seattle’s CHOP zone in which two teens were shot, one dying, today, June 29, 2020. A number of other violent attacks have also occurred but have not been reported by national media.
Peaceful protesters deserve to be heard. Violent rioters deserve to be arrested. Real leaders can tell the difference, as the White House so aptly put it.
For Catholics, we’ve seen statues of one of the greatest influencers of California’s foundin, a humble, business-savvy missionary — Saint Fr. Junipero Serra—toppled and desecrated.
Even African Americans who should be proud of the tremendous influence some of those from their shared background have had in the the course of our United States history, have witnessed statues honoring these heros destroyed, as Fr. Rutler details in his recent column.
A mad mob is just that, mad. It’s power and chaos they’re seeking. Not justice. Not truth.
Thank God at least we have a president who “gets it” even if our local city officials don’t!
You must be logged in to post a comment.