SUBJECT FINAL

As I have written before removal of statues of Lee or Stonewall Jackson is acceptable even desirable. Indeed they which were erected not because they were “heroes” in American history but as an expression of white supremacy after the end of the restoration period.

The fact that they were “slave owners” should not be the reason in for their removal. A better understanding of the issues about slavery is required.

First of all; slavery was a common economic necessity of the agriculture economy of civilization which probably preceded the first known Mesopotamia kingdom cities to the advent of the industrial revolution. The source of slaves were origin ally from war captives or children sold by their parents.

In the late 17th century and extended into the early 19th century. The Civil War was a last gasp at the end of that time in an attempt to preserve the South’s Plantation based wealth.

Secondly the 30 year’s war(s) of the 17th century took place in an Europe in which every nation not only had acknowledged slavery as a way of life but also participated in the slave trade which in its later stages had it sources in Africa where the supply was provided by African slavers.

However in Western Europe and persisting in Eastern Europe including Russia had a system of serfdom had evolved in feudal medieval times

“Serfdom represented a stage between slavery and freedom and therefore the oppression of the serf. A slave belonged to his master; he was bought and sold like other chattels. A Medieval Serf had a higher position, for he could not be sold apart from the land nor could his holding be taken from him. They were fixed to the soil. On the other hand a serf ranked lower than a freeman, because he could not change his abode, nor marry outside the manor, nor bequeath his goods”(source unknown)

Another system of servitude common in the16th/17th century was “indentured servitude” in which a person was bound by law

Therefore in early America indentured servitude or outright slavery was as much a way of life as living with a “smart phone” is today.

In today’s society to denounce Washington or Jefferson for having slaves is as reasonable as ISIS or the Taliban’s excuses for destroy ancient artifacts.

Likewise the damnation of Columbus who never owned slaves because he discovered America for the Europeans in an era of western exploration has as much logic as jumping of a roof. Yes let us engage in book-burning if that is what makes some idiots happy.

This will be my last blog on this subject. Too much else is happening every day that can impact on our lives and merits comments time permitting.

THIS WILL HAVE TO DO FOR NOW

Despite the clouds and mid 60s temps this Labor Day weekend is a couch potatoes delight. Even though he Mets are beyond redemption the Yanks are fighting to stay in playoff contention. They too may blow it; but wait until next year.

Not only is this the start of both the college football season but also of the NFL. Moreover in less than two months college basketball arrives. Who cares about professional basketball or the impending hockey season?

This leaves little time for blogging. But I will have to document my opinions on those monuments and Trump’s hypocrisies.

Just a little about those monuments. I have already express an opinion about the Civil War monuments; what was their significance not as a historical remembrance but more as an expression of White Supremacy. The Confederate flag especially north of the Mason Dixon line should never be disp0layed since it suggest a denial of our government and Constitution.

However Washington, Jefferson and Columbus represent our history and have nothing to do with a slavery issue. More on that later.

But to destroy them makes us no better than the Taliban or ISIS who have systematically destroyed antique heritages as heresy. Or the Spaniards of the 15th century that wiped out all traces of the South and Central natives. Culture and history.

Book burnings or removing traces of past societies and their faults according to 21st Century standards does not correct perceived past wrongs. Instead it substitutes a worse for a perhaps nonexistent older one.

Explanation forthcoming

THE PARDON

President Trump swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, which requires him to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed” Is his pardoning a man who has flaunted his disregard for the Constitution consistant with that oath? I believe not.  

Instead once again Trump has sent a message that he supports the extreme right.

This is our “law and order” President admired by James Fotis who wrote “By pardoning the wrongly convicted former sheriff, President Trump has shown he stands with the law-abiding people of our great country, who have the right to live in peace and safety. And the president has shown he stands against criminals, including those who have crossed our borders illegally.”

Trump has expressed his admiration for Arpaio as a strict enforcer of the law even though he has been also a persistent and legendary violator of the legal and constitutional rights of Latino visitors, residents and citizens. A person who detained them in the infamous “Tent City Jail”.

Trump may be paying a political debt since Arpaio endorsed Trump's presidential candidacy in January 2016, going on to appear at campaign events with the businessman-turned-politician and eventually speaking at the Republican National Convention.

Trump has defended his action as being more legitimate than Obama’s commuting Manning's sentence.

On that subject in answer to an annonymous’s comment to my Aug 31st blog “Today’s World:” “Would like to hear your thoughts on Obama pardoning traitor Bradley/Chelsea Manning”

“First of all Obama did not pardon Manning, he commuted her sentence;” Unlike full pardons, which extinguish all the legal consequences of a conviction, a commutation has the more limited effect of shortening a sentence while leaving other consequences intact

I am not as disturbed as you are about Manning I do not condone her leaking military information even though she was trying to call attention to antipersonnel actions of the military especially attacks on innocent humans as well as inhuman behavior against detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Nothing he/she leaked jeopardized our national security.

I cannot equate her case with Trump’s pardoning, which I am sure you approved, .ex Sherriff Joe Arpaio who was convicted of criminal contempt related to his hard line tactics going after undocumented immigrants

I suppose that Arpaio’s endorsement at the Republican National Convention and introduction of Trump at the Phoenix had no impact on Trump’s decision. Or on Trump’s repeated praise of him.”