Letter to the editor: Striking comparison
To the editor:
In the Black Lives Matter protests, people peacefully voiced descent.
In the riot at the Capitol, people peacefully voiced descent.
In the BLM protests, considerable violence and property damage.
In the Capitol riot, considerable violence and property damage.
Damage to federal property (one could argue that the Capitol is more hallowed ground but damage to federal property in both cases).
In both cases, allegations that the people causing the trouble are from the opposing faction.
The fundamental difference that strikes such outrage at the comparison?
The reason that drove people to the streets in the first place.
In the BLM cause, people of color are being killed by white people, far too often. People who shouldn’t have been killed. Certainly not the way they were killed. And certainly not without consequence.
In the Capitol riot, why were people in the streets in the first place? Because some white guy is disappointed that he lost an election. And can’t come to terms with it and has lied and lied about it.
On the one hand, people are dying that shouldn’t be dying.
On the other hand, an old white guy is disappointed.
That’s why the comparison is so striking!
David Wolfe,
Lawrence
COMMENTS