The protests in the streets of America over George Floyd, have boiled over into protests over symbols – statues as symbols.
But sometimes a great moment. For in the hysteria over the Emancipation Memorial statue in Washington we have stumbled into – a Koan.
Just think, the protesters look at the statue and see an ex-slave, “free” but still left subservient.
Just think, anti-protesters look at the statue and see an ex-slave, ”free” looking up to the future.
Just think, historians look at the record and inform that the idea and,the funding came from ex-slaves to commemorate: freedom and Lincoln.
Just think, some politicians want to remove it from the public eye and relegate it to obscurity in a museum.
Just think, some Blacks think the past purpose doesn’t matter; it’s all about what it looks like to them today.
Just think, some Whites think the past purpose does matter; it informs what it looks like today.
Just think, protesters see America as evil even in the sacrifices made to end slavery.
Just think, anti-protesters see America having righted the evil of slavery.
Just think – How do you think? How do we think? How should you think? How should we think?
It is America’s Rashomon moment.
Do we have the will to think ourselves through to enlightenment? E pluribus unum?
Or is it our Pogo moment: “We have met the enemy; and he is us!”
common sense Blog 