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BY AYIN DREAM D. APLASCA
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Predictable atrocity
FRIDAY last week, Aug. 11, I was more than a hundred miles away, heading into the northern part of Iloilo again. It was a sunny day and the lovely view of the mountains and rice fields figuratively took my breath away. It seemed like the proper way to usher in a belated summer getaway.
However, on the other side of the globe, there were people who did not share the same feelings with me. Last week, white nationalists gathered for a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was overwhelmed by violence. White nationalists and counter-protesters clashed in one of the bloodiest fights to date. They fought over the removal of Confederate monuments across the South.
The rally was expected to be one of the largest gatherings of white nationalists in recent times. It attracted groups like the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis and movement leaders like David Duke and Richard Spencer.
What was the thing about the past?
President Donald Trump condemned the protest which resulted to a bloody clash. However, he did not specifically criticize the white nationalists’ rally and its neo-Nazi slogans. He failed to condemn white nationalist groups by name who were behind the rally.
In short, President Trump did not respond toughly against racism. Charlottesville was in a predictable atrocity.
The incident was one of racism. Imagine, the marchers are waving Nazi and Confederate flags, calling passerby “nigger” and denouncing Jews. The incident also included a murderer terrorist racing his car down. The car plowed through the counter-protesters. It was reported that there were at least one death and multiple injuries.
This is a heartbreaking story that betrays the core of American values and principles. This incident should be in the hands of their dear President. However, their President should minimize the practice of throwing gasoline on the flames of actual existing civil war literally in their home court.
Frankly speaking, the incident reminds them of the dark past (and future) that the greatest enemy of American values and principles is America itself.
I just looked outside the window of the car. Inhaled. Exhaled. I hoped that peace will be with them.
(Atty. Ayin Dream D. Aplasca practices her profession in Iloilo City. She may be reached thru ayindream.aplasca@gmail.com/PN)
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