Below are images of the Lincoln Memorial, which was desecrated on Monday night in an appalling act of vandalism: How can it be that the United States Park Police with a budget of hundreds of millions of our tax dollars allowed this to happen? How can a federal law enforcement agency tasked with protecting the nation’s most important monuments fail so miserably and spectacularly? The negligence and dereliction of duty is astounding.
The anger I'm seeing over the past few years is very unsettling. It didn't necessarily begin with TFG, but it sure escalated under him. I could point to many instances in which this anger began, but would be hard pressed to single out any one instance. Just in my small Southern California community a couple of nights ago, there was a very heartbreaking incident of anger, not sure what to call it. A local woman has been donating a Christmas tree for 16 years and setting it up along our popular beach trail. Over those 16 years, the community has added ornaments - many celebrating the lives of their loves ones or pets who have passed on. Or celebrating their families and the birth of a baby. Some of the ornaments are generic, but placed on that tree with love. The woman saves the ornaments and puts some of them back on the tree every year. She has accumulated many mementoes over the years. Two nights ago, some asshole or more, decided it would be fun to set the tree on fire. It burned to a stick, destroying most of the ornaments. What would lead someone to do such a thing? Getting some sort of kicks taking away something that brought so much joy to our community? Well, this community has rallied and two smaller trees have been set up and ornaments are appearing. I'm hoping someone saw something, or overheard someone bragging and the little shits are caught. In the spirit of the season, I just wish we could set aside our anger and bask in peace and love. I don't think it's too much to ask.
Trump has made people believe it’s ok to diminish other people , groups, government and institutional property and to just be mean. He has set the example and some people think if he can do it, then anybody can do it. He is despicable and disgusting and has adversely affected the civility of our country. It is so shameful that some people view him as a role model. Very sad and I hope that we can recover!
Hard to say "thanks" or "like" for posting this, but thanks for your post nevertheless. Ignorant vandalism, hurtful vandalism is on the rise in our nation. We have to call it out or it will spread.
Thanks. I do hope to start writing more uplifting musings. I just read Connie Schultz post about Christmas at her home. It's so well done, so funny, and so very American. It'll go a long way to remove some of the somberness of my post. Take care. And thanks again for reading my stuff.
I was born in DC and still live in the DMV. There are cameras everywhere. It is beyond belief how such an act of vandalism could be perpetrated at and on the Lincoln Memorial with no intervention. It didn't take 30 seconds to pull off, you know? If I'm not mistaken, while national monuments are protected by the Park Police, there are at least three other police forces in DC. And nobody saw?! Give me a break!
It takes time to go over the evidence and then to also track things down. We are too impatient with everything nowadays. Sounds like something the "enemies" of this country would do.
I'm not calling for instant trial and conviction. I would, however, expect the police to interrupt someone dumping gallons of pseudo-blood on the Lincoln Memorial.
I understand that too. Except what I remember about the location of all those memorials, is a rather vast location in after hours. I'm sure whoever did it knew when to go there to do it.
The desecration of the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall is appalling. They desecrated the legacy of not only Lincoln but of all who have fought in our wars and died to keep us free. They may as well spit on the tomb of the Unknown Soldiers because their disrespect has no bottom. I have no words to describe my anger at these misguided individuals. However, they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and not shown any leniency.
I went to school in DC in the late 1960's. early 70's and the Lincoln Memorial was my favorite place to hang out during free times. I always felt such peace there. I read the Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address so many times that I had committed both to memory. I am sickened by the actions of those who clearly have no concept of what it is to build something, they only know and want destruction. I hope they are caught and prosecuted. The failures of those entrusted with guarding our heritage come as no surprise. There are so many fronts to the battle to preserve our freedom that I fear that it will only get worse over time. I certainly hope I'm wrong.
The Lincoln Memorial has always moved me to tears as I read The Gettysburg Address. It's the most beautiful speech ever written by a president. The size of the memorial has never been lost on me as Lincoln's task was enormous. After he was warned never to have Frederick Douglas in the White House for dinner again, he had him there secretly on innumerable occasions. Douglas became one of Lincolns most trusted advisors. Lincoln most likely would washed the "blood" from the monument and got on with it. He was fearless.
Unfortunately, there are so many people who enjoy the freedoms, the protections of our institutions but know little or nothing about how we won them. These simplistic "populist" scrawlings can appear to have weight, to represent a truth. And they DO have weight. They weigh upon our collective conscience and we have to call them out for their vapid simplicity and lack of knowledge. This scrawling seems to represent a "movement" here in the USA. But there has always existed this undercurrent of anti-semitism here. It has never gone away. This "Free Gaza" is a new twist on the old message against Jews. But free Gaza? Sure. Get rid of Hamas. Establish a 2 state solution. Bring Iranian support for hatred and violence to a halt. Get Arab nations to, oncew and for all, declare Israel's right to exist as a free nation.
We have gotten lazy. Not all but it appears to be people at the top. Everything seems to be a job not a career. They put in their 8 hours (if that and go home). Look at our politicians who just left their work on the desk , because recess was more important.
It’s this laziness of character and failure to actually think that allows someone as mentally ill and intellectually deficient to be a presidential nominee ( and 91 criminal charges and countless fraud convictions).
It’s sounds good, I will take it, according to the vocal minority.
To stop Trump, people will have to go off the couch and get in the game . There are no rules in this game . It’s the preservation of or Republic form of democracy at stake. It, unlike Washington’s law enforcement, has to be vigilant and hardworking not hardly working. Remember this same Washington police ignored the warnings of Jan 6 and provided inadequate forces to protect the capitol even though they were warned weeks in advance.
You are so right, Eric! We have taken our great life for granted and gotten lazy. We had better understand what a threat Trump and his minions are to our way of life! They will amass power and wealth for themselves and our freedom will be gone. He is telling us what he will do and we need to believe him! We need to be willing to fight to preserve our freedom!
What were the vandals thinking? That thoughtless act of cowardice and vandalism makes me think that Hamas really is a band of terrorists and that Israel needs to do what it needs to do. At the least, it turns me away from worrying about Gaza.
not necessarily supporters of Israel. Just anyone who wants to make Gazans look bad. That could easily be garden variety Islamophobes. Whoever they were they were dumb
The sad thing is that we live in a world where one automatically wonders about false flags--there are so many "people to hate" that are ripe to be discredited.
merry rudeness to you, too. I am not saying what happened. That's what a conspiracy theory does in tortured ways. I am saying that in today's world even what appears obvious isn't any more--too many bad actors smashing others.
Whatever it was, can it really be upgraded by calling it thinking? Seems like the police could identify them by the knuckle prints they must have left behind.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention as I had no idea this had happened. Once again this is not the people who live in Gaza that have caused this vandalism. I hope the people can be caught and charged. My question is how was it allowed to take place ?
This desecration is a metaphor for the United States today. Memories of the past and its greatness are there for all to see but the eye goes to the sham. Just as the ugliness of Trump and the bile of his rhetoric are splashed everywhere you look or listen, just behind are the great and good and terrible but honest politicians who have served the country, none greater than Lincoln. That his honor is insulted in this manner gives you an instant health check on America today and it isn't pretty. Sure, thousands have been charged and many incarcerated for the atrocity of 1/6 but not yet the leaders and 3 years have gone by. Trump is splashing the hated but so appropriate red paint over a noble history of near 250 years and he seems unstoppable. There is so much to protect and yet the systems of protection are falling away. Trump and his people, for these are surely his people, are attacking America, in plain view, everyday, as never before and seeming to get away with it. He is making the Justice system a laughingstock. He toys with it like a kitten with a fake mouse. He is able to stop justice in his tracks with frivolous appeals and delays and he wins voters who are either Olympian in their naivite or stupidity, take your pick. People who deface the Lincoln Monument are defacing America because today they can. Get used to it or fix it.
And another thing about Trump. He claims that the blood of America is threatened by the influx of immigrants from Mexico, Central America, Asia, Africa, all non-white. At the moment he wants Blacks, Hispanics, Asians etc. WHO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES to vote for him and, worst news, many of those people are shifting to favor him! But if he thinks, (and Stephen Miller thinks) that America's blood is being poisoned, once elected why would he not then turn on the very Blacks, Hispanics, Asians etc. who voted for him, because he is a WHITE SUPREMACIST...period? If I were any of those non-white folks, I'd put my chips on Biden. Healthier. Maybe won't get trumpled. Duh.
I would suggest that any state run by Republicans would do almost anything to prevent proper education in civics, history and critical thinking skills because it would invite their way out of office. When Gerrymandering stops and the Electoral College graduates and elections approach a fair representation of the people’s will and the Democrats have effective control of the government then the things you want and need will have a chance. In the meantime it is time to clean house, I mean clean House.
Appalling is the right word for the vandalism but not enough for the vandals. Absolutely disgusting. This civil war is just starting. If police can't keep up with something like this, we don't stand a chance.... the MAGAs already threatened our politicians into submission and continue to. Now their target is the judges and the justice system... and next?.... us as individuals.
Thanks for this Steve. It's not enough, but it's something to try and keep the sorrow, depressionn, uncertainty and fear from overcoming us, but it won't be enough unless we change as a people.
It makes me sick to see that. The fact that we have millions living among us who are not very bright and in fact might enjoy this desecration is hard to fathom. I listen to brilliant people discussing our many problems and am heartened by the heart they bring to the task, then I see something like this and a blackness starts to well up which is exactly what they want, and is the reason they did this terrible thing. Yes this was a slap at all who love this country in spite of its flaws. I have no doubt that the desecration is being cleaned up as I write this, by people that love this country as much as any of us, what was done had zero nobility, in fact it was pitiable and so reflective of the maggot world view.
Steve, thank you again for a great history lesson! Your commentary is so interesting. I have other comments to other readers views about the seriousness of our country’s situation. But I just had to thank you!
These are OUR AMERICAN MONUMENTS. These vandals must be caught & prosecuted. We are a country of laws. Now get busy, arrest & prosecute to the fullest extent possible.
The anger I'm seeing over the past few years is very unsettling. It didn't necessarily begin with TFG, but it sure escalated under him. I could point to many instances in which this anger began, but would be hard pressed to single out any one instance. Just in my small Southern California community a couple of nights ago, there was a very heartbreaking incident of anger, not sure what to call it. A local woman has been donating a Christmas tree for 16 years and setting it up along our popular beach trail. Over those 16 years, the community has added ornaments - many celebrating the lives of their loves ones or pets who have passed on. Or celebrating their families and the birth of a baby. Some of the ornaments are generic, but placed on that tree with love. The woman saves the ornaments and puts some of them back on the tree every year. She has accumulated many mementoes over the years. Two nights ago, some asshole or more, decided it would be fun to set the tree on fire. It burned to a stick, destroying most of the ornaments. What would lead someone to do such a thing? Getting some sort of kicks taking away something that brought so much joy to our community? Well, this community has rallied and two smaller trees have been set up and ornaments are appearing. I'm hoping someone saw something, or overheard someone bragging and the little shits are caught. In the spirit of the season, I just wish we could set aside our anger and bask in peace and love. I don't think it's too much to ask.
Trump has made people believe it’s ok to diminish other people , groups, government and institutional property and to just be mean. He has set the example and some people think if he can do it, then anybody can do it. He is despicable and disgusting and has adversely affected the civility of our country. It is so shameful that some people view him as a role model. Very sad and I hope that we can recover!
Spot on.
I feel and join your anger. I also appreciate the appropriate prose, “little shits”, well said 😁😁
Hard to say "thanks" or "like" for posting this, but thanks for your post nevertheless. Ignorant vandalism, hurtful vandalism is on the rise in our nation. We have to call it out or it will spread.
Thanks. I do hope to start writing more uplifting musings. I just read Connie Schultz post about Christmas at her home. It's so well done, so funny, and so very American. It'll go a long way to remove some of the somberness of my post. Take care. And thanks again for reading my stuff.
One can express anger without destroying something.
I was born in DC and still live in the DMV. There are cameras everywhere. It is beyond belief how such an act of vandalism could be perpetrated at and on the Lincoln Memorial with no intervention. It didn't take 30 seconds to pull off, you know? If I'm not mistaken, while national monuments are protected by the Park Police, there are at least three other police forces in DC. And nobody saw?! Give me a break!
Yes. Especially after the overhaul of Capital Police following January 6th one would expect more.
It takes time to go over the evidence and then to also track things down. We are too impatient with everything nowadays. Sounds like something the "enemies" of this country would do.
I'm not calling for instant trial and conviction. I would, however, expect the police to interrupt someone dumping gallons of pseudo-blood on the Lincoln Memorial.
Seems like this act took some time and the Memorial should be watched at all times.
I understand that too. Except what I remember about the location of all those memorials, is a rather vast location in after hours. I'm sure whoever did it knew when to go there to do it.
It’s an attack on all of us. Have no illusions.
I think that's a bit overstated. Whoever did this doesn't know anything about Lincoln.
The desecration of the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall is appalling. They desecrated the legacy of not only Lincoln but of all who have fought in our wars and died to keep us free. They may as well spit on the tomb of the Unknown Soldiers because their disrespect has no bottom. I have no words to describe my anger at these misguided individuals. However, they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and not shown any leniency.
I went to school in DC in the late 1960's. early 70's and the Lincoln Memorial was my favorite place to hang out during free times. I always felt such peace there. I read the Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address so many times that I had committed both to memory. I am sickened by the actions of those who clearly have no concept of what it is to build something, they only know and want destruction. I hope they are caught and prosecuted. The failures of those entrusted with guarding our heritage come as no surprise. There are so many fronts to the battle to preserve our freedom that I fear that it will only get worse over time. I certainly hope I'm wrong.
The Lincoln Memorial has always moved me to tears as I read The Gettysburg Address. It's the most beautiful speech ever written by a president. The size of the memorial has never been lost on me as Lincoln's task was enormous. After he was warned never to have Frederick Douglas in the White House for dinner again, he had him there secretly on innumerable occasions. Douglas became one of Lincolns most trusted advisors. Lincoln most likely would washed the "blood" from the monument and got on with it. He was fearless.
Unfortunately, there are so many people who enjoy the freedoms, the protections of our institutions but know little or nothing about how we won them. These simplistic "populist" scrawlings can appear to have weight, to represent a truth. And they DO have weight. They weigh upon our collective conscience and we have to call them out for their vapid simplicity and lack of knowledge. This scrawling seems to represent a "movement" here in the USA. But there has always existed this undercurrent of anti-semitism here. It has never gone away. This "Free Gaza" is a new twist on the old message against Jews. But free Gaza? Sure. Get rid of Hamas. Establish a 2 state solution. Bring Iranian support for hatred and violence to a halt. Get Arab nations to, oncew and for all, declare Israel's right to exist as a free nation.
We have gotten lazy. Not all but it appears to be people at the top. Everything seems to be a job not a career. They put in their 8 hours (if that and go home). Look at our politicians who just left their work on the desk , because recess was more important.
It’s this laziness of character and failure to actually think that allows someone as mentally ill and intellectually deficient to be a presidential nominee ( and 91 criminal charges and countless fraud convictions).
It’s sounds good, I will take it, according to the vocal minority.
To stop Trump, people will have to go off the couch and get in the game . There are no rules in this game . It’s the preservation of or Republic form of democracy at stake. It, unlike Washington’s law enforcement, has to be vigilant and hardworking not hardly working. Remember this same Washington police ignored the warnings of Jan 6 and provided inadequate forces to protect the capitol even though they were warned weeks in advance.
You are so right, Eric! We have taken our great life for granted and gotten lazy. We had better understand what a threat Trump and his minions are to our way of life! They will amass power and wealth for themselves and our freedom will be gone. He is telling us what he will do and we need to believe him! We need to be willing to fight to preserve our freedom!
What were the vandals thinking? That thoughtless act of cowardice and vandalism makes me think that Hamas really is a band of terrorists and that Israel needs to do what it needs to do. At the least, it turns me away from worrying about Gaza.
Thing is, no one yet knows whether this was done by pro Gaza types or people trying to smear pro-Gaza types.
Interesting to find out which.
Are you suggesting that supporters of Israel defaced the Lincoln Memorial to make political opponents look bad? Really? Wow.
not necessarily supporters of Israel. Just anyone who wants to make Gazans look bad. That could easily be garden variety Islamophobes. Whoever they were they were dumb
I apologize.
Sorry. I took it the wrong way.
The sad thing is that we live in a world where one automatically wonders about false flags--there are so many "people to hate" that are ripe to be discredited.
I think you should peddle your conspiracy beliefs with Alex Jones. He's back now on "X" and I think he'd print this one.
merry rudeness to you, too. I am not saying what happened. That's what a conspiracy theory does in tortured ways. I am saying that in today's world even what appears obvious isn't any more--too many bad actors smashing others.
That post isn't even worthy of a response. It's that stupid.
gee, was that another Nora Dunn who responded??
Whatever it was, can it really be upgraded by calling it thinking? Seems like the police could identify them by the knuckle prints they must have left behind.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention as I had no idea this had happened. Once again this is not the people who live in Gaza that have caused this vandalism. I hope the people can be caught and charged. My question is how was it allowed to take place ?
This desecration is a metaphor for the United States today. Memories of the past and its greatness are there for all to see but the eye goes to the sham. Just as the ugliness of Trump and the bile of his rhetoric are splashed everywhere you look or listen, just behind are the great and good and terrible but honest politicians who have served the country, none greater than Lincoln. That his honor is insulted in this manner gives you an instant health check on America today and it isn't pretty. Sure, thousands have been charged and many incarcerated for the atrocity of 1/6 but not yet the leaders and 3 years have gone by. Trump is splashing the hated but so appropriate red paint over a noble history of near 250 years and he seems unstoppable. There is so much to protect and yet the systems of protection are falling away. Trump and his people, for these are surely his people, are attacking America, in plain view, everyday, as never before and seeming to get away with it. He is making the Justice system a laughingstock. He toys with it like a kitten with a fake mouse. He is able to stop justice in his tracks with frivolous appeals and delays and he wins voters who are either Olympian in their naivite or stupidity, take your pick. People who deface the Lincoln Monument are defacing America because today they can. Get used to it or fix it.
You have the right to protest but you have NO RIGHT TO VIOLENCE or to vandalize our country's Washington DC monuments.
And another thing about Trump. He claims that the blood of America is threatened by the influx of immigrants from Mexico, Central America, Asia, Africa, all non-white. At the moment he wants Blacks, Hispanics, Asians etc. WHO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES to vote for him and, worst news, many of those people are shifting to favor him! But if he thinks, (and Stephen Miller thinks) that America's blood is being poisoned, once elected why would he not then turn on the very Blacks, Hispanics, Asians etc. who voted for him, because he is a WHITE SUPREMACIST...period? If I were any of those non-white folks, I'd put my chips on Biden. Healthier. Maybe won't get trumpled. Duh.
Without proper education in civics, history, and critical thinking skills, we're doomed.
I would suggest that any state run by Republicans would do almost anything to prevent proper education in civics, history and critical thinking skills because it would invite their way out of office. When Gerrymandering stops and the Electoral College graduates and elections approach a fair representation of the people’s will and the Democrats have effective control of the government then the things you want and need will have a chance. In the meantime it is time to clean house, I mean clean House.
1. Clean House 2. Revamp -I do feel that Biden has the vision; Wake Up USA!
Appalling is the right word for the vandalism but not enough for the vandals. Absolutely disgusting. This civil war is just starting. If police can't keep up with something like this, we don't stand a chance.... the MAGAs already threatened our politicians into submission and continue to. Now their target is the judges and the justice system... and next?.... us as individuals.
Thanks for this Steve. It's not enough, but it's something to try and keep the sorrow, depressionn, uncertainty and fear from overcoming us, but it won't be enough unless we change as a people.
It makes me sick to see that. The fact that we have millions living among us who are not very bright and in fact might enjoy this desecration is hard to fathom. I listen to brilliant people discussing our many problems and am heartened by the heart they bring to the task, then I see something like this and a blackness starts to well up which is exactly what they want, and is the reason they did this terrible thing. Yes this was a slap at all who love this country in spite of its flaws. I have no doubt that the desecration is being cleaned up as I write this, by people that love this country as much as any of us, what was done had zero nobility, in fact it was pitiable and so reflective of the maggot world view.
Steve, thank you again for a great history lesson! Your commentary is so interesting. I have other comments to other readers views about the seriousness of our country’s situation. But I just had to thank you!
Thanks, Jane! Much appreciated.
Steve
It’s unfortunate that they don’t know who their enemy is. Donal Trump is far more threatening to any minority than Israel will ever be.
I never would have thought that MAGA graffitied the monument.
Thank you Steve..
These are OUR AMERICAN MONUMENTS. These vandals must be caught & prosecuted. We are a country of laws. Now get busy, arrest & prosecute to the fullest extent possible.