American leaders have declared war on Nazis and fascist ideology long before this past Tuesday. We call those soldiers from the Greatest Generation who fought the Nazis "heroes" today. Seventy-three years ago we had leaders like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower who showed up and booted Nazis to the curb in World War II. Those two great men led us to fight evil half way across the world.
Fast forward to last weekend in Charlottesville, Va., where the modern KKK and actual Nazis, complete with swastika flags and riot gear, are literally marching down American streets. Why isn't my president out there protesting and condemning these fascists beforehand, much less three days later? And why is he now talking about "very bad people" on "both sides?"
When you fight pure evil, Mr. President, you are on the side of good. There is no debate on that issue. There is no narrative that paints the death of 31-year-old Heather Heyer, who was killed trying to counter the un-American goals of Nazi fascists, as some "flip side of the coin" argument. Fighting fascism is always a civic duty of anyone that loves democracy.
President Trump, there were thousands of Americans in the streets of Charlottesville speaking out against fascism and hate-ordinary citizens who wanted the world to know that evil will be stood up against in America. Leadership, Mr. President, takes more than painting blame on those that dared to speak out against fascism in equal measure to the KKK and Nazis. Leadership would have been standing solely with those that spoke up against hate.
I call citizens who fight fascist Nazi ideology on our own streets today "heroes" as well. Why can't our President show some leadership and do the same?
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John Carlson
Pine River
