Order over chaos

In Shawn Vestal’s July 4 romp around the pasture of idealism (“Civility isn’t always right path to take”), he makes a few points using history. His version of history, anyway.

Maybe Jefferson’s thoughts on slavery were expressed at the Constitutional Convention, despite his not being there, but many other Founding Fathers also strongly disagreed with slavery, too, especially Thomas Paine, who wrote publicly about it 1774 - even prior to Jefferson’s efforts to curb slavery in Virginia in 1778.

The original Declaration of Independence also had anti-slavery clauses struck out. Unfortunately. Rather than extol and name those Founding Fathers for being at least on the right path back then, Vestal’s premise appears to be that because they blew it 240 years ago, “civility” may now have to give way to get “justice.” He never really defines either term, but does say that “justice” is not always coincident with “order.” He obviously dislikes Trump.

While not in love with Trump, I think most Trump supporters do appear to favor “order” and the rule of law more than social and political chaos - and more than any version of “justice” that involves “incivility” like burning buildings and smashing windows to walk away with electronics, liquor and furniture. Vestal implies it might be time for more incivility to straighten things out. Enter the Bill of Rights and the Second Amendment.

It’s not open borders, and not even our Constitution that makes us unique as a nation. It’s our Bill of Rights.

Pete Caneer

Spokane