Ceding high ground

I believe that most Republicans today either espouse or at least knowingly tolerate blatantly un-American policies. I believe that systemic racism exists, that Black Lives Matter, and that the racist Confederate statue in Hot Springs should have been pulled down long ago.

I say the above as prelude to the following: Those of you who are vandalizing property, either government or private, in the name of the movement, and those of you who are seeking out violence in the name of the movement, are setting back the movement and giving the fascists grist for their fascist policies. You are, more importantly, abdicating the moral high ground that might otherwise serve to attract the supposed fence-sitters to your cause.

What do those of you who practice destruction and violence think, if you think at all, of Dr. King’s words: “Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral.” And “World peace through nonviolent means is neither absurd nor unattainable. All other methods have failed.” And “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.”

Yes, by all means fight, fight, fight for justice. But let the fight be a good fight. Fight with the power of love, not hate. In the words of John Lewis, “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” STEVE OWEN Hot Springs Village