Earlier this summer, 194 House Republicans voted to reinstall the Confederate monument in Arlington National Cemetery that had been removed in December 2023, following an extensive review process by the military.
The political posturing in this case was a crime--literally a crime perpetrated by the Trump campaign when they bullied their way into conducting their obscenely illegal stunt.
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To Kevin's forum:
The Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson wrote today that "hauling a camera crew to Arlington National Cemetery and exploiting the fresh graves of heroes — using them as props in his presidential campaign — was more than a violation of the cemetery’s rules; it was more, even, than a violation of federal law. It was a deeply dishonorable act by a shockingly dishonorable man."
By the way, in the online comments earlier today, I posted this:
"At the Substack Civil War Memory, Kevin M. Levin has posted a compelling analysis of Republicans who spoke out against removal of that Confederate monument from Arlington, but who have remained silent about their party’s latest moral atrocity."
Thank you for writing this. We were at ANC the Monday before for the inurnment of two cousins, husband and wife. As you have noted, solemnity is pervasive. My son, a USN veteran of two tours in Iraq, has a buddy buried in Section 60. While we were there we learned that ANC conducts forty funeral per day. And they run smoothly, with every mark of respect accorded.
You are the first person to call out those Republicans - thank you for doing so.
There is no bottom, indeed.
Amen. Thanks for making the connection between the two things. I will send friends to this post.
(My dad, a World War II Navy fighter squadron skipper, and my mom are in Arlington for eternity.)
Thanks, Steven. I just responded to an email that accused me of engaging in "political posturing." Needless to say, I sent him on his way.
To that reader if she or he is reading:
The political posturing in this case was a crime--literally a crime perpetrated by the Trump campaign when they bullied their way into conducting their obscenely illegal stunt.
- - -
To Kevin's forum:
The Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson wrote today that "hauling a camera crew to Arlington National Cemetery and exploiting the fresh graves of heroes — using them as props in his presidential campaign — was more than a violation of the cemetery’s rules; it was more, even, than a violation of federal law. It was a deeply dishonorable act by a shockingly dishonorable man."
By the way, in the online comments earlier today, I posted this:
"At the Substack Civil War Memory, Kevin M. Levin has posted a compelling analysis of Republicans who spoke out against removal of that Confederate monument from Arlington, but who have remained silent about their party’s latest moral atrocity."
Very well said.
Thank you.
Thank you for writing this. We were at ANC the Monday before for the inurnment of two cousins, husband and wife. As you have noted, solemnity is pervasive. My son, a USN veteran of two tours in Iraq, has a buddy buried in Section 60. While we were there we learned that ANC conducts forty funeral per day. And they run smoothly, with every mark of respect accorded.
You are the first person to call out those Republicans - thank you for doing so.
Just the thought that someone in his position would even think about engaging in such behavior is disgraceful.
Well said.
Thanks, Ken. It's certainly not a post that I wanted to write.