Sad

[Hess1865]

I see from a news story today that mutimillionaire entertainer Jim Carrey has weighed in on the subject of the vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial.

And what did the alleged funnyman have to say??

[My Name Is Kate]

I wonder if it isn't connected to the recent NY Times article, where Lincoln was made to look like a Constitutional murderer and an enemy of free speech. OTOH, people who would stoop to vandalism probably wouldn't take the time to read the news.

Did the NY Times ever correct their (deliberate) libelous article?

[LincolnMan]

Here is what Carrey tweeted: "Green paint on Lincoln memorial. Ple are getting tired of corporate tyranny disguised as democracy."

[L Verge]

That doesn't sound positive to me. It sounds more like the "New Breed of Americans" that we have been discussing. I'm not a Carrey fan, so it's something I would expect of him.

Kate,

I don't believe there has even been a private response from the Times. I did do a quick search on the professor who wrote that article. He is not a professional historian, but does teach classes on the history of JOURNALISM. Unfortunately, we all know too well that there are many journalists out there who are very skilled at making little twists in the real story in order to direct it towards their views.

[Rob Wick]

As one who proudly wears my liberalism on my sleeve, I have to admit to some confusion as to exactly what Carrey is talking about. Oh well, he speaks for all progressives as much as the fringe on the right speaks for all conservatives.

Best
Rob

[L Verge]

And somewhere in the middle between liberals and conservatives lies what used to be the heart of America. How many of those good people who used common sense are still out there?

[LincolnMan]

Whatever Carrey meant, I think perhaps it speaks volumes about what he didn't say- that it is a shame that anyone would do such a thing.

[Liz Rosenthal]

Maybe Jim Carrey's tweet was just a poor attempt at humor. The problem with tweeting anything is that you have to try to pack a lot of meaning into very few words. This wouldn't be the first time that a famous person got into trouble for a poorly thought-out and/or hastily written tweet.

[LincolnMan]

Looking at reactions posted at Google, the feedback on his tweet is pretty negative.

[My Name Is Kate]

Here in the Detroit area two statues were defaced and damaged-but also stolen. One was of Lincoln and the other a Union Soldier.

Maybe I'm talking through my hat here, but isn't Detroit something close to being a failed city?

[LincolnMan]

Yes, Detroit is in serious trouble and has been for decades. I don't think Detroit is alone in the kinds of problems it has. My contention is that America as a whole is in trouble. I know everyone does not agree with this but I see that morality and ethics have been on the decline for a long time. When those kind of changes occur in a country, respect for things declines also. So when I hear that something like the Lincoln Memorial has been splashed with paint- I'm not surprised-only saddened.

[Gene C]

I agree Bill. Presiden Lincoln once said:

"...the will of God prevails. Without him, all human reliance is vain. Without the assistance of that devine being, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Being a humble instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father, I desire that all my all my works and acts be according to his will; and that it may be so, I give my thanks to the almighty, and seek his aid."

from "Abraham Lincoln - God's Leader For A Nation", by David Collins

[HerbS]

Lack of RESPECT is everywhere! Schools are too woried about test scores,than a conflict resolution program! We had a football player killed at a party in the inner-city of Rochester,NY.As concerned coaches,we attended a anti-violence meeting at the player's church.The minister told us that he knows that in every convenient store on every corner,guns,drugs,etc are sold.I said,"You know that and you don't tell the police."He said,"Do you think I want to get killed".I said,"As a man of the cloth,you are afraid-Then take me off this list".And I am a trained mediator in Gang Intervention.I was grazed by a bullet at a football game last year and I am reluctant to go back.

[LincolnMan]

Herb: we are glad you are ok! Did you hear about that recent situation at a soccer game where the player killed the coach for making a "bad" call?

[Rob Wick]

I've consistently heard this refrain that our society is coarsening and that it's a lack of morality, etc. Has anyone ever given thought to the proposition that there is a generation of people, some young, others not so much, that have a self-loathing almost engrained in their psyche? What happened in D.C. was frustrating, but the monument was cleaned and no permanent damage was done. We will move forward.

But what Herb is talking about is far more devious then hooligans defacing a marble monument. No one starts out life vicious. They are turned that way. As a society, we would be better off trying to figure out why two people brought up in the same neighborhood takes entirely different paths and what we can do to avert one taking the wrong path. While I was touring the prison in Marion, I heard a guard tell a story about an inmate who would never get out of prison. He started his time in Leavenworth but was sent to Marion after attacking another inmate. He violated policy at Marion several times by either attacking an inmate or a guard. Once, when the guard was part of a detail taking him to court to face another charge (this was before Bureau of Prisons officials installed a federal courtroom in the prison), the guard asked the inmate why he kept attacking people. "Every time you do this, you just add more time to your sentence. You'll never get out."

"That's where you're wrong," the inmate told the guard. "I get out. Every time I attack someone, you have to take me to court. That's how I get outside."

It seems to me we would be a far better place if we could figure out what caused that guy to become that way and try to change it.

Best
Rob