Sad

[Gene C]

Jiamei Tian is the suspect's name. Sounds Chinese. (Oops, was that a racist comment? Or am I guilty of profiling? Surely I must be guilty of something.)

I just found out that green is the traditional color of Islam. The plot thickens.

Green is also the traditional color for the Irish too. Wow, we may have a homeless, 58 year old, Irish, Islamic woman from the far east.

Seriously, I think it's to early to tell. We need more information.
As far as being guilty of something, I'd be careful of admitting to anything with this group.
Lauri just loves these things

[LincolnMan]

When I heard that the color green was used I was thinking it was symbolic of some environmental statement. Maybe the green paint was just on sale.

[Jim Garrett]

A statue of Martin Luther (not MLK but ML) located on Thomas Circle also got a paint job. These acts just seem so random. Would Joe B say they sound more like anger or pure vandalism than political statement? Interestingly, I was down on the mall very early Saturday morning taking pictures.

[LincolnMan]

Was it green paint used on the ML statue also?

[RJNorton]

Also Monday, U.S. Park Police said green paint was found on the statue of Joseph Henry outside the headquarters of the Smithsonian Institution on the Mall. Henry was the Smithsonian's first secretary.

Thank you to Jim Garrett for sending this photo of the statue of Joseph Henry.

[J. Beckert]

A statue of Martin Luther (not MLK but ML) located on Thomas Circle also got a paint job. These acts just seem so random. Would Joe B say they sound more like anger or pure vandalism than political statement? Interestingly, I was down on the mall very early Saturday morning taking pictures.

Whatever the statement was, I think immigrants who can't speak English that deface monuments should make every American's blood boil. The damage will require tens of thousands of dollars to repair. The woman arrested is allegedly homeless. Send her back to China and let them deal with her. This has cost us enough already. We have enough problem children.

[L Verge]

Not only was the outside statue of Martin Luther vandalized, but the culprit also went inside and splattered paint. This time, however, there was a little additive to the paint -- human feces. In the case of the Cathedral and Luther place, there is damage to the pipes of organs as well as very ornate and historical woodwork.

To me, the vandalism of these particular places speaks of dishonoring America's respect for democratic leadership, religious values, and educational institutions. That's just my personal take on it - if asked for a reason. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts and minds of men (and women)?"

[LincolnMan]

That is disgusting.

[Rob Wick]

Sounds to me like there could be some mental health issues involved.

Best
Rob

[Gene C]

Sure seems like it from what I've heard.

[L Verge]

I would like to know what evidence they have against this woman. Did someone see her defacing the chapels in the cathedral? Did she actually have green paint with her when arrested? Something just doesn't seem right.

The footage of her being hustled into a police vehicle show a very small woman. Of course, she may have a Steven Strasburg arm on her in order to hurl the paint as high up as where it landed on many of the objects -- especially some of the organ pipes at Luther Place.

I'm betting that there is a lot more to this story - and that more defacings will continue. Chain reaction, domino effect, whatever, it's bound to bring out more undesirable citizens or "guests" of the U.S.

[L Verge]

Just some further thoughts said much better than what I can say to express my love of the "old" America (with all its zits):

http://theblacksphere.net/2013/07/so-god...a-patriot/

[My Name Is Kate]

Something I"m confused about:

Were the Founding Fathers generally Christian and founded the nation on Christian principles but were too wise to specifically mention any religion, or were they Deists, or something else, and may not even have believed in God?

[Rob Wick]

The founders lived during the Enlightment, but were not of one mind where religion was concerned. While it's doubtful any were outright atheists (although Thomas Paine probably came the closest), they ranged from Diests (Jefferson, Madison, Franklin) to Congregationalists (Adams) to lukewarm Christians (Hamilton) among other classifications. All held some type of religious belief, but specifically did not mention any religion in the Constitution because they didn't want a situation in America like that which existed in Europe where the church held as much if not more power than the state. America is not a "Christian" nation, in the sense that we officially espouse Christianity.

Best
Rob

[Jim Garrett]

The founders lived during the Enlightment, but were not of one mind where religion was concerned. While it's doubtful any were outright atheists (although Thomas Paine probably came the closest), they ranged from Diests (Jefferson, Madison, Franklin) to Congregationalists (Adams) to lukewarm Christians (Hamilton) among other classifications. All held some type of religious belief, but specifically did not mention any religion in the Constitution because they didn't want a situation in America like that which existed in Europe where the church held as much if not more power than the state. America is not a "Christian" nation, in the sense that we officially espouse Christianity.

Best
Rob

Since most of the founding fathers were of English heritage, they were mostly Christian. Since Virginia had a very strong connection back to England, the Church of England (Episcopal) was the recognized religion of the state. In colonial Virginia, there was only Episcopal churches, all other churches had meeting houses.

---

I would like to know what evidence they have against this woman. Did someone see her defacing the chapels in the cathedral? Did she actually have green paint with her when arrested? Something just doesn't seem right.

The footage of her being hustled into a police vehicle show a very small woman. Of course, she may have a Steven Strasburg arm on her in order to hurl the paint as high up as where it landed on many of the objects -- especially some of the organ pipes at Luther Place.

I'm betting that there is a lot more to this story - and that more defacings will continue. Chain reaction, domino effect, whatever, it's bound to bring out more undesirable citizens or "guests" of the U.S.

The other thing that bothers me, Laurie......if this woman is homeless, think about the mobility issue. She supposedly defaces the Lincoln Memorial and the statue of the Smithsonian's first secretary. Easy walking distance from each other. The statue of Martin Luther is a pretty good hike from the mall. Then to go way up Massachusetts Ave to the National Cathedral? How was she suppose to be getting around, and why the choice of targets. I'm with you Laurie, more questions than answers.