Riots by Trash

I was getting ready to surf this morning when I saw a bunch of trash in the sand: beer cans, plastic bottles, wrappers, unidentifiable debris. Some people definitely had a good time yesterday but didn’t have the decency to clean up after themselves. It was sad to see yet even more sad thinking about what poor values these people have. They obviously only cared about themselves with no regard for other beachgoers and the community as a whole. They are exactly what they left behind: trash.

This was just a bunch of trash yet I couldn’t help but notice a similarity between what I saw and the destruction of the most recent riots. They are miles apart in damage but the actions themselves stem from the same mindset. It’s a mindset that is so steeped in one’s own self-interest that it causes one to violate even the most basic, common sense moral imperatives: don’t litter, don’t loot, don’t vandalize, and definitely don’t attack our brave men and women in blue.

Common respect has been lost by many, particularly by those on the left. The trash left behind is in front of someone’s home, the streets vandalized are in someone’s neighborhood, the vehicle set on fire is someone’s car, and the store looted is someone’s business.  “Love thy neighbor” means nothing to them because they have no allegiance to their fellow Americans, to their community, and to their country. Their allegiance is to themselves. They operate solely on their own self-interest irrespective of how much damage their actions cause others. And they do so under the guise of “social justice” and “compassion” but they don’t even have compassion for the people in their own community.

Last week I had dinner plans with my family for Father’s Day at a restaurant close to the riots in downtown Los Angeles. The restaurant had to cancel the reservation due to the imposed curfew. I felt sorry for the owners and the people who work there. My eye doctor is also located in the same area. I’ve been due for a check-up but postponed it indefinitely. I thought about all the wonderful people who work there and all the people who likewise had to postpone their appointment. These are the kind of people the liberal media never talks about.  

The rioters and the radical faction of the left in general, really hurt the Democrat brand. Their actions fly in the face of everything they purportedly stand for. Most Americans are disgusted by the chaos they see from these people—just watch a few videos on Youtube and read the comments. And their actions just reinforce why so many Americans want a secure border. We already struggle dealing with the bad apples legally and illegally here. We should be doing our best to ensure we don’t let more in.