David,

The saddest thing for me is the diversion with attacks on Southern and Confederate symbols from our real problems with mental health issues, racism and societal divisions that led to this tragedy. What a bunch of lemmings many in our society have become. The use of this terrible event for political, ideological and other self-serving interests is deplorable.

I'm also seeing the clear emergence, though I have long sensed it, of an anti-Southern hatred that means to call our ancestors traitors and "Nazis". Unfortunately, I believe many in academia have strongly contributed to this view, yet will take no responsibility for the outcome.

I remember another country that blamed all of its problems on a particular part of their society and the long-term results were catastrophic. Southerners are being viewed, much like that group and we may well pay a heavy price if we do not attempt to do everything we can, legally, to counter the propaganda and misinformation that is so abundant, at this time.

Jim Martin