Yes! Real change begins at the bottom! In homes and schools, our leaders need to set the example!

Unimportant in the Big Picture, but still a part of who you are now.

I love this statement. I couldn't agree more! I'd love to see schools start opening up these dialogues with children even in Kindergarten. I'd love for teachers to have these conversations and have kids take them home and have them with their parents. If we want real change it starts at the bottom, at homes and in schools.

Police in Charlottesville didn't enter the fray right away because the chief was afraid that the troops would get lost among the crowd and lose touch with one another. This is significant because had police entered the arena sooner, maybe as soon as things began, the violence may not have swelled to the point that it did. I can see the chief's point too, not wanting to lose touch with your force and perhaps some being wounded or killed, certainly would have added more confusion and anger to the day. The article also states that the protesters had said that they were going to enter the park from a certain point only and instead came in from every angle. I can understand how this would have thrown the force off balance too. I have to ask myself though, "why would you trust a group like this to do what they say they're going to do?" Obviously there was no way of knowing how bad things would get so they couldn't have brought in the National Guard "just in case." Or could they have done? Historically many of these sorts of protests turn violent. I don't pretend to understand the workings of government, but in my mind a bigger show of force from the beginning may well have kept things under control. I do not in any way mean to minimize the injuries and losses experienced by people that took a stand, I hope it doesn't come across that way.

Trump's immediate reaction to the violence in Charlottesville was to condemn both sides of the battle. He did not single any hate groups out. He also repeats himself regarding racism by saying "it's been going on for a long, long time." I think that this is significant because it was his first reaction. He didn't think to call anyone out or condemn the hate groups for their behaviour. Yes, there was violence on both sides. Violence begets violence. When you hear that neo nazis and white supremacists are going to march through your town you might think about arming yourself. The other thing I find significant about this statement is his repetition of a child-like statement. For me this makes a statement about the sort of man our president is. That is to say he's either not well educated himself or that he thinks his country-people are not that well educated. Perhaps some of both. I was glad to see other politicians stand up and say the "right" things.

Trump made many statements regarding the violence in Charlottesville. He did finally call out the hate groups by name and called for national unity. This statement was made by a White House spokesperson who seemingly did not want his or her name attached to the statement. The significance of these sentences is, for me, that there are staffers in the White House that would rather remain anonymous. I this that shows that this president has a staff that don't particularly like him or are perhaps ashamed to be associated with him. I have heard in various news sources that this is the case. I know that not everyone will agree on a thing, but to be a part of a thing that you don't want your name associated with is pretty bad.

Heather Heyer was someone who believed in equality and fighting for what is right. She wasn't someone who just talked the talk, she walked the walk as well. These statements from this piece say that she was afraid to go to the rally, but she believed in what was right so strongly that she went anyway. This is significant because had she not gone she would probably be alive today. Her martyrdom opened another line of conversation about the rally, bringing it home for many more people in my opinion. Her beliefs were so strong that she was willing to be injured or to die for them. It is people like these that can make the most significant difference. I have often felt the same way, wanting to help people and animals that don't have a voice. Many times there have been great lengths to which I would go.