The truth changes depending on where you stand

Day 104 – I’ve come to realize that my day rarely works out that way I had planned.

I didn’t expect to get caught up in the middle of the Occupy war today, but I did. And I guess I’m cool with that.

The day began when I sent a letter from SC Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler to the press, calling on the SC Budget and Control Board to remove the Occupy Columbia crowd from the SC statehouse grounds.

Within three hours, Governor Haley called a press conference, later holding that press conference and kicking the Occupiers off the lawn. Twenty or so refused to leave and they were arrested and sent off to occupy Alvin Glenn Detention Center.

I just got back from a great episode of Pub Politics where we obviously discussed the matter. I am solely on the “kick their butts out” side, but like many issues, this one is not black or white.

In politics it is so easy to see the world as black or white. I’m right and you are wrong. For many, it really is that simple.

But the real world isn’t like that.

Two weeks ago Texas Governor Rick Perry pissed off many in his base for standing against special license plates for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Would he have pissed off the base if he had stood against special plates for the Saton Worshippers of Texas? Now, I’m sure that group does not exist, but you see my point. The truth changes depending on where we stand.

Here we see a bunch of folks “occupying” public space in protest. It is hard to stand against those people and when they ask “would you kick out the Tea Partiers” and we say “yes,” they have a right to laugh at us. It is easy for us to say that we would kick out the Tea Partiers, but until that moment comes, it is only theory.

Had Governor Haley stood against the Tea Partiers the way she stood against the Occupiers today, she would have caught all Hell from her base.

So, would have she kicked them out? She argues yes, but until that moment really comes, it is hard to say.

I honestly think the Occupiers should go and I think the Tea Partiers should to if they do the same thing for this reason – the statehouse isn’t a camp ground.

You can’t just go throwing tarps, sleeping bags, and port-o-johns on public property. It looks like a dump out there and something needs to be done.

But standing against a group who is yelling about their free speech is difficult to do. I just wonder why the occupiers don’t say the same for kids who want to pray in school. I mean, after all, what’s the difference in the publicly-funded statehouse lawn and a publicly-funded school?

The answer – not much at all.

And that’s my point. It’s all a cloudy mess. Here’s its right and there its wrong. Free speech is ok here but not there. Occupying this land is okay but occupying that land is wrong. Licenses plates for this group is okay, but not for that group. Tax breaks for this company is okay, but for that competing company.

The truth is not black and white. Sometimes, we are all right and we are all wrong, all at the same time.

Wesley Donehue

PS – The above picture was published on FITSNews.com and taken by Laurie Giarratano

PPS – Here is tonight’s Pub Politics: