Just Say

If the ugly stigma of the word “politics,” could be forgotten just for a moment, I would like to remember Nancy Reagan’s words:

“Just say no,”

And reapply them to not the ongoing drug war, but rather to senseless destruction.

This is the second beautiful Sunday morning when upon opening my Ipad, I found inexplicable photos of utter and meaningless destruction of NYC landmarks.

And as I peer through the stories, I cnnot find any reprimands from those in authority.

I stop to wonder if officials are parents, do they also allow their offspring to cause chaos in family homes without rhyme or reason. I rather doubt that.

Yesterday another beloved monument(dear to all New Yorkers {even those in far off locations) was defaced. A painting of the Washington Arch traveled with me four years ago. It now hangs in my home evoking memories of an earlier life.

The marble Roman triumphal arch in Greenwich Village’s Washington Square Park, was famed for being beautiful and prestine in its utter simplicity.

The ugly message scrawled on it recently was senseless without apology or explanation. It certainly did not bring recognition of approval for whatever “cause” it was promoting.

Instead even in a far off home, I became angry at the governmental silence in a beloved city.

Destruction of landmark property has seemingly become a pattern accompanied by a tacit approval in what once was my home..

The first time it evoked attention was when St. Patrick’s Cathedral was attacked by protesters. Obviously, the protestors were never proud residents, who despite religion differences, always brought out of town visitors to view the magnificent edifice on Fifth Avenue

More recently, Columbus Circle was attacked by a group of “protestors.”. Apparently, they are too young to remember citizens once stood on soap boxes and preached their causes without violence or destruction.

My Father and I routinely listened to all three distinct viewpoints before entering Central Park on Sunday mornings. It would have been unthinkable to smash or deface what was merely an addition to the serene beauty of the day.

Today when I read about Washington Square’s arch splattered with senseless and ugly words. I yearned for the voices in authority to use the word No.

It is long overdue and may now be just too late.

But I have to question “Why?” when it is so easy to say.