A little graciousness after a fire bombing

North Carolina GOP headquarters firebombed

A Republican party headquarters in North Carolina was firebombed and a nearby building was vandalized and those responsible were still on the loose, authorities said Sunday.

The Charlotte Observer reported that the inside of the Orange County Republican Party headquarters in Hillsborough was severely damaged from the attack Saturday and an adjacent building was marked with spray pained graffiti reading “Nazi Republicans get out of town or else.” No one was injured.

“The office itself is a total loss,” state GOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse said. “The only thing important to us is that nobody was killed, and they very well could have been.”

He said Republican offices around the state were re-examining their security.

The walls over the multi-room office were covered in black char, and a couch against a wall had been burned down to its springs. Shattered glass covered the floor, and a melted campaign yard signs showed warped lettering. According to WNCN-TV, a bottle of flammable liquid was thrown through the front window of the office.

The violent act in the key battleground state was condemned by public figures across the political spectrum.

Although it is still unknown who is responsible for this, unlike Trump, I do not think it was done by Democrats, fringe or otherwise. Sitting here all the way out on the West Coast, I have no idea who is responsible, but I can take a guess (and it’s definitely a WAG). I’m guessing, because of the Nazi themed graffiti, that the fire bombing and vandalism was actually done by anarchists (and possibly alt.right type anarchists – but I could also be wrong). Why? Because that’s what they do.

The other reason I don’t think this was done by Democrats, fringe or otherwise?

Democrats raise funds for GOP after North Carolina headquarters firebombed

What started as a suspected political act of terror in North Carolina soon helped bring party lines together on Sunday night, after a GOP building was firebombed. Democrats rallied behind Republicans raising funds for the office that was attacked.

Imagine that! Democrats rallying to support Republicans! Color me pleasantly shocked!

Democrats launched a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $13,000 in just 10 hours. The campaign reached their goal of $10,000 before it closed the fund, no longer accepting donations.

Wow, that was fast – $13k in just 10 hours? Kudos to y’all!

So, who started this, and what was his message that accomplished that fund raising goal so quickly? A gentleman by the name of David Weinberger, a research fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School, and his message read:

“On October 16, a North Carolina headquarters of the Republican Party was firebombed, and an abhorrent threat was painted on its outside wall.

“As Democrats, we are starting this campaign to enable the Orange County, North Carolina Republican office to re-open as soon as possible.

“Until an investigation is undertaken, we cannot know who did this or why. No matter the result, this is not how Americans resolve their differences. We talk, we argue, sometimes we march, and most of all we vote. We do not resort to violence by individuals or by mobs.

“So, let’s all pitch in, no matter what your party affiliation, in and get that office open again quickly.”

Reportedly, over 500 people donated, with some leaving comments, such as:

“Not a republican, but we all stand together against such anti-democratic violence”, and “This is not an official effort of the Democratic Party. It is the effort of a half dozen Democrats (of which I am one). This is a moment for graciousness, not fractiousness.”

A moment of graciousness, not fractiousness. Something in short supply lately, as we bicker and name call, and yes, I’m just as guilty of that as you are.

We need more moments of graciousness, not fractiousness as was demonstrated in this instance.