In this week’s AmNews editorial, the word semantics was invoked, and it has some application when it is rumored that Trump, theoretically, can tear down the Statue of Liberty.
The word at play here is “statue,” particularly as it is contrasted with “statutes.” While they sound almost the same, the meanings differ dramatically, but in Trump’s dictionary they are not dissimilar since on more than one occasion he has demolished a number of statutes in his determination to do away with a raft of our democratic rights, legal statutes that have been ground to dust.
One good example of this violation pertains to the rollback of civil rights. Through his usage of executive authority, Trump has rescinded legacy orders governing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in federal contracting, and redefined “sex” in strictly binary terms in federal policies. Another instance of his power exists in his resort to the unitary executive theory, which allows him to act without waiting for Congress to pass new laws, thereby avoiding legislative gridlock.
So, demolishing a three-dimensional monument, no matter its historical significance, may leave a pile of ashes and heartbreak to millions; the dust left in the eradication of countless statutes is no less detrimental and consequential.
