I'm pretty sure the state chose the statues, not the feds. Their other statue is Kamehameha. Kind of have to ignore that one to support AOC's rant of "white supremacy". I guess she can pivot to the patriarchy argument since it is two men. And while you seem fairly ambivalent to the Christian connection with Father Damian, I'd note that Queen Lili'uokalani is described as fairly passionate Christian herself. I guess that should disqualify her as well?

I am not going to lose sleep over this, but it does feel fairly pathetic to hear a national leader at any level (and hers is plenty high) feeling emboldened to decry the injustice surely represented by Hawaii's choice to honor Father Damian along with Kamehameha. It takes some real contorting to come to a place that holds this up as representative of a real societal issue. I am not a historian so maybe somebody will educate me about the evils of Father Damian, but it would seem like that kind of selfless service to other human beings -- whether you are Christian, Muslim, Jewish or atheist -- is exactly the type of thing that is worthy of honor. What have we come to when it now is said to represent something entirely different?

If this is truly a reasonable response to the current administration and representative of today's Democratic party -- it doesn't bode well for how we are going to figure out way out of societal division.