There are so many smart and thought provoking articles around the web this week—here are a few of the ones we found most noteworthy.  

Guide to the solar eclipse: “On Aug. 21, at midday, people who live in, or have ventured to, a band about 70 miles wide arcing from Oregon to South Carolina will get to see the moon pass directly in front of the sun. For a minute or two day will turn to night.” (The New York Times)

How the late night set handled Charlottesville: “You can stand for a nation, or you can stand for a hateful movement. You can’t do both. And if you don’t make the right choice, I am confident that the American voter will.” (Vanity Fair)

Take the statues down: “The statues in public squares, the names on street signs, the generals honored with military bases—these are the ways in which we, as a society, tell each other what we value, and build the common heritage around which we construct a nation.” (The Atlantic)

Balancing silence and action, and creating safe spaces: “I struggle with saying nothing and saying something because I don’t want a lack of speaking up to be perceived as not caring. But sometimes words and hashtags and online sentiment feel empty when it feels like actions are what is needed. But I know both/all are important.” (Design Sponge)

Why Charlottesville became ground zero: “Racism exists everywhere in America and is baked into the foundation of the country, but few places could beat Charlottesville in its symbolic appeal for white supremacists looking to make a point.” (Hive)

Trump refuses to set a moral standard: “He abdicated what presidents from Roosevelt to Reagan have regarded as a cardinal duty of their job: set a moral course to unify the nation.” (The New York Times)