I have tried to avoid getting too political with my blog posts the past few months (see my post, "A brief hiatus" from July 11, 2020). Unfortunately, I really can't let the events of the past 24 hours go by without some comment. The 18th century political philosopher, Edmund Burke, once said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
I woke up yesterday morning, January 6, 2020 with mixed emotions. I knew the day would be eventful, for a variety of reasons. As of yesterday morning, over half of the employees at our hospital had received their first dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. More importantly, all of our employees had been given the opportunity to sign up for their first dose, so I felt that the time was right for me to do so as well. I scheduled my appointment for 6:40 AM - I was finally able to get vaccinated.
I also woke up yesterday to the news that the state of Georgia's run-off election finished with no major issues or incidents. These days, that's saying something. I was happy with the results as well, but I can certainly understand the disappointment on the other side. It used to be that there were clear winners and losers with our local and federal elections, and win-or-lose, everyone accepted the results and moved on. Whether you agreed or disagreed with the political views of the winner, you accepted the result and moved on.
And then...words just can't adequately convey what happened at the U.S. Capitol building yesterday afternoon. I heard journalists and politicians alike use words and phrases such as domestic terrorism, insurrection, mob, and coup, all of which were more or less accurate. The U.S. Capitol was attacked by a group of individuals who were inspired and incited by the current President of the United States. The attack was deliberate and clearly planned with the single goal of disrupting the Constitutionally mandated certification of our Presidential election.
Our current President, his family, and his supporters believe that the election was "rigged" and that he otherwise "won by a landslide." He has falsely claimed (among several other wildly extravagant and blatantly false claims) that the voting machine system "deleted 2.7 million Trump votes nationwide" - this has been directly contradicted by election officials who have declared this year's election to be "the most secure in history." The facts clearly state that he lost - facts now confirmed by state officials in the contested states, some of whom are members of his own political party. Political leader at the local, state, and federal level (including members of the President's own Cabinet) have stated on record that "there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud." The President and his legal advisers have filed more than 60 lawsuits contesting the election process and results. Almost all were dismissed or dropped due to the lack of evidence.
And yet...the President has persisted in his false claims and his delusions. Case in point, he tweeted out this morning (incidentally, he also acknowledged that "there will be an orderly transition on January 20th"), "..this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history." I don't think so. Not even close. As a matter of fact, I would make the claim - as many others have done, by the way - that his term represents the worst term in presidential history. History will not be kind to this President.
The facts are clear that our President and his supporters incited an attack on our democracy. Consider these statements, both yesterday and throughout his term in office:
"Liberate Michigan." (POTUS, April, 2020)
"Proud boys stand back and stand by." (POTUS, September, 2020)
"We're going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue, and we're going to the Capitol, and we're going to cheer on our brave senators, and congressmen and women. We're probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them because you'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong." (POTUS, January 6, 2021)
"Trial by combat!" (Rudy Giuliani, January 6, 2021)
"We're coming for you." (DT Jr, January 6, 2021)
There are many, many more. This national shame is on him. The Senators and U.S. Representatives who voted against the will of the people yesterday - they deserve blame too. They were motivated not by ideology or principles, but by power. They wanted power.
I am looking forward to our next President. His Inauguration Day cannot come fast enough. But make no mistake about the next 2 weeks - the United States remains in peril as long as this man is President. It's not a political stunt or hyperbole that a number of individuals across our government have called for the President to resign, have urged Congress to start impeachment proceedings (again), or the Vice President and Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment.
I have heard a number of individuals say in describing the events of the last 24 hours, "This is not America." I wish that were true. Unfortunately, those who particpated in yesterday's act of domestic terrorism, as well as those who incited it (our President and his supporters) showed the world exactly what America is about. We've been watching this President for the past four years. We know what he is all about, and so do the 74 million individuals who voted for him. I hope this is not our America, but I am no longer so sure.
It’s also been asked a number of times in the last 24 hours - what if these individuals had been black? Just look at the level of Capitol security before some of the Black Lives Matter protests this summer and compare it to the lack of preparation last night. What if these individuals had been black? I think we know the answer. And that is part of our America too.
We have reached a critical point in our nation's history. Who do we want to be as Americans? Who and what do we stand for? Not the America I saw yesterday. While I am proud that our Congress came back to certify the election, I am still ashamed that 7 Senators and 138 Representatives (all Republicans) voted against certifying the election results.
We have a lot of work ahead to change our ways. It starts with accepting the truth, like it or not, on who we are as a nation today.
One last point. I know that some of you won't agree with me. I wish that were not the case, but that is certainly your right. Respect my right to express my opinion. If you don't agree with me, please feel free to unfollow. We have two different views of what America should be. History will judge who was right.
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