As a small town journalist I feel somewhat obligated to say something about the events of Jan. 6 in our nation’s capital, but I’m still a little in shock.
It was sad seeing my parents, horrified, watching the events unfold on television. I am protective of them and think of them as still innocent in many ways growing up in the times they did. Our whole nation was more innocent back then.
But I’m no dummy. The “good old days” were only good if you were white.
Plus it was Mom’s birthday which made it even sadder. I told her I was sorry all of this happened on what should have been her special day.
Everyone wants to blame President Trump, but I don’t. These people have always been here. Kooks, conspiracy theorists, white supremacists. This is nothing new. They are not representative of any Republicans I know.
Look around you. Do you see anyone being dragged from their homes by the FBI? No? Me either. And that’s because our Republican friends and neighbors are not part of this lunatic fringe. They are normal, law-abiding citizens.
I didn’t know this tidbit of information until after the armed insurrection, but a lot of the Capitol building is underground. Because of this its communications and security systems are very sophisticated. Anyone who entered the Capitol with a cell phone is already being tracked by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency (NSA). It’s going to be ridiculously easy to find them.
I’m at a loss for words so I will let others speak for me.
From former Republican President George W. Bush, “This is how elections are disputed in a banana republic, not our democratic republic. I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions and our law enforcement. The violent assault on our Capitol, and the disruption of a constitutionally mandated meeting of congress, was undertaken by people whose passions have been inflamed by falsehood and false hopes.”
Former Democratic President Bill Clinton called the scene “an unprecedented assault on our Capitol, our Constitution and our country.”
Vice President Mike Pence said, “To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “A basic rule of democracy is after the election there are winners and losers, both have to play their role with decency and responsibility so that democracy itself remains the winner. I regret very much that President Trump did not admit defeat in November and again yesterday.”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the violence as “disgraceful” and said it should be “vigorously condemned. Lawlessness and violence are the opposite of the values we know Americans and Israelis cherish,” he said.
From Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, “Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people. Democracy in the U.S. must be upheld —and it will be.”
Fox news host Dana Perino perhaps said it best, “It’s going to be very important to try to separate those who were bad actors yesterday from the 73.9 million people who voted for President Trump. They weren’t at the Capitol yesterday. They’re hard at work.”
And I thoroughly agree with Ms. Perino.
Though this day will go down as one of the darkest in U.S. history, I am still proud to be an American. Tough situations build tough people. We will get through this like we always do.
God bless America!—K.W.C.
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