I know we all want to believe that the events of 6 January 2021 were an unprecedented assault on the American Democracy.  Except, that is what the American Civil War was.  But, this still was the second instance,  perhaps as grave a breach as the Civil War- graver still.

Growing up, my school’s required reading included  Sinclair Lewis’ “It Can’t Happen Here”.  After finishing that book, it was always in the back of  my mind that ‘it could’.  We had inklings with the terrorist right wing groups that obtained in the West and the South (think Timothy McVeigh).  But, it took TheDonald and his minions to clearly demonstrate the how and why.

In my younger days, I worried about the inability of Black citizens in the South to vote.  I worried about the excesses of Lyndon Baines Johnson, until Tricky Dick  (Richard Milhous Nixon; did you ever notice – that it took TheDonald to show how the nefarious and the criminal in America always are announced with their names complete- first/middle/last?) arrived on the scene.

But, now, I can better understand how my compatriots didn’t respond as I thought they should when Adolf Hitler was rising to power.  How they couldn’t believe it would come to what it did.  (Notice:  Despite the myths- a frog placed in increasing temperature water doesn’t stay- it jumps out!)

But, on 6 January, there were no outside invaders.  It was part of the body (im)politic of America.   It was thousands of Timothy McVeighs leading the assault on the People’s House.  America’s own home grown terrorists.  (And, now they are populating the House of Representatives- assuming we do confirm a Speaker of the House and folks get sworn in.)

Despite the BS spewed by folks – after the riots- like Senator (sic) Ron Johnson that the folks stayed within the roped boundaries and were just ordinary tourists;  that Johnson  “never really felt threatened”, that these  were “people that love this country, that truly respect law enforcement, would never do anything to break a law”- these were armed insurrectionists.

But, here’s was Johnson said at the exact moments of the insurrection…

(Just as an aside, when my generation demonstrated in Chicago- where we had permits that the criminal mayor of Chicago (Richard Daley) revoked at the last minute- the only weaponized folks were the cops.  It was we who were attacked. As the police were attacked by TheDonald’s minions on the 6^th of January.)

To be honest, I am amazed that years later, a significant number Republicans still believe the lie that TheDonald won the election.  And, ½ believe there was no insurrection, no riots at the halls of Congress. This is the same party of fools who believed we- back in the late 60s- were leading a riot in Chicago, when it was really the police.

As evidence of the misguidedness of these folks, here is yet another choice quote, from Jim Jordan, who now extols rather than condemns these rioters.

There’s a host of bad actors (as shown by the Washington Post.)  (I added this after my post first appeared.)

We have to update the quote from George Santayana…

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

In today’s day and age, we must update his pithy quote to be “those who refuse to remember the past as it was are condemned to repeat it”.

Oh, and do not, for one moment, consider the insurrection terminated.  Because this assault on our voting rights with some 50 bills passed in 20 states or so is part and parcel of that same concept- to render a democracy unable to function.  No different than what Adolph Hitler did, no different from what China is doing to Hong Kong, no different from what Putin effects in Russia…

On this anniversary of the outward manifestation of that rebellion, we should take the time to see what happened for ourselves.  To realize it for what it was and is.

Here is the official report on tech 6th of January insurrection.

 

 

A new YouGov poll explains more of this..