Scambling for cover as musket fire announces from all directions; the horrendous crackle and snap from massive all-encompassing fires moving closer; choking on the rancid air and frantic to decide what to save... besides your life. This was the scene on August 24, 1814 as the British invaded and burned down Washington D.C. No army available, President Madison called on the local militia and 100's of citizen soldiers answered the call.
Dolly Madison is credited with saving George Washington's picture, well actually her enslaved servant Pennington performed the task at her direction secreting it at a farmhouse away from the Capital. A city mostly demolished saved only by a freak tornado and thunderstorm that finally mastered the flames. But the historic Capitol and Senate wing were virtually destroyed along with the President's mansion and most federal buildings. Undeterred, the Senate met at the local hotel in September and held their next scheduled legislative session without interruption.
September 11, 2001. Screaming jets destroying the twin towers of New York along with 3,000 Americans; another slamming into the Pentagon and a third attempting mayhem in Pennsylvania barely thwarted by brave Americans sacrificing their lives to stop the attack. We cleaned up the mess and rebuilt.
January 6, 2021. For only the second time in United States history the Capitol was attacked bringing the legislators and the people of the country to their knees. No foreign power attempting to win a war. Not a nest of foreign terrorists attempting to bring down the country. But a "jacked-up" crowd of white American "patriots" (losers) irate because their guy had lost an election and then lied about it being rigged. A candidate who used his bully pulpit to stir a pot that was already simmering until his adherents collectively lost their minds already filled with extremist grudges and conspiracy theories.
Standing on a stage reminiscent of a Dr. Goodies elixer wagon selling "snake oil", he screams "Show no weakness! March on the Capitol. Stop the steal. I will march with you." Not. Fortunately he is a coward who never directly confronts, just exhorts, others to do his selfish narcissist bidding. His ego smarting from his well-deserved loss required 1000s of protesters to attack the Capitol and the legislators therein. Not just any man (and I use the term loosely) but the President of these United States! Four people dead, several police officers injured, untold damages to an irreplaceable 1800s building and an attack on the very soul of our democracy were all sacrificed on the altar of Trump.
At one point our representatives and senators believed they would have to fight their way out as the rioters smashed windows and crashed the doors to the legislative chambers. They were escorted to safety in the tunnels and rooms underneath the dome. Meanwhile upon obtaining their "victory" the rioters proceeded to: take phone selfies, sit giggling in the presiding officer's chair, played with the gas masks left behind, ransacked offices, took souvenirs and destroyed personal momentos and pictures. Brave little rebels: Profiles in Cowardice.
One can only conjecture: why there were so few police available when they knew 1000s of people were recruited to cause mayhem; why did they allow the barriers to be removed so easily; why were none stopped or arrested from the beginning; why was the National Guard not on standby until the Vice President finally made it happen, not the President. Why did America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, who of all people would remember the horror of 911 back this fool even crying "Trial by Combat" at the Dr. Goodie show? Why would the President not condemn the actions of his little rebels? "I love you, keep up the fight" he calls from behind his secure bunker.
But a funny thing happened on the way to Trumpie's coup. Legislators talked to each other, protected each other and found consensus. Aides and assistants bravely went back to rescue and secure the wooden boxes containing the electoral votes. All were shaken by what they had witnessed and most realized the farce had gone too far. They returned to the floor and picked up their scattered belongings. They did the work they had started before they were so rudely and crudely interrupted until they verified that the "little King" was completely and thoroughly finished. The next two weeks will be interesting.
How long this new-found understanding of how fragile our democracy is will last I cannot say. Democracy may have tottered, but for one shining hour they made sure it did not fall.
No comments:
Post a Comment