Peaceful Transfer of Power
After George Washington voluntarily left office having served two four-year terms, his successor John Adams served only one, being defeated by Thomas Jefferson in 1800. There was no fanfare or commotion afterwards, the people had spoken so Adams simply boarded a stagecoach and headed back to his beloved home in Quincey Massachusetts. Along with the many other gifts they left us, our nation’s founding fathers gave us the hallmark of our democracy, the peaceful transfer of power. It is a trust that proves that we are a nation of laws created by the people who vote and decide our own direction. This magnificent tradition, as old as our nation, was fractured on Jan. 6, 2021. Although many today want to excuse, analogize, or downplay it, history most certainly will not.
Like most kids growing up, I always revered the National Mall and regarded all those buildings as sacred and magnificent. To me, they represented my freedom and all that paid the price to give it to me. My parent’s generation had to save it from a madman in Germany, so I made a point to learn about it. Those buildings aren’t just a place where business is done, they are monuments to the greatest nation ever created, one based on respect for all people. No one has the right to desecrate them or what they represent for any reason.
You probably remember what you were doing on that day when our Capital was assaulted. For me, while watching the events unfold from home, I noticed tears started rolling down my cheeks. I guess I knew instantly that it wasn’t just our government being assaulted, it was our freedom. The only thing that cheered me up was thinking that finally a line had been crossed that would bring the country together and we’d remember our common roots. Didn’t happen.
Here’s what did happen.
After losing an election and refusing to accept it, supporters were summoned to the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, to a rally themed “stop the steal”. Listening to one fiery speech after another, they were then sent to the Capital at the same time the final certification for President was to occur. The intent was to disrupt it, which they surely did. Alternate electors were submitted as well.
We all watched the events play out and witnessed the violence, death, and disruption of our government’s transfer of power. That disruption included inflicting terror and threats on Mike Pence, or anyone they could find as the invaders roamed the Capital halls hunting. This lasted for hours! Imagine if this were happening to our Capital as the Prime Minister of the UK was addressing Congress. What would you like your President to do who is 5 minutes away:
A) Get whatever military and law enforcement available over there as quickly as possible and take control of events.
B) Eat fried chicken and watch the violence on TV.
I struggled with that one too. I love fried chicken and a good program to watch… But seriously three hours? That’s a lot of chicken while people are running for their lives.
Afterwards, we heard from apologists that the rioters were really Antifa, apparently not realizing they were the wrong color. Then we heard they were plants from the FBI and intelligence agencies that orchestrated it. When that didn’t sell, we were handed the current theme, they’re heroes that can do singalongs! The assaulting of police officers, our government and our freedom was just a “love fest”. People died during all that loving.
When you stay silent during the desecration of the most basic foundations of our country, free elections, and a peaceful transfer of power, you are complicit in your own demise. This isn’t about party or policy, it’s about America and the rules, laws, and norms that make us who we are, free.
I used to think that if the world could be like us, free, respectful of others and productive, we could all live in a magnificent world and would eventually master the universe! But today, we are a nation that no longer does that for each other. Instead, we tune into our chosen media to find out what new thing we can blame on or hate about the other side. The other side? Here’s the secret our media will never tell you because it doesn’t sell like division does. There is no other side, only US.
There was a time when if a sovereign democratic nation was invaded by an autocrat, we’d unite behind the victim. But today we heroize the aggressor.
There was a time when if a pandemic would hit our nation we would work together to solve and eradicate it and then lead the world to recovery. But today we villainize our scientists and led the world in deaths.
There was a time if someone slandered our free elections and desecrated our transfer of power, we’d all demand irrefutable evidence. But today just the accusation is enough for many.
There was a time when if hurricanes hit our neighbors, we’d all join and help them. Today we have conspiracists blaming them on the deep state that they believe now controls weather. These are the same people that insisted that mankind can have no effect on weather. Go figure.
We now have a new election upon us. None of us knows who will win this close election, but there is something we all know. Trump will claim victory and fraud regardless. This isn’t a prediction, it’s a logical assertion of demonstrated facts. The aftermath of this election is yet to be written, but it will surely be extremely volatile.
There was a time when the winner of our elections was accepted by the losing candidate and the American people and concluded with a peaceful transfer of power. Today, we are on the edge of the unknown. Whatever America decides, I hope America accepts peacefully.
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