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I keep seeing comparisons of riots this summer to what we saw today in an attempt to downplay the breach of the Capitol.
This is problematic for several reasons, so here’s my take.
I don’t have a captive audience of students to process with, so bear with me.
This is problematic for several reasons, so here’s my take.
I don’t have a captive audience of students to process with, so bear with me.
1. Destruction of property is an historically “accepted” form of protest against oppressive governments in an attempt to force change.
2. Breaking down barriers and storming a Capitol building is ALWAYS seen as an act of war against a sitting government. Whoever holds the seat of government wins. Attempting to take the Capitol isn’t a protest, it’s a coup.
3. For a little trip down memory lane, let’s think about the American Revolution and the years following.
We could compare the BLM protests this summer to the Boston Tea Party. A group of oppressed people destroyed property in response to their previous protests being ignored.
We could compare the BLM protests this summer to the Boston Tea Party. A group of oppressed people destroyed property in response to their previous protests being ignored.
On the other hand, today could be compared to the Whisky Rebellion or Shay’s Rebellion, in which citizens rose up against the government itself. Those are insurrections that must be put down.
I’d argue the response to today should be the same as the government’s then: round them up, force them to surrender, charge them with treason.
In a gesture of unity and forgiveness, Washington pardoned those convicted, which I’d encourage President-Elect Biden to do.
In a gesture of unity and forgiveness, Washington pardoned those convicted, which I’d encourage President-Elect Biden to do.
End point: empowering radicalized extremes is dangerous to liberty and democracy, and must be stopped.
And: If our democracy is to survive, we must move beyond individualism and return to seeking the common good of the Republic.
And: If our democracy is to survive, we must move beyond individualism and return to seeking the common good of the Republic.
