As much as I would like to think that the two-party system is essential to the fabric of America, one party seems intent on ripping it to shreds. One of the weakest denials of what one believes is when one says, ‘this is not who we are’ despite the evidence. After the publication of the award-winning “1619 Project” critics, especially conservatives nitpicked it for accuracy ignoring its crucial points. The backlash became so severe that efforts to deny slavery’s role in the progress of America inspired something called the ‘1776 Commission.’ The title alone was meant as a swipe at 1619 Project’s author and accomplished academic, Nikole Hannah-Jones. Even the premise of the 1776 Commission was built off a revisionist lie propagated by Donald Trump (surprise, surprise). “Critical race theory, the 1619 Project, and the crusade against American history is toxic propaganda — an ideological poison that, if not removed, will dissolve the civic bonds that tie us together,”said Trump.
If nothing else has been learned from the past administration, truth is the only anecdote for the toxic poison of lies. Unfortunately, the GOP has decided that promoting lies, racism, sexism, anti-Semitism and now violence is the key to their future. Over the past two days, evidence was presented both verbally and visually that a mob of Trump followers invaded the sanctity of the Capitol, murdered a police officer, stole, damaged, and attempted to sell the property of members of Congress. At the heart of their insurrection was the outrage they felt over black and brown voters' participation. Today Trump’s lawyers used false equivalency, and innuendo to excuse the abhorrent behavior of the former president of the United States.
We know that at least two current government officials called for Mr. Trump to stop the rampaging and murderous invaders who were shouting for the literal executions of former VP Mike Pence and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) placed phone calls to the former president’s children to plead for the lives of their colleagues because they were ignored by the President who was delighted by the tv images of cops fighting for their lives. Much was made today of the use of the word ‘fight’ by Mr. Trump’s defense team. I think most of us are smart enough and sophisticated enough to know the difference between a political rally or an interview, using the word fight, and a rallying cry for a hyped-up mob in military tactical gear spoiling for a fight.
I used to tell my children when they would try to hide their wrongdoing with a lie, ‘I am not punishing you because of what you did, but I am punishing you because lying to me is like calling me stupid.’ Mr. Trump’s attorneys’ Michael van der Veen and David Schoen were calling the American public stupid today. They spitefully tried to deceive you with cut and spliced videotape and looped recordings of Democrat[ic] politicians, along with Johnny Depp and Madonna. Democratic calls for policy change is a far cry from inciting an insurrection. What they did not show you were mobs shouting the names of Democrats while rioting and calling for executions because they do not exist. Of course, their defense is for an audience of one and a group of Republican Senators who are looking to escape the label they have so richly earned as racist, xenophobic, sycophantic-sympathizers for their Leader-in-Chief.
Continue to Vote for Change.