The Sacking of the U.S. Capitol 2021
Trump Barbarians Sacking U.S. Capitol – January 6, 2021
Today marks the third anniversary of the infamous assault on the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump’s supporters. American democracy is based upon the cultural norms of civility, mutual respect, and reasoned-based dialogue. In their attack on the nation’s Capitol, Donald Trump and his followers abandoned the path of civilized politics and opted for barbaric violence. In place of reason and facts, Trump fell back on unproven allegations and incendiary rhetoric that fueled fear and anger among his listeners. He urged his listeners to attack the nation’s Capitol. Many heeded Trump’s call for action and stormed the Capitol. Once inside, they hunted down members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
While Trump’s supporters comprise a minority of the American public, they are vectors for the political contagion of authoritarianism and fascism. As a country we are vulnerable to division and authoritarianism because we have taken for granted the beliefs and norms that make democracy works. The body politics in America has become flaccid and atrophied as a result of complacency and intellectual laziness.
It is not enough to think: “Democracy is good and authoritarianism is bad.” Do we know what distinguishes a democratic state from authoritarian state? Do we know what procedural safeguards are in place to ensure that we have fair and free elections? Do we know how to discern the difference between demagoguery and reasoned arguments? Can we respond with facts and logic to fellow Americans who believe that the American government is in the grip of a vast conspiracy? Are we ready to respond to the political spin they hear from extreme right-wing media? If we are unprepared to engage them in conversation, we may be dooming them to remain trapped in the informational bubble of the Trump cult. A healthy democracy cannot thrive on the basis of polite silence. Democracy thrives when people speak out and get involved.
We need to look for ways to have conversations about politics in a civil and thoughtful manner. Democracy thrives when there is reasoned discussion. Conversely, democracy shrivels on the vine when we ostracize others or shun those who hold views different from ours. Democracy can also atrophy if we neglect to discuss politics with our friends and family. If politics has become an off-limits topic, then something is wrong in America.
Politics is not dirty or immoral. It becomes dirty and immoral if we don’t stand up for our democratic values and we allow the cowardly, greedy, power-hungry, and self-centered to enter the hallowed halls of democracy. In recent years, Americans have ceased to show respect to the Congress and have come hold Congress in contempt. Many are unaware that in doing so they are implicitly rejecting American democracy and are opening the door for an American dictatorship. There is a need for ordinary citizens to insist that civility, decorum, adherence to protocol be restored to the legislative process. We also need to reject political extremism and support bipartisan compromise. Holding the moderate center hostage to the demands of the extremist ideologues violates the will of the democratic majority.
We also need to reflect on the moral dimensions of democracy. We need to discuss how our commitment to democratic politics shapes our response to the moral problems in American society: economic exploitation of workers and consumers, White supremacy and the unhealed wounds of racism, and patriarchal domination that disempowers women. These moral issues (immoral acts or sins) pose a threat to our democracy. Injustice corrodes the social basis for democracy. To bring healing to our politics we need to repent of our national and collective sins and seek reconciliation. The recent prominence of the Fourteenth amendment–especially the third clause, which was intended to address the issues arising from the Civil War–is evidence that American society is dealing with the consequences of the premature ending of the Reconstruction. While the Civil War has received much attention, it is the neglected period known as the Reconstruction that explains the dynamics of present-day American politics.
The Sacking of Rome 410
The sacking of the American Capitol in 2021 has parallels with the sack of Rome in 410. The use of the word “sack” for this blog posting is deliberate. The Cambridge Dictionary defined “sack” as: “an attack on a building or town in which a lot of destruction is caused.” When the U.S. Capitol was sacked on January 6 great harm was done, not just to a building, but to a democratic way of governance.
The city of Rome and the Roman Empire did not end right away in 410. Rome would suffer several more attacks by the barbarians until the Roman Empire became a mere shadow in the Latin West. The parallels are worth noting because the United States and Western Europe see themselves as inheritors of the values and institutions of ancient Rome. Our indebtedness to the Roman Empire can be seen in the architecture of many buildings in Washington D.C., and the frequent appearances of Latin phrases in our legal system. We need to face the possibility that American democracy could disappear in our lifetime. That is, unless we stand up for civilized politics.
Visigoth Barbarians Sacking Rome – August 24, 410
The Year 2024
This raises the question: Will we see another peaceful transfer of power in 2025? In November 2024, the American voters will select their next president or reelect the incumbent. After the November election comes a short period leading up to the Electoral College in January followed by the presidential inauguration.
The peaceful transfer of power depends on both the victor and the losers accepting the outcome of the election. This is foundational to any democracy. The alternative is a violent transfer of power resembling gang warfare where one sides murders its enemies, bring financial ruin to the opposition, intimidates supporters of their enemies, causes mayhem in the street, and spreads lies and confusion among the ordinary folks. If there is no peaceful transfer of power then the legitimacy of the U.S. government is shattered. Many will wonder if the American people have spoken in the recent election. Confusion on this issue will tear at the national unity. The undermining of the moral authority of the U.S. government opens the way for hostile skepticism and even open defiance of laws and policies.
The year 2024 will be of critical importance for American democracy. Donald Trump and his fellow barbarians are still working hard to seize control of the nation’s government. It is imperative that Americans who love small ‘d’ democracy unite to uphold our institutions of democracy and organize to resist the threat of authoritarianism. We need ordinary citizens, community leaders, and political leaders commited to civil and reasoned political conversation. We need to get the word out that our democracy still works. We also need to affirm that we are fellow Americans even with our differences. What unites us is our love for democracy and our abhorrence of tyranny. These are the core values of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. While Trump and his Republican allies have talked loudly about the immigration crisis from without, they neglect to speak to the threat of the barbarians from within.
Ken
References
Encyclopedia Britannica. “Reconstruction – United States history.”
Hannah McCarthy. “Ask Civics 101: Why is the Peaceful Transition of Power Important?” nhpr.com 11-January-2021.
Sarah Pruitt. “How John Adams Established the Peaceful Transfer of Power.” History.com. 17-September-2020.
PBS Newshour. “WATCH: Luttig says Pence had no constitutional right to overturn election. | Jan. 6 hearings.” YouTube video: 9:03