We all know 9/11, but what is 1/6? The American mm-dd notation, in which the month precedes the day, and the fact that 911 is the telephone number for emergency calls in the United States, have turned “nine-eleven” into the worldwide term for the Al-Qaida attack that took place on the 11th of September (twenty years ago).
But what’s 1/6? It does not sound as catching as 9/11. And yet, what we have witnessed on the 6th of January, is the product of something more virulent, more contagious and probably much more dangerous. What we have in the United States is not one crazy man, who we have finally gotten rid of. We have a whole supportive, enabling, calculating Republican upper echelon (calling them elite somehow goes against the grain) that nurtured the ground, which allowed a Trump to become president. He was no cat-in-the-bag in 2016. But after four years, having witnessed the man and his actions as president, they then wanted him to win a second term. And it gets even worse: Many of the most senior Republican politicians of the United States actively attempted to overturn the election results, in order to keep their man in the White House.
These senior Republicans, the grey eminences behind them and the right-wing American Oligarchs funding them, are more dangerous than Bin-Laden ever was. We know what the USA has done, when it considered Ghaddafi, Saddam Hussain or Bin Laden a danger. The question that begs to be asked: what will it do with the culprits behind 1/6?
Nothing, is probably the answer.
It is a relief that what seems to have been a putsch attempt has failed. The problem, however, has not gone away. Mantras about democracy having proven itself are just empty words. Americans might not like to hear this, but the United States has never been a true democracy. At first only white male property owners had a vote. In 1920 women got the vote. Even when Congress passed the 15th amendment in 1870, to prohibit the denial of a vote on the basis of race or colour, the states found ways to prevent blacks from exercising their right. And despite further legislation in 1965 to ensure that blacks are able to vote, white supremacist hurdles continue to make it difficult for some blacks to exercise their rights.
The outrageous attempt of 1/6 should concentrate the minds of
the next generation of Democrats and democrats in order to build a fairer and more democratic country. And there is a lot of work to be done. To begin with, it is important to avoid any whitewashing and Congress should avoid a business-as-usual attitude. White supremacists are an enemy and have to be fought relentlessly, wherever they are. In one of his celebrated speeches, Churchill famously said: “We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.“
Good evening David, i recently said, that DT should be locked away. You asked why. He now has delivered it again very clearly himself. Hopefully the Senate will do the rest. ��
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your excellent commentary on the attempted coup d'etat in Washington. Yours is one of the few I have seen which shines a full light on the utterly deplorable role played by "the supportive, enabling, calculating, Republican upper echelon which wanted Trump
ReplyDeleteto win a second term".
The coverage on television which we saw here included a circle of black American athletes kneeling in the position of the "Black Lives Matter" movement. One of the athletes interviewed said "If it had been a black group invading the Capitol..."
Another excellent blog.
ReplyDeleteI think that we in the US have ruined the use of words like Patriot and Hero etc...they mean almost nothing now...
Dear David, I enjoyed your blog, as usual.
ReplyDeleteYour description of the dangers revealed by the events of “1/6” (you’re right, that’s not as catchy as 9/11) is compelling. I think you could broaden the explanation a bit by talking about the state of American society and politics more broadly and highlight that there were a small handful of Republicans...a very small handful...that opposed Trump and that fortunately, a small number are beginning to join them. And one must examine the situation about why 74 million Americans would vote for such a person as Donald Trump. The Republican Party has got a lot of work to do...needs to get back to its actual conservative roots...there was really not much about the Trump administration that was “conservative”.
The Impeachment process is an important step...you’re right that it can’t be just business as usual...and I think that Senator McConnell publicly puttin some blame on former President Trump for what happened on 1/6 is important. I hope it’s completed quickly in mid February so that the new Administration and the new Congress can get to work.
And, no we are not a perfect democracy...but I do actually feel quite proud of the way our Institutions withstood some very serious and sustained pressure the past year. The Courts have done their duty...perhaps to the surprise of many (including Trump) who assumed that “conservative Courts” would do the President’s bidding...Chief Justice Roberts may go down as one of our best Chief Justices. The Congress came back into their Chambers the night of the attack on the Capitol and completed their duty, certifying the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Georgia elected that same week a Black Senator and a Jewish Senator, both Democrats. The Biden-Harris Administration was sworn in on 20 January in a beautiful ceremony at the Capitol (I regret that there was so much visible security present but it was necessary to deter further assault or violent protest...and fortunately, none of the forecasted violence took place at any of the 50 state capitols). And President Trump was impeached for a second time in his tenure as President. I’d say the wheels of our democracy have not come off nor are they even wobbly.
"I’d say the wheels of our democracy have not come off nor are they even wobbly."
DeleteThis assuems that the political system of the USA can be considred a true democracy. It is the same system that allowed slavery and until quite recently segregation. A system which requires substantial financial investments from anyone running for senior office.
Morever, most analysts are of the opinion, that had it not been for covid, Trump would have been reelected. And then...All those Republicans, who now try to distance thmeselves from Trump, would have continued cheering. Think of all those senior lawmakers, who fought to overturn the election results. They may have lost this battle, but I do not believe that they have lost their spots.
Ths US system needs real strengthening, to my mind,to ensure that a takeover such a we have seen in the last 4 years, never happens again.