I sat down today planning to write about the new year being a time for a fresh start and my intentions to post more regularly; however I would not be true to myself without commenting on today’s events in Washington DC. Rather than dedicate a single piece to the New Year, I will instead share a few heartfelt thoughts that have been weighing on me for awhile.
2020 was a challenging year globally as COVID-19 took the world by storm and life as we knew it was suspended and still is for many of us almost 10 months later. Work from home, pivot and social distancing became the new norm as job losses mounted and the economy tanked. As the days and months passed, there was a growing disconnect between our nation’s leaders and everyone else. Streets were crowded with rage and hope during the protests held around the world after George Floyd’s death. As much as I would have hoped that things would change, deep down I knew better.
“And justice for all” still rings hollow and never was that more evident than today at the Capitol. Peaceful Black Lives Matter protestors were met with police officers in riot gear, while the National Guard stood ready to defend the Lincoln Memorial and other federal sites. Both in and outside of DC, armed officers unleashed tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray and other tactics to scatter BLM protestors. What a contrast to what happened in DC today. Protestors scaled the walls, pushed past fences and stormed the Capitol in response to Congress attempting to carry out its duty of affirming the presidential election. These people got into the building, no spray or mace or rubber bullets. The difference in the events……
I am not one to cry racism any time Black people are unfairly treated, but it is challenging to be “colorblind” in looking at the race of the majority of the people involved today and at BLM protests. There is no doubt in my mind that no BLM protestors would have made it into the building because they would have been shot first. The automatic response of the police is shoot first when the potential victim has melanin in his/her skin. This scenario has happened time and time again for centuries in this country.
There are many to blame for what happened today. Many will point fingers at the President and while he is certainly not blameless in this situation, the Republican Senate who has sat idly for over four years allowing the Commander-in-Chief to run wild is equally, if not more to blame than him. “45” has been true to who he is from the moment he stepped on the campaign trail while the Republican Party has reshaped its image to conform to its leader. While there have been a few open critics, the majority of GOP Senators have responded with a deafening silence. You have enabled, encouraged and empowered this entitled, narcisisstic man for 4+ years. What did you think was going to happen when his money and power aren’t getting him the results that he wants? Only now after the safety of the Capitol being breached are you choosing to speak out. Too little, too late.
Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” This is very true, but it shouldn’t have had to come to this for you to do the right thing. America has withstood and overcome many events during her existence and this incident is no different, because she is fierce. Unfortunately, the clock cannot be turned back and the damage has been done. Whether the reason was partisanship, fear of a tweet or damage to your political future is irrelevant at this point. The fact is you took an oath to represent the people and sometime during the past four years its appeared as though you were representing the interest of 45 instead. Shame on you; America deserved better.