Has civility disappeared completely from our political discourse?
What happened yesterday in our nation’s capitol went far beyond the rights of free speech and protest. As violent thugs barged their way into the Capitol Building disrupting the election certification process, U.S. Senators and Congressional Representatives scrambled to safety.
Rioters left a trail of desecration and debris smashing and looting their way through the hallowed halls of our legislative branch.
This is NOT the way we do things in our country. To say I am appalled is an understatement. Horrified. Bewildered. Angry at how this could happen – and did happen – goaded by the rantings of a truly disturbed individual who happens to be the current President of the United States.
But leaders of the U.S. Congress on both sides of the aisle are made of stern stuff. To make a point, the Senate and House of Representatives reconvened last night to finish what they started: certifying the Electoral College results for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Watching the televised proceedings last night from the Senate as members gave impassioned speeches with collective abhorrence of what happened in their midst, unity reigned for once (in a long time.) Civility also reigned as both sides of the aisle gave Vice President Pence a standing ovation for doing his duty under considerable duress.
“To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins; freedom wins; and this is still the people’s house.” Vice President Mike Pence
Attacks on our nation’s Capitol – of the like not seen since the War of 1812 – will not deter the democratic processes of our country.
At the end of a long day the results of the November 2020 election were finally certified by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives at 4 a.m. this morning. Joe Biden will become the 46th President of the United States on January 20th.
Who knew a largely ceremonial day tallying votes would turn so destructively ugly?
I don’t care which political party you belong to or who you voted for, it’s time to stand up and build bridges of understanding in our communities. It’s time to stop labeling and start listening to folks who may not share our views.
Working overseas in one conflict zone after another, one of the things I treasured most when returning home is our diversity. To me that is something we should celebrate, something that makes our country strong, what makes us Americans – a melting pot of cultures, religions, ideas, and ethnicities.
Where freedoms many people around the world have never glimpsed are the rule, not the exception.
‘Tis true challenges of monumental proportions face us today, but we still have so much to celebrate, so much that unifies us as Americans.
It’s not “us” and “them” – it should be “we.” In this melting pot of America where dreams intermingle with possibilities, let’s not segment our dreams as Democrats or Republicans or let our differences divide us.
Let us all of every stripe and hue become “we” again. Let’s dream together and work together so what happened yesterday will never happen again.
YOU + ME = WE
We are all in this together.
grace, peace & unity
Virginia
“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” J.K. Rowling