01/07/21: January 6, 2021 is a day that will live in infamy. Its the day that the American Capitol was attacked by as widely described, 'angry protestors'. In their own words, they wanted to "take back their country". In effect, they wanted to stop the debate and eventual certification of Joe Biden as America's next president.
Following a speech by President Trump in front of the White House, the 'angry protestors' then marched to the Capitol, overwhelmed the guards, broke windows and doors and entered the building. Video shows them marching through, yelling and shouting, some taking furniture, while others desecrating the building.
Sadly, one of them was shot to death in the Capitol building. Its now known that she was a 14 year veteran with the American Air Force - representing the heart and soul of America. In total four people were killed. Tucker Carlson eloquently wrote, we need to understand why this happened. Why do a substantial number of Americans feel disenfranchised?
Additionally, what is the role and complicity of a media that is accused of being dishonest, biased and seemingly inciting and fuelling the divisions in America?
Who were these "protestors"? One of them was photographed wearing an Antisemitic hoodie that said: "Camp Auschwitz". He was wearing the slogan openly and proudly. Is this the America we want? Many of them were everyday people - an older crowd - of all ages who truly believed that the "election was stolen".
Freedom and Democracy is the hallmark of America. Everyone has a right to protest as long as there is no violence and the nation's security is not threatened. But on this day, the sum of all fears was realized in America on this day. The world watched in horror as Congressmen and Women hid under chairs and were led to underground bunkers.
World leaders released statements of support for the preservation America's freedom and democracy. Western nations like France, Canada, Britain and Israel watched in horror, saw the violence and worried about their closest ally and superpower. The truth of the matter is that there were serious security failures at the Capitol that enabled the mob to enter the building.
In an unprecedented move, Twitter shut down a president's account. President Trump was no longer able to communicate with his 80+ million Twitter followers. Was this an affront to free speech and to the office of the president? Or was this a comprehensive effort to ensure he no longer has the power to rally his base over a worry of an insurrection? There is so much here that needs to be analyzed and synthesized over the next period.
In another unprecedented move to stop the president from communicating, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg announced that he is blocking President Trump from his forum. He wrote: "we believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period is simply too great. Therefore we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely....until the peaceful transition of power is complete".
Biden has now been certified to become America's 46th President. There are still 13 more days of the Trump administration. The nation and the world is on edge. What will Trump do next? Will impeachment proceedings commence against him? Will there be a peaceful transition of power?
Either way, these are unprecedented times. Hate, intolerance and division. This is not a good start to the new year. As one American wrote on Twitter this morning: "Woke up worried about the future of our country. So sad about the loss of life and violence that took place yesterday."
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