Especially Exhausting
I suspect people around the world have already received news of the Trump-inspired mob storming our nation’s capital yesterday. It brought me to tears. It felt like a disaster to our democracy that can’t be undone, even though it accomplished nothing in terms of the mob’s assumed goal of disallowing a peaceful transfer of power to happen.
What can’t be undone is the obliteration of our ability to profess our style of government is above the violent disruptions common in many other parts of the world. The 45th President has successfully trashed everything about our reputation as a world-leading country.
Luckily, the brief insurrection was pushed back, out of the capital and off the grounds by the time darkness fell. Unfortunately, I doubt we will recover any respectability for decades, if ever.
By the time I was ready to turn in for the night, there seemed to be a few glimmers of hope that some of the Republicans who have been enabling the dumpster-fire of a President for years were finally making timid statements that hint of a realization of the error of their ways.
In a year of unprecedenteds, I found myself actually listening for the first time in my life to a few speeches from the floor of the house and senate chambers after they reconvened. They actually sounded sane to me! They also sounded like there was a growing momentum to drop the fomenting of election fraud claims. Ya think!?
The whole afternoon was especially exhausting. The day of certifying the electoral votes historically was only noticed by a small number of geeks who live for all things political and the press whose job it is to cover it. Yesterday, it grabbed the attention of the nation and beyond.
Why? For only one reason. The delusions of a lunatic. He is the main reason, but also fully culpable are the political fools who enabled him and the hoards of citizens who choose to believe the lies professed by him.
I guess it should be no surprise that it’s all so bleeping exhausting.
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Relative Something 
Yesterday was difficult. Felt somewhere between a gut punch, a kick to the teeth, and a stab in the back. The first thing that stood out was the obvious question of why were the defenses not better prepared? This was not a surprise event…
But the thing that really stuck with me, through all the crazy images that were captured, was the confederate battle flag being carried through the halls of the Capitol. Pathetic, disgraceful, and horribly embarrassing.
orbosphere
January 7, 2021 at 9:55 am
Word. Thank you, sir, for adding your impressions. The way we are feeling should NOT seem lonely. So many more were hurt by this than the few who found exhilaration in the shameful displays throughout the day.
johnwhays
January 7, 2021 at 10:06 am
Hi John: well, the veil of power has been removed starkly, echoing its image over and over again around the world. At best, we might acknowledge Einstein’s observation, that what has got us here won’t get us there! I remember Daniel Quinn’s vision of the takers and leavers. The latter was supposed to be an alternative way of life, but the balance has tilted so strongly in favor of the former that human existence is likely to destroy its own means of existence. And, of course, we have Covid pointing to the error of our ways like never before. Tribalism must be debunked in terms of some sort of existentialism – spiritual humanism? if we wish to have a future. People must be encouraged to think for themselves… great love to you as always, Ian
Ian Rowcliffe
January 7, 2021 at 8:43 am
Thank you for adding your wise perspective, Ian. It presses on my feelings of missing you. If it weren’t for this darn virus disruption, I’d have a flight booked and plans for a face-to-face reunion in place. Stay well, my brother. In the mean time, we will walk our labyrinth garden with warm thoughts of you and look forward to the springtime when we can plant new trees in solidarity with you.
johnwhays
January 7, 2021 at 9:45 am
Yes, let’s walk the talk, a-planting as we go:-)
Ian Rowcliffe
January 7, 2021 at 10:20 am