Assault on the US Capitol – When The USA was not the USA
The timing was quite interesting as it came when Trump’s electoral defeat was certified
A few years back, no one would have imagined what the USA will turn out to be in 2021. The supporters of the current US president, Donald Trump couldn’t digest the fact (very like their President) that Joe Biden has won the presidential elections. The violent supporters of Trump assaulted the US Capitol and gave people all over the world a live screening of what the USA has become.
The assault’s timing was interesting as it came when the lawmakers inside the US Capitol were doing their constitutional duty and certified Trump’s electoral defeat. The proceedings were abandoned swiftly as the mob marched through hallways, smashed windows, and even rummaged through the lawmakers’ desks.
It is worthy of mentioning here that just 14 days after this incident, Joe Biden is set to be inaugurated at that site. When it seemed clear that the mob needed to be controlled, agents barricades themselves inside the congressional chambers and their guns were drawn. The stars and stripes was lowered and replaced as the blue flag of Donald Trump ascended.
One of the most chilling images of the unfortunate event was a trespasser sitting in the chair vacated by Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence. The hooded trespasser waved his fist in front of a thick and ornate curtain that is designed to summon the trappings of democracy of the USA.
This was not a peaceful transfer of power, which is a key part of the democracy of the USA. In the words of Republican Senator Pat Toomey “This is an absolute disgrace.”
Another thing that came out clear as crystal after the incident is that the USA is at the risk of becoming the very kind of country which it insisted was helping- a fragile democracy. In a televised address, the next President of the USA, Joe Biden said “This is not dissent. It’s disorder. It’s chaos.”
One of the pitiful scenarios from this incident was seeing the US Capitol’s wooden furniture being used as a barricade to keep the rioters, who were angry and disappointed with the election results, away.
Will James, a Real Estate Developer in Georgia who leans towards the Republican party, said “Politics has become such a cultural divide in this country, and this is reflective of that. We’ve lost a sense of common national purpose. People are all mad at their country. I don’t think we’ve ever been here before. And I don’t know how a republic survives long-term with those deep divisions.”
In a message recorded from the White House, Trump said several inaccurate things. But one point he made sounds true. He said, “There’s never been a time like this.”
No one can say whether this assault is associated with the USA’s current administration or is it a sign of something that will only worsen with time.
Bev Jackson, the chair of Cobb County African American caucus of Democratic Party in Georgia, said: “It seems like a different country, in one of those places where coups happen.” He added “I think people have feared a moment like this might be coming. It’s really sad, and it’s really tragic, but I think people have been bracing themselves for this.”
As expected, the people of the USA and the news channels were shocked by the incident. Most of them used one or the other version of “how could this happen in the USA.” Some of the other words used were “banana republic” and “like a third-world nation.”
Laurie Pezeron, the founder of a Black literature book club, said “I feel like I’m watching an American film. I just hope it doesn’t end up with a civil war.”
Another interesting thing that happened about an hour back was the statement of Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar who cited Benjamin Franklin’s renowned words: “A republic, if you can keep it.”
About an hour later, it became clear that the USA’s new government will need to work hard to preserve democracy and things like the 25th Amendment don’t matter much to the protestors.
Joe Biden and other upcoming presidents of the USA would need to work hard to ensure that the world forgets this incident and remembers the USA as a strong democracy where the transfer of power is supposed to be peaceful.
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