After yesterday I was so confused at what I saw and I watched all day into late night. So, I need help in understanding, what am I missing?
Thousands of people converged on our U.S. Capitol, breached barriers, broke windows and surged into the building our government stands for and most looked like something out of cartoons. One of the most sacred of places in our constitution and four people lost their lives in these hallowed halls.
Sometimes I find myself with tears in my eyes trying to understand.
The riots in 2020 in Seattle and Portland were bad, really bad but they were instigated by people who don't have the loyalty to our country as I and others do. Remember what I just said.
So how did this abomination happen yesterday? The leader of the free world encouraged them and stoked them to satisfy his needs and wants. And, I don't want to hear that that wasn't Trump supporters because maybe they weren't but it was Trump who instigated this to his minions. He told you he would have a big surprise on Jan. 6. He also told you months before the Nov. 3 election that it would be rigged and he would never concede. All of his objections were shot down in the courts, all of the states said their elections were legal and he today still says it was stolen from him.
Our two senators and Rep. Fleischmann agreed and wanted to object to election results to states other than our own. I read today in the Chattanoogan.com how he wants you know that he and his staff were safe and that's great but he, Blackburn and Hagerty helped create the situation by backing Trump's lies and then changed their minds when they had to scramble to safety and hide.
Meanwhile, while the Capitol is being overran by people with steer horns on their heads, Trump continues to cheer them on. Donald Trump, after being asked to send in the National Guard, refused. It was VP Pence that called in the Guard. Trump told these criminals that he loved them and they were doing what was right.
Countries from all around the world are aghast at what the leader of the most democratic country in the world allowed to happen. I guess my confusion and lack of understanding comes from seeing people treat a man like a god. Did he do some good things, yes, he did, but he demanded praise for everything he did, not just saying good job, but wanting you to know and exclaim how great he is.
Today he concedes, but not without saying he was the greatest one term president in American history. I worship no man, I worship my Father and Son in heaven, the most powerful creature to ever walk on this earth, and he demanded no praise and remained humble.
Let me just say, Republicans are not the only Christians in this country and I am an independent voter, best person for the job, and I have Democratic friends that worship God on a daily basis. We are fellow citizens of a great country. We may disagree on some things but we should be proud and respect each other and our beliefs. We are not that different, any race, color or religion, and everything is going to be okay, but please, elect decent human beings as our leaders and pray for them. This man was not one of them.
So if you can help me understand how this unbelievable action happened yesterday please explain it to me so I can understand also. We have had both good and bad presidents from both parties but none of them has ever changed the way I live my life and they won't yours either.
Clifton Duggan
* * *
I don’t approve of violence or violence masquerading as protests. I certainly don’t support what is happening in our nation’s capitol right now. It’s not, however, hard to understand it.
After the election of 2016, thousands marched in angry protests, some turning into riots. Last year violent mobs burned our cities. We listened as the leftist media described it as peaceful protests. Some even offered justification for it. We watched as many were arrested only to be released as part of some convoluted social engineering scheme.
When a mob of angry anarchists stormed the Supreme Court trying to break down the doors in 2018, they were called “protesters” by NBC.
After seeing anarchists repeatedly burning and looting, the message was “go on a destructive rampage, call it a protest and get what you demand.”
But the folks the media favors are called protesters and the other side is a violent mob. Does anyone recall PBS “news” denouncing Madonna when she said she wanted to blow up the White House? Did FB and Twitter block her?
So what part of where we are right now is not understood?
Ralph Miller
* * *
By any definition of the word - an angry out of control mob storming through barriers, climbing walls, breaking down doors, breaking windows and vandalizing offices is a riot. Period.
Simply saying something is true doesn't make it true. Saying something is true is a statement not a fact. Credible evidence and credible witnesses in a court of law makes it true. Federal Court and the Supreme Court both said Trump and his mob of blind loyalists are wrong. Donald Trump lost a fair, secure and accurate election. The country said no to Trump - a word he's never heard before. Not having the maturity and/or tools to accept he didn't get his way - Trump immediately embraced the victim-mentality by claiming he was cheated. Trump then tapped into and began following his old friend, Roy Cohn's tactics. His methods included - never admit defeat no matter how obvious - deny, deny, deny and never apologize - make your claims, no matter how inaccurate or absent any credible evidence, as loud and as long as it takes. Seems to me Roy Cohn taught Trump well and would be very proud.
George Parker
--