Was it a key moment in the republic’s eventual demise or a milestone on the road to democracy’s ultimate triumph? The meaning of January 6 is yet to be determined
“ We don’t know yet, because January 6 won’t be over for quite some time.” in the 21st century it is going to be difficult for historians to filter through the truth. Between AI and the constant barrage of lies being told by the perpetrators of this attack on our capitol. How will the facts be known?
Like many, I've simply adopted the Nazi facist comparable. So guilty of uninformed or lazy thinking. Thanks for: "I believe we should pay more attention to how moments of social and racial progress in the United States were met with violent counter-mobilizations: against the country’s first attempt at interracial democracy after the Civil War for instance, or against the civil rights revolution in the 1950s and 60s."
If Trump and his now fascist Party get back in power, January 6 will be celebrated as a national holiday akin to July 4. Biden and other leading Democrats will either be arrested and tried for treason or forced to quickly leave the country for safer shores abroad (e.g., Canada or Western Europe). The NYT, WP, MSNBC and CNN will be compelled to approvingly repeat Trump talking points every day or else get shutdown or taken over (as has happened in Orban's Hungary).
Ok. Now this is not only excellent and informative, it’s also very thought provoking. I really have to think carefully and deeply about the points you have made. I’m glad you’ve kinda blown up the simpler narratives.
"Empty wordplay, silly sophistry in defense of a premise that is never seriously scrutinized, cynical debate-club cosplay instead of an actual argument." I think part of the problem is also the fact that news organizations want headlines and catch-phrases, every "expert" on TV is given at most 5 minutes to answer questions and make their case, panelists talk over each other, and click bait rules social media. But, if you look past all of that, there are also insightful, researched prose from yourself, Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance White, Terri Kanefield, Don Moynihan, and many others. Some discuss history and some discuss the law, but all are worth reading and reflecting on. Of course, I'm preaching to the choir.
I recall Lacan’s quip about how we negotiate history,
“What is realised in my history is not the past definitive of what it was, since it is no more, or even the present perfect of what has been in what I am, but the future anterior of what I shall have been for what I am in the process of becoming.”
The insurrection has never ended. Folks who think it was confined to January 6, 2021 are sadly mistaken. Also, Trump is Guilty Until Proven Guiltier. ALWAYS.
Hi Thomas, great piece as always. Why don't you have a paid subscription option?
“ We don’t know yet, because January 6 won’t be over for quite some time.” in the 21st century it is going to be difficult for historians to filter through the truth. Between AI and the constant barrage of lies being told by the perpetrators of this attack on our capitol. How will the facts be known?
Like many, I've simply adopted the Nazi facist comparable. So guilty of uninformed or lazy thinking. Thanks for: "I believe we should pay more attention to how moments of social and racial progress in the United States were met with violent counter-mobilizations: against the country’s first attempt at interracial democracy after the Civil War for instance, or against the civil rights revolution in the 1950s and 60s."
I think everything we need to know about the state of things just now can be summed up by two facts:
1. Everyone from TFG himself to Steve Vladek thinks the country is in danger - of maybe civil war- from RW rage if Trump isn’t allowed on the ballot
(And they use that as a justification to let 14th amendment slide...)
NO ONE is afraid the country is in danger from LW rage if he is illegally allowed, or “wins”
If Trump and his now fascist Party get back in power, January 6 will be celebrated as a national holiday akin to July 4. Biden and other leading Democrats will either be arrested and tried for treason or forced to quickly leave the country for safer shores abroad (e.g., Canada or Western Europe). The NYT, WP, MSNBC and CNN will be compelled to approvingly repeat Trump talking points every day or else get shutdown or taken over (as has happened in Orban's Hungary).
Ok. Now this is not only excellent and informative, it’s also very thought provoking. I really have to think carefully and deeply about the points you have made. I’m glad you’ve kinda blown up the simpler narratives.
"Empty wordplay, silly sophistry in defense of a premise that is never seriously scrutinized, cynical debate-club cosplay instead of an actual argument." I think part of the problem is also the fact that news organizations want headlines and catch-phrases, every "expert" on TV is given at most 5 minutes to answer questions and make their case, panelists talk over each other, and click bait rules social media. But, if you look past all of that, there are also insightful, researched prose from yourself, Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance White, Terri Kanefield, Don Moynihan, and many others. Some discuss history and some discuss the law, but all are worth reading and reflecting on. Of course, I'm preaching to the choir.
I recall Lacan’s quip about how we negotiate history,
“What is realised in my history is not the past definitive of what it was, since it is no more, or even the present perfect of what has been in what I am, but the future anterior of what I shall have been for what I am in the process of becoming.”
“In 2024, Republicans want to turn the greatest nation on earth into a brutal MAGA dictatorship. We MUST defeat them to save our republic.”
Trump’s bone-spurs are trembling in his boots.
••••••🇺🇸 VOTE BLUE 🇺🇸•••••••
IT MAY BE YOUR LAST CHANCE
The insurrection has never ended. Folks who think it was confined to January 6, 2021 are sadly mistaken. Also, Trump is Guilty Until Proven Guiltier. ALWAYS.