To the editor:
For just a moment, ignore whether or not the American economy is better today than it was under Trump.
Ignore what history tells us about the consequences of appeasing the aggressive land grab by Russia and the effects it will have on Ukraine and America’s standing in the world as a barrier to tyrants.
Ignore whether NATO is worth preserving.
Ignore whether the nominees for the cabinet are either qualified or competent to run their departments.
Ignore whether the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing religious freedom and forbidding the establishment of a national religion is important.
But do not ignore what January 6 was and what it was not.
It was an insurrection, an attempted coup powered by a mountain of lies. Perhaps the most preposterous of these lies was that January 6 was a “day of love.” It has been repeated ad nauseum since then by the man who, on that date, was the president of the United States. To him it was a Capitol love fest brought to you by patriots. You must never allow yourself to believe lies when your own eyes have seen the truth—particularly when the truth is uncontrolled fury, rage, and murderous conduct. The props used by the “loving” mob were a celebration of the worst symbols hate tyrants have conjured. Nooses, swastikas, and Confederate flags festooned the Capitol carnival as if that could turn it into what it neither was nor could have been: a day of love. Rather, it should be remembered as another “day which shall live in infamy.”
The truth is not elusive. All of it was captured in videos, many taken by the rioters themselves as they trashed the symbol of America and threatened to hang the vice president of the United States. If January 6 was a day of love, imagine what their day of hate will look like.
Every news source possessing such a video must show it every January 6, so long as this nation exists. The press has an obligation to express truth and expose lies. If it fails to do so, that failure will not be a victimless crime. January 6 must always be remembered for what it was and what it almost achieved. He who was at the highest level of power in this nation encouraged the mob, failed to stop it before it turned fatal, and then, not satisfied by simply calling it a day of love, he spat on the rule of law by saying he would pardon the rioters. Whatever your politics, liberal or MAGA, try to understand this.
A nation led by men and women who tolerate lies and ignore the truth will not long survive as a great nation. Neither will it be concerned for the good of its citizens. It is only its lying leaders who will benefit.
Douglas Cooper
South Egremont
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