CAN TRUTH SAVE OUR STILL FRAGILE DEMOCRACY?

This article was something I wrote soon after the attack on our nation's capitol January 6th. The issues remain the same. A well-informed public is the absolute requirement for real democracy to survive. We need to know the truth, each voter individually and equally responsible, and that sets us free to choose a practical politics providing fundamental liberty and justice for all--inclusive, not exclusive. And then we must recognize and cultivate our interconnectedness with the rest of the world's peoples.

From Boston University article--Jan. 7, 2021

“Police Outnumber Protestors” was our local 1-18-21 Times Herald front page headline, with large frontpage photo of Army Humvees out in force at our Michigan state Capitol in Lansing. Over a week before this, “Trump Backers Storm Capitol” was the small format header with business card sized photo squeezed in at the top of the 1-7-21 Times Herald. Small potatoes the day after a physical attack on our nation’s democracy and the violent invasion of our U.S. Capitol building. There was no frontpage story on this historic Capitol crisis. Instead, articles on marijuana facilities, postponing of downtown’s Chilly Fest, and Family Video’s closing.

The halls of Congress were under siege January 6th, and then occupied for 5 hours by right wing rioters, spouting talk of revolution and threatening our elected representatives, in the name of our ex-president. People died and more were injured in this desecration of the place where the work of a civil democracy should be conducted.

The serious nature of this violent act, encouraged by an ego driven President Trump, rejecting the results of an election which has been validated by all state and federal authorities *, must be recognized and resoundingly repudiated. It deserves much more attention by local press, and the politicians of every party. That 139 Representatives, and 8 Senators, all Republicans, still voted against accepting the decision of some of the states’ electors for soon to be President Joe Biden, after such a debacle, is a great shame. There are solid articles and editorials appearing in the conservative Wall Street Journal that outline our problem—we are a very divided nation in which too many pay very little attention to verifiable facts in our political discussions. [see below for references]. The Wall Street Journal, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, among others, have called for President Trump to resign. Many of the banks who’ve done business with him are now putting a stop to his credit.

What we saw on January 6, 2021 was an organized riot meant to be chaotic and intimidating. Certainly only a segment of the 30,000 that came to protest were invaders, but all led credence to a lie—that the 2020 election was stolen. We must all do better. Watch, listen to and read respectable, verifiable sources of news, agencies which have editors and producers who routinely check the facts, value and investigate their stories and commentaries. Choose more than one or two news outlets, and certainly ones with some contrasting general political perspectives. If we are to preserve our democracy we must become better informed.

[For good worldwide vision, I look to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal each with divergent editorial bent, but each diligent in pursuit of facts. The Times Herald gives me local news and perspective, with a USA Today focus on national and world news. The Drudge Report is a composite of news sources, tending conservative. I watch and listen to NPR, Public Televisions PBS News Hour, and surf the other major TV networks news including Fox. CBS’s 60 Minutes has merit. Facebook and other such story spreaders are rarely to be trusted, unless they provide links to credible sources with fact checking content editors. Electronic algorithms are no substitute for editors, providing only a bare minimum of oversight.]

Amid storming and looting the Capitol Building on January 6, pro-Trump rioters also attacked the press pool outside the building and destroyed their news gear. Photo by Michael Nigro--Getty Images

http://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/what-does-the-attack-on-democracy-mean-for-journalists/

In our Catholic Church Jan 6^th is recognized as the Feast of the Epiphany, when the Magi, kings of the world, came to pay homage to the Savior born in a stable—a humble place for the beginning of God’s birth into humanity. This Jesus came to save us from our sins, teaching us that the truth, mercy, forgiveness, and loving our enemies is the way to eternal life. The word epiphany means a revelation.

http://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/is-the-attack-on-the-us-capitol-populism/

This past Jan 6^th should also be a revealed warning. If we continue to follow the leads of pride, greed, self-righteous hatred, and uninformed arrogance, we will ignore and miss the message of the newborn in the manger—that our true security and happiness comes from reconciling our differences, loving each other as God loves us unconditionally, despite the real difficulties of race, political party, or social class. Blessed are the Peacemakers. God does not discriminate, demands true justice, and is the healer of all pain.

It’s time to put away our swords of division, conquer the pandemic, and share the good things we’ve been given with our neighbors, and the rest of the world. Kings must bow before Truth, born in a stable.