DC politicians and corporate media tried to pull a fast one on us as 2022 got under way. For days we heard of upcoming events in Washington commemorating the anniversary of the events of January 6th, 2021.
The day arrived. Even the top of the hour news from Fox News Radio on WMMB fell prey to the hype. The lead story in each of those five-minute newscasts was the anniversary of “the insurrection.” It irked me for several reasons.
Number one- it wasn’t even close to an insurrection. Riot wasn’t really a good description, either. Protest would fit. It was that. Did it get out of hand? Sure, it did. But was it an insurrection? There’s no way.
Merriam-Webster defines insurrection as a usually violent attempt to take control of a government. While the acts of some on that day could accurately be described as violent, and while the official business of our government was disrupted by the reaction to the events if the day, there was absolutely no attempt at a government takeover.
There was no organized plot, no command structure, no tactical preparation and no leadership of these “insurrectionists.” It was certainly not as organized as the media-described “mostly peaceful” protests of 2020 where Portland, Seattle and other cities saw police facilities and other government buildings defaced and set on fire. Portions of some cities were occupied for weeks placing residents and business owners in jeopardy. There was none of that in DC.
The January 6th protesters were actually mostly peaceful. A few, either inspired by malcontents or overwhelmed by their own passion and emotion, decided to breach the capitol. The actions of government were interrupted; there was disruption, but there was not even an attempt at overthrowing the elected government. It was dissatisfaction out of control.
Protest is legitimate. Disruption, although unseemly, is not insurrection. Commemorating such events is stupid. Politicians have turned the January 6th events into something they were not: noteworthy. The media played along and all day long listeners and viewers were subjected to news that wasn’t news as if a commemoration was warranted.
Perspectives on the day are different depending on the observer’s political perspective. But when the Vice President of The United States equates January 6, 2021 to September 11, 2001 or December 7, 1941 it amounts to nothing but hyperbole and manipulation for political purposes. The comparisons are woefully inaccurate and equally inappropriate.
On January 6th of 2022 we were subjected to a performance, nothing more. It was a stage show, a work of fiction trying to convince us that what we knew was somehow something more. We owe it to ourselves to not be taken in by the deception and understand the motives of those who would willingly perpetrate the fraud. Then we need to remember them and not allow them to remain in positions where they may continue their deceptive ways.