Remembering to Remember
Recently a documentary on HBO/Max, “Stopping the Steal” got me asking some questions. Did you know that Vermont passed a resolution condemning the January 6 storming of the Capital building? To quote from the resolution: “Governor Phil Scott forcefully stated that 'The fabric of our democracy and the principles of our republic are under attack by the President'.” Did you know that all but six state level politicians co-sponsored the resolution? Its pretty amazing that there was such unity in the State because of Jan. 6. But it's also telling because six state level politicians who chose not to condemn January 6, sat it out because, you know, they're politicians.
For the folks that haven't seen the documentary or can't because of the pay wall, I would encourage you to find the time or a way to watch it. Again, it's called “Stopping the Steal”. It is basically a bunch of former Trump administration officials and other then powerful Republicans recounting the days after the November, 2020 election; Trump's attempt to use them to subvert the democracy; and all of this subterfuge culminating in the January 6, 2021 insurrection. It was really interesting because there is a lot of stuff revealed that just isn't commonly known which should be, and there are some quotes and recordings that the free media didn't fully tell to us but should have. It really is a pity that this documentary isn't free. If folks can they should watch it. Local municipalities should have viewing parties. We should all write to HBO/Max and ask them to make it free to watch. January 6, 2021 is one of the most important days in US history that we don't take enough time to remember.
For my part, watching this documentary brought back a lot of feelings. It reminded me of why I am actually a candidate for State Rep in Grand Isle-Chittenden. And it shamed me for not holding the lessons of January 6, 2021 a little bit closer. In short, it made me think.
Who remembers January 6, 2021? What do you remember? Who remembers where they were when they heard the news? Personally and unfortunately I can't give a completely honest answer of where I was when I first heard the news. Although to my credit (Not too old to reach my back for a good pat) I do know I spent the rest of the day and the following few days listening and researching it all which culminated in watching about three hours of leaked Parlor videos (remember “Parlor” the social media platform aimed at conservatives) posted by people who where there and took part. It was enlightening. But let's return to the question I first posed: do you remember where you were? If most of you readers are like me, you have a vague recollection of where you were when you learned the Capital building was being stormed. Maybe like me you have a recollection of the outrage and maybe a bit of disbelief. But if you are like me, it's also a bit of a blur.
I remember exactly where I was on 9/11. Why don't we treat January 6 with the same gravity? January 6, 2021, was a very consequential day. I don't think many of us truly understand how consequential it is. January 6, 2021, is an American Gunpowder Plot – in England they still remember November 5 as Guy Fawkes day four hundred years after the fact. Maybe we don't give the day enough thought or enough weight because it was couched in some hard times. Maybe January 6 is sort of lost because of COVID; or maybe because there was a Presidential election; and god knows how can we pay attention to more uproar when there had been already so many protests. With all that was going on it's no wonder that we didn't pay attention well enough to Trump losing 60 court cases challenging the election; losing every recount he called for; and being caught red handed trying to threaten officials in the State of Georgia if they didn't cheat. The election was over and we all could exhale and move on. Well most of us. I wonder if we don't really digest January 6 well because we had become so used to digesting mountains of controversy and crap we just didn't have the appetite – January 6 was just another day in Trump world. Or maybe, just maybe, we don't acknowledge the importance of the day because it is still sort of going on – January 6 never had closure. The peaceful transfer of power in the USA, the most powerful and wealthy nation that has ever been, is still under threat by the same forces using the same lies and nothing really has been done. It needs to be said again, January 6 was an attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power in the USA. January 6 was an attempted violent coup. And my friends, it doesn't take a professor in history to know that disrupting the peaceful transfer of power is how you break a nation. Al Gore understood this.
History is not something that we learn so we can sound cool parties – though at the right parties it sure can work. History is social memory. We learn history so we don't repeat our mistakes as a society. And we learn older history because people now are the same as people way back then – we make mistakes; we fall in love; we get angry for stupid reasons; we cherish our communities and families; and some of us thirst for power and do whatever they can, no matter who they hurt, to get that power. So because history is something we learn from it is very important that we remember January 6. And in a democracy, which historically are vulnerable to that later type of person, it is extra important that we understand days like January 6.
My name is Luke Richter. I am running for State Rep in Grand Isle-Chittenden as a Democrat because the party of Lincoln has betrayed us all and refuses to exorcise the dangerous elements from it's body. My name is Luke Richter and I vocally rebuke those who tried to overthrow the government on January 6 and I call on all my fellow candidates to do the same. I ask everyone to remember so it doesn't happen again. And, my dear friends, if someone who wants power isn't willing to acknowledge just how dangerous January 6 was then I would ask you, dear friend, to hold that person to account.
And if you don’t know where they stand, don’t be political, don’t be a politician, to ask them.
