Throughout history, humankind has been on a journey towards civilization. By “civilization”, I do not mean people in power invading other countries, killing and enslaving indigenous people, subduing the environment, building cities, and forming governments. What I mean is “civility”. Over the centuries, many people have strived to solve problems by discussion rather than violence, and by increasingly including all types of people in the rights that the powerful enjoy. But this journey has not been straightforward.
There have been many obstacles along the way. Some groups of people do not want progress. They want to keep the way of life that has always existed – the power of men over women, the power of white over people of color, the power of rich over poor. They want to “conserve” these traditions; therefore they are “conservatives”. They have hindered progress every time it has been attempted. Those who want to continue the journey of freedom, inclusiveness for all people, and the primacy of human needs, are working for liberty (“liberals”) and progress (“progressives”).
Much progress has been made in the 20th and 21st centuries. The United States began to have multiracial representation in government. Women, people of color, LGBTQ people, and other disenfranchised groups began to enjoy the freedom to live as they wish. But conservatives fought them at every turn. Xenophobic people are uncomfortable with women having positions of power, and seeing brown skin, headscarves on women, turbans on men, and gender fluidity in the hallowed halls of government. Their way of life feels threatened and they want to fight to take our society back to the days when only rich white men ruled.
White supremacists have always existed, of course. But recently they have begun to notice their power waning. People of good will want everyone to have a fair chance in life, be able to live in freedom, and be represented in every facet of our society. But supremacists are fighting this.
After eight years of a Black president with an Arabic name, the rise of the 45th president gave them hope. Now they could rally around someone who would encourage them to come out of the woodwork and disrupt the progressive path that America was forging. They did not mind that he was of the rich ruling class, or that he really did not care about them or their cause. He cared only about preserving his own power and wealth. He just wanted to have a large, noisy mob to support him. They were made for each other and the timing was impeccable.
In modern society, cowboys do not ride into town with guns blazing, like in the Wild West, or climb the ramparts of the castle with torches, or carry IEDs to blow up government buildings. These are the tactics, unfortunately, of third-world terrorists. There are procedures in place to peacefully solve disputes in modern society, but sadly, some overgrown children with false bravado refuse to utilize them.
The march, storming of the Capitol, and attempted coup on January 6, 2021 was white supremacy clawing its way out of the hole where it had been living, just waiting for this opportunity. Clothing themselves in false patriotism, the traitors scrabbled into the hallowed halls, aided by the lack of adequate law enforcement. The coup failed because these would-be terrorists were disorganized and incompetent.
This insurrection, one of the worst events in American history, unfortunately (and possibly purposely) overshadowed one of the best. Two senators were elected in Georgia the same day: the first Black senator from Georgia, and the first Jewish senator from that state as well as the youngest since Joe Biden.
The real and continuing danger lies in the fact that these extremists live among us still. And while we will have a democratically elected, Democratic-majority government, they will continue to try to sabotage it, and with it, the progress towards equality of all people, the healing of the earth and slowing of climate change, the provision of basic needs for all including health care, and the civility and common courtesy that seems to be evading us. Authentic patriots, those who love the ideals of an America of real equality and true justice for all, will need to continue our work fearlessly, and journey on in our endeavor to create a place where everyone can live in peace, health, and prosperity.
Inner Voice 