Ignorance Is Bliss
The Aftermath
It would only be a matter of time before the details came in. When they did come in though, we got that "Holy crap!" moment. Things were much more dire than what we thought and they could have been worse yet. These emerging details is very damning to those who participated in the riot.
After the riot, their were accusations that the police were far less aggressive compared to the protest seen earlier in the year. However, when one hears the reasons why the police conducted themselves in the manner that they did, one realizes how destructive things could have been. The police knew that a several of those in the crowd were heavily armed. Not only that, but many of the rioters wore Kevlar vest designed to absorb small-arms fire.
The police were out-numbered, out-gunned, and out-equipped compared to what the protesters had. Several police officers knew that the rioters were looking any excuse to discharge their guns and only relented because the police didn’t fire back. If a firefight broke out, things would quickly turn against them. Between a couple of hundred officers verses several thousand armed protesters; they would have been on the loosing side of the battle with perhaps hundreds of causalities.
One of the ironies in this situation is that many of these rioters constantly screamed “Blue Lives Matter” at the top of their lungs, but yet, many were open to the idea of murdering police officers in cold blood if justified. One was killed.
The riot wasn't some random, spontaneous event. Several of these rioters have been planning their moves for awhile. They took to social media proclaiming their actions. They were fully intent of carrying out a coup. Some had blue-prints of the Capital with the intention to storm certain areas and capture politicians on their “list”. Mike Pence was one of them. Despite him fulfilling his Constitutional duty and certifying legitimate results, the rioters wanted his blood. Their was no telling what would have happened. Many screamed “Hang Mike Pence!”. One would consider this charged banter if it wasn't for the fact that hanging gallows were being erected on the National Mall. Pence and his family only got out in the nick of time. They were out for Mitch McConnell as well.Nancy Pelosi was on that list as well. I will be honest, like Mike Pence, I have a very negative opinion her. Pelosi is a career politician and a Washington Insider. The only reason the DNC keeps her around is because she draws in the big money that they want. Regardless though, (and repeat after me), we don’t murder/try to kill people just because we don’t like them or if their is a difference of opinion!. I know that this should be a given, but it's quite surprising how quickly one forgets! If we started to kill people just because we disagree with them, then we don't become any different from wild animals. Their was no telling what would have happened while the rioters continued their rampage.
The Capital police were on their own. Their was going to be no help from the National Guard. I have a lot of sympathy for them. They were put in a situation that they shouldn’t have been placed in. Yet, they got entangled in this mayhem because a reckless demagogue stirred up many with his baseless lies of voter fraud. These individuals, consumed with unjustified anger, took to his calling to quote “take things back”, even if it meant overthrowing democratically elected officials who were put their by the people.It was never about the results! These fringe Trump supporters wanted him in power regardless. It was about what they wanted and nobody else. These rioters who claimed to uphold and defend the Constitution took a blow-torch to it instead. These selfish fools had no respect for the Constitution that they claim to love so dearly. They made a mockery of it instead. These self-centered imbeciles simply wanted their own king and were willing to do anything to justify their actions, even it it meant embracing frivolous lies. Their is no sympathy for them. They deserve to have the book thrown at them. Many have actually been punished as several have been put on the no-fly list. These feeble nitwits would cry for sympathy points afterwards. What did one think was going to happen when they tried to overthrow the government!?
Yes, I fully aware that my language is harsh. However, while we are entitled to our opinions, these fringe extremist chose to embrace empty lies and conspiracy theories to justify their reckless frenzy, killing and harming countless. Regardless of how we personally feel about the new Administration, the rioters tried to overthrow a Democratically-elected government. They need to be called out for what they did.
Debunking Conspiracy Theories With Common Sense
I think that now I'm going into emotional overdrive now! Regardless, as anyone who is a regular to my blog knows, I'm not a particular fan of conspiracy theories. They're the mental equivalent of dangerous narcotics. It's a drug that has a tight grip to those addicted to it. Thus, those invisible boogeymen become very real in their eyes and minds of many. It impairs those who embrace them. While people are entitled to their opinions, the likes of QAnon, Alex Jones, and Anti-Vaxxers never said anything of substance or merit. They cause unjustified outrage, breeds hostile views, and promotes reckless endeavors where people are either harmed or killed.
Those who took part in the riot demonstrated that they can very informed when they want to be. However, it's what they chose to be informed about that leads to that squandered opportunity. That pursuit was wasted on chasing baseless conspiracies that had no merit. These are the individuals who have those charged opinions, but yet, are horribly misinformed. These are the individuals who have become so conditioned into consuming sensationalist drivel from that clogged gutter called Facebook that they forgot what valid reporting looks like. Claims from InfoWars, OAN, WND, Breitbart, TheBlaze, and Newsmax are held in the same light as those from the AP, NPR, or the BBC. The amount of energy spent entertaining those frivolous claims could have been used to absorb facts instead of impairing one's intelligence while .
Their is nothing admirable about Antifa. They should be called out, like any other group, when they engage in reckless behavior. Extremism is the same, regardless of the group. However, that when they do something bad. Immediately after the riot, many on social media claimed that the vast majority of those who took part in the riots were individuals associated with Antifa or other fringe groups.
For the die-hard Trump supporters taking part, they did not take well to this. They were not Antifa, and they are proud of it! In fact, these rioters are so proud about what they did for Trump that they proclaimed their actions for all to see! (failing to realize that their bolstering was an admission of guilt that both dragged them and everybody else under the bus).
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it made very little personal difference in regard of who won. I don't owe anything to either political party. Their isn't any party that represents my interest. Since I don't embrace conspiracy theories and the "this is it and all is at stake" and other zero-sums game nonsense, I didn't have anything to gain with either leader.
Biden and Trump are simply two sides of the same coin. Both are curses for their respective parties. They're both defined by their faults, and their is little positive that could be said about either one. Regardless of who won, we lost as a country. Their is enough to be angry at both without resorting to empty-headed drivel.
However, those who embrace polarized views will see things different. Their are only two choices (only if life was actually that simple). Things are not simply black-and-white as many make it out to be. For them though, they will either see you as a Trump die-hard or a card-carrying member of Antifa. You either worship Trump or you hate America. Their is no in-between for those consumed by polarized views. Their conspiracy theories is the gospel truth to them as their party becomes that righteous pillars incapable of wrong-doing. This is despite the fact that both parties are full of corruption and defined by their moral and ethical shortcomings. Ignorance is bliss.
People are entitled to their opinions, regardless of their political views. However, regardless of whether one is a Democrat, Republican, or Independent; what happened in DC was unjustified. Also, while we are entitled to our opinions, where not entitled to our own facts. Anyone can accepts facts without conforming to a political slant. Even those who do conform to slants can accept the facts. I can make the safe assumption that the vast majority of those who voted for Trump are good, level-headed people who voted for their party, not the personality leading it. Even though they wanted to see Trump win, they accepted the fact that he lost without argument. They didn't entertain thoughts of empty conspiracy theories and moved on with their lives as they should.
However, those fringe extremist weren't going to have none of it. These die-hard fanatics gave the level-headed supporters a black eye because of their selfish actions. These rioters were so determined to get what they wanted that they didn't care if they violated the rights of others or gave them a bad name. It was about what they wanted and the Hell with everybody else. They didn't care about the results. They were willing to disenfranchise millions of legitimate voters just so they could change the results. Their actions were selfish and reckless, plain and simple.
Trump wanted this riot to happen. While the cabinet members were begging him to do something, Trump was delighted in their actions. They were sacrificing so he wouldn't. Trump was using these rioters for his own political advantage and they didn’t even know it. His die-hard supporters thought that they were doing a service for Trump because he quote “cares about them”. Trump doesn’t give a crap about them. He tossed them into the fire for his own purpose. The truth hurts doesn't it. Their isn't any sympathy for them as they should have known better. Their reckless actions were audacious and unjustified.
We’re Just Finding Out How Bad the Riot Really Was (The Atlantic) : https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/01/it-was-much-worse-it-looked/617693/
It Was Supposed to Be So Much Worse (The Atlantic) : https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/01/trump-rioters-wanted-more-violence-worse/617614...
Snopes : When US Politicians Spread Lies on Social Media, Who Is Responsible? : https://www.snopes.com/news/2020/11/13/transition-chaos/
ProPublica : Capitol Rioters Planned for Weeks in Plain Sight. The Police Weren’t Ready. : https://www.propublica.org/article/capitol-rioters-planned-for-weeks-in-plain-sight-the-police-weren...
BBC - The 65 days that led to chaos at the Capitol : https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55592332
BBC - 'QAnon Shaman' Jake Angeli charged over pro-Trump riots : https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55606044
Georgia election: Trump voter fraud claims and others fact-checked (BBC) : https://www.bbc.com/news/55561877
Violent pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol (BBC) : https://www.bbc.com/news/live/election-us-2020-55558355
US Congress in turmoil as violent Trump supporters breach building (BBC) : https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55555074
US election 2020: The people who still believe Trump won (BBC) : https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55481521
BBC - The deep roots of Trump’s 'voter fraud' strategy : https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-55009950
Stab In The Back Myth (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stab-in-the-back_myth
Snopes - Trump Supporters Storm US Capitol, Lawmakers Evacuated : https://www.snopes.com/ap/2021/01/06/trump-supporters-storm-us-capitol-lawmakers-evacuated/
Snopes - Did 50K Ballots Suspiciously Appear at Polls Overnight in Georgia Senate Runoffs? : https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ballots-georgia-senate/
Snopes - Pro-Trump Mob Storms US Capitol in Bid to Overturn Election : https://www.snopes.com/ap/2021/01/06/pro-trump-mob-storms-us-capitol-in-bid-to-overturn-election/
Snopes - World Leaders Express Shock at Storming of US Capitol : https://www.snopes.com/ap/2021/01/06/world-leaders-express-shock-at-storming-of-us-capitol/
Snopes - A Moment in America, Unimaginable But Perhaps Inevitable : https://www.snopes.com/ap/2021/01/06/a-moment-in-america-unimaginable-but-perhaps-inevitable/
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