Reasons for Cheer and Caution

Today a new president will take the oath of office, one who doesn’t utter lies in every other sentence, one who is competent, one who respects his oath and the democratic principles and institutions of this nation. Today we reason to look forward to a brighter future.

While I’m certain that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in today I’m less certain that it will go forward without interruption and perhaps violence. Trump cultists have not given up and the FBI has warned of the potential for an even larger attack on our democracy today. We can hope they are as incompetent as the outgoing president and the January 6^th insurrectionists.

25,000 national guard troops have been called up to protect the inauguration and the FBI is reportedly vetting every one of those troops. There is cause for concern of an attack from the inside because while those troops have sworn to protect and defend the constitution, January 6^th showed that some, like Retired Lt. Colonel Larry Rendall Brock Jr. of Texas, were willing to violate those oaths. Dozens of law enforcement officers from around the country including some in San Antonio and Houston are also under investigation as well. The insurrectionists came within a handful of minutes of taking members of congress hostage. What would have happened to our nation had they been a little quicker?

We are in the midst of a critical time in this nation’s history and our form of government has been put at risk by Republicans including Ted Cruz and other members of the Texas congressional delegation who incited the insurrection and continue to spread lies. The failure of the January 6 assault on the capitol hasn’t stopped Cruz and others from fanning the flames of discontent. Neighbors and relatives of mine still believe the election was stolen even after Republicans in charge of elections in disputed states have insisted that there was no appreciable fraud committed in the election. After Twitter banned Trump, there was a 73% reduction in election misinformation spread on the Internet in a single week.

Unfortunately it isn’t just national figures inciting insurrection, prominent Republicans here in Guadalupe County have made chilling remarks in their social media such as “Mitt Romney needs to be introduced to Mr. Guillotine”. These folks aren’t just sore losers grumbling in their beer. Our community must stand up to them and refuse to allow them to sow discontent and threaten violence to get there way. Not doing so simply sets the stage for future insurrection, perhaps planned and implemented by more competent demagogues who will succeed.

The disgraceful spreaders of conspiracy theories and lies about the validity of elections, from Trump to Ted Cruz to our local leaders must not be allowed influence in the public sphere. Those who have been elected must be unseated in the next election. Those who are seen by neighbors and peers as community leaders must be shamed and their opportunities to spread their seditious speech limited. They must not be invited to speak to groups or have their writings published. Remember censorship is when the government prevents someone from speaking their mind, it is good judgement when community members choose not to provide a bully pulpit for those who would overthrow the legitimately elected government.