Local Voices: Jan. 6, 2021 - A reflection on a monumental day

After having time to absorb the events of Jan. 6, I have concluded it was probably one of the most monumental days in the history of our nation. It was, ironically, one of the worst and one of the best all in one day.

In the end, light prevailed over darkness, good over evil, and democracy over anarchy.

On the dark side

We saw a President Trump spew lies about purported fraud in a free and fair election that he decisively lost.

We saw him encourage the assemblage of followers and incite them as a mob to march on our nation's Capitol where the Congress was, under our Constitution, certifying the Electoral College votes from our presidential election.

We saw a newly elected downstate congresswoman stand with the President and also invoke Hitler - by name - as she addressed the crowd.

We saw a mob of insurgents storm and defile our nation's Capitol, and the Senate and House Chambers; we also saw some people lose their lives during the process.

We saw law enforcement unable to contain the mob and prevent them from taking over the Capitol, causing senators and representatives to take cover and temporarily stop their constitutional duty of certifying the electoral votes - despite knowing in advance President Trump had called for the assemblage in Washington.

We saw a distinct difference in how the large crowds of white insurgents were treated and dealt with compared to how similarly large crowds were dealt with at Black Lives matter protests this past summer.

We saw the senators and representatives objecting to the certification of electoral votes and claiming fraud without any factual basis after countless law suits around the country and recounts and election officials had found no such fraud or reason to question any of the results.

But on the bright side

In a Georgia runoff election for two Senate seats - one that would decide which political party would have control of the Senate - we saw a Black minister from the Rev. Martin Luther King's Congregation in the Rev. Raphael Warnock and a young Jewish journalist, Jon Ossoff, both win their elections as Democrats and become the first Democratic Black Senator in the South and the youngest member of the U.S. Senate, respectively. Their wins also create a 50 -50 split where incoming Vice President Kamala Harris could break ties and insure a new Senate leader and an opportunity for debate and votes on issues that affect us all.

We saw the Senate and House, unintimidated by insurgents who had taken over the Capitol earlier in the day, resume their constitutional work of certifying electoral votes until late into the night to get it done.

We saw an overwhelming number of Senators and Representatives on both sides of the aisle speak out about honoring the votes of the American people - standing up for our Democracy and our Constitution and insisting on certifying the results of the presidential election.

We saw that certification result in confirming Joe Biden as president-elect, and he has committed to being a president of all Americans regardless of for whom they'd voted.

It was a tough day, but our democracy remains strong. Those who desecrated our Capitol need to be held accountable, and we have significant divisions throughout the country that we need to address. But I am hopeful that, in short order, we will be able to see the healing of our nation and respect by all for the results of the election even as disagreements remain.

We need to be able to disagree with each other without being disagreeable.

We have too many challenges to act otherwise. Our Democracy demands no less.

We must all recognize this healing will be difficult. We must, however, give it our best shot. We will have disagreements, and that is to be expected. How we move forward, though, can make a positive difference.

Of course, we must advocate for what believe in, but along the way we need to listen to each other. We need to try to get a better understanding of those with whom we do not agree. Most of us tend to live inside our partisan bubbles, whether it be the news we watch or the social media we follow, or our friendship circles. Yes, these bubbles are somewhat of a support system, since they reinforce our perspectives.

On the other hand, they do not help us understand or appreciate those outside our bubbles. If there is any chance to mitigate the partisan divide, we all need to occasionally, get outside our own bubbles to listen and have civil conversations with those we disagree with, and expose ourselves to points of view different from our own. It might be a way to start chipping away at the division that is too much a part of the current fabric of our nation. Let's hope we can make progress.

In the end, we are lucky we live in our country. We are lucky to have our Constitution and Bill of Rights. I am hopeful for our future and a better future for our kids and grandkids. It is time to get into some good trouble to make our nation better for all.

We can, we must, and we will work to build a more perfect union. God Bless America!

• Elliott Hartstein of Northbrook is a former village president of Buffalo Grove.