The real danger facing America

On Friday night, Jan. 5, President Biden delivered a campaign speech from just outside of Valley Forge, PA. The speech was well written and effectively delivered. The veracity of the facts presented can be left to the media fact-checkers. But, the president offered some opinions on Jan. 6 that should be examined.

The president read the following: “January 6th, a day forever seared in our memory because it was on that day that we nearly lost America, lost it all.” He further stated that the “January 6th insurrection placed a dagger at the throat of American democracy.” Frightening imagery.

To date, the FBI has charged 1,240 people with a variety of misdemeanors and felonies for their activities on Jan. 6. Of those, 378 received prison sentences. Of the 1,240 individuals charged, only two were charged with firearms violations. And neither of them was charged with carrying a firearm in the Capitol building. Apparently, the “insurrection” was to be carried out by a bunch of mostly middle-aged men armed with flag poles, baseball bats, and bear spray. But no firearms. Not the playbook for a successful overthrow of the government.

None of the 1,240 individuals have been charged with insurrection. Nor was Donald Trump charged with insurrection in Special Prosecutor Jack Smith’s 45-page indictment. The reason is that the activities that constitute an insurrection have not been defined in law. But, it’s this ambiguity that allows the media, pundits, and politicians to call Jan. 6, without rebuke, an insurrection. And, it allows everyone else to claim it wasn’t.

If the president’s speech is any indication, we can expect to hear about how America nearly “lost it all” for the rest of 2024. Perhaps the “dagger at the throat of American democracy” was actually a can of pepper spray.

Don R. Harris

St. Charles