After witnessing the attack and occupation of the Capitol by a mob of misguided Trump supporters incited by the words of the president, I can no longer condone or excuse the deep defects in Donald Trump.
His behavior since the election has descended into a darkness that has done great harm to his supporters, party and country. It is my obligation to acknowledge the damage done by the mob that entered the halls of our government to our national prestige in a world that needs a moral compass more than ever. When our enemies can point to the erosion of confidence in our belief in our democracy and the genius of our Constitution, how can we convince them of the superiority of our path to a better world?
The disgraceful attack on January 6 cannot be viewed apart from the entire Trump phenomenon, beginning with his election. Viewed initially as a publicity stunt by the media and most politicians, it became a powerful message of rebuke of both parties and the status quo running Washington, D.C. Trump, unencumbered from promotion of the prevailing ideologies, was free to challenge the conventional wisdom that the country had been mired in for many years.
This rejection provoked many established interests into defending their turf. At its best, this confrontation reinvigorated all aspects of our government with new perspectives on how to promote the nation’s well-being. The lasting success of this reformation remains to be seen.
The phenomenon of legitimate protest devolving into riots and criminal mob behavior has not been lost on any of us this past year. This summer, in our largest cities, including our capital, this behavior was tolerated for weeks on end. Our TV bore witness to the breakdown of civil society as personal and government property was assaulted and pillaged, while those responsible for maintaining law and order were made impotent in its face.
Do not think this abuse of the right to be heard from the left wasn’t noticed. It is not hard to imagine a reaction like our recent debacle stemming from some misguided attempt at a moral equivalence.
Finally, the media has been complicit in choosing sides and the distortion of relevant facts in the seminal role of reporting the news. Opinion has replaced journalism, and in a society free to judge what to believe, we have been badly served.
Ed Surgan
Westhampton
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