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B Carpenter - Thinking Deeply's avatar

My own letter to the editor of our local newspaper. I am tired of conservatives unjustly claiming exclusive ownership of patriotism. I am tired of them falsely clawing they represent a majority of American political opinion. Here is my own rebuttal of those claims.

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A Perspective on Patriotism:

On January 21, 2017, over 470,000 protestors showed up in the streets of Washington, D.C. for the Women’s Day March to peacefully protest the 2016 election, the previous day’s inauguration of Donald J. Trump, and his stated policies and positions on issues they cared about. An additional 3.2 to 5.2 million people showed up in protests in support of the Women’s Day March in D.C. nationwide in numerous U.S. cities and towns. Millions more showed up in supporting protests in over 198 cities in 84 countries globally. Worldwide participation in that day’s marches has been estimated at over 7 million. None of those protests anywhere was violent, no police officers were injured or traumatized, and no property was damaged or destroyed.

On January 6, 2021, a mob of approximately 2,500 rioters showed up in Washington, D.C. The mob was directed by the former President to march to the U.S. Capitol and “fight like hell” to overturn a legitimate U.S. election. A substantial number of the crowd did just that. They fought with, seriously injured, and traumatized scores of police officers. Some police officers were even beaten with poles carrying the United States flag. They caused millions of dollars in damages to the U.S. Capitol and Congressional offices. They threatened the lives of U.S. Representatives and Senators, even erecting a gallows and threatening “to hang” the Vice President of the United States. The crowd raged through the Capitol building for hours even smearing feces on the walls of the Capitol building and defecating in the hallways before the building was finally cleared of rioters by National Guard troops. To date, 768 of those rioters, summoned and directed by a former U.S. President and others in his circle and political party, have been arrested and charged with various crimes. Some even with charges of seditious conspiracy. Some remain jailed pending trial without bail.

Which of these movements is the larger, better-organized movement? Which of these movements better expresses and demonstrates patriotism?

Think about it…

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Jim Carmichael's avatar

Robert, just to let you know that three years into Greensboro’s Marcus Smith unlawful lawsuit, the city has finally awarded his family approximately $2.5 million to his family. Marcus was a nonviolent mentally ill man hog-tied by the police when he approached them, asking for a ride to the hospital. He subsequently died of asphyxiation. we have had two and a half years of weekly vigils and the city has spent over a million in legal fees, but finally, some justice has been rendered. So, you are right—never give up, even when you think the chips are down. i too feel like some resolution to the horrors on view in Washington is about to be set in motion, and I am deeply grateful for the hope you inspire in your readers.

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