Sour Grapes & Victorious Wine

Lillie Grace (10) was riveted to the Congressional speakers on TV Wednesday night.  Ali (8) casually watched while she colored on her iPad, and Tyler (4) danced around the room.  “Remember this failed coup, kids”, I told them, “because you will be reading about it in your high school government class in a few years.”  
 
Ali wanted to know two things:  Is this a revolution and are they coming to New Mexico?
 
A revolution, I explain, is brought about by masses of people seeking basic social, economic, and political change.  But a coup is a change in power from the top (in this case President Trump) to result in the abrupt replacement of leading government personnel (incumbent Biden and his impending cabinet). 
 
It took Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller (after consulting Pence, not Trump) to call out the DC National Guard, then governors of Virginia, Maryland and NJ to send additional troops to restore order. (Yes, up until Wednesday, Trump served as Commander-in-Chief of the DC National Guard, but no longer).  That’s proof the government recognized it as a coup.  (An aside, note how lax law enforcement was here compared to their reaction to peaceful protests over Black Lives Matter or the environment). 
 
Both revolutions and coups are characterized by violence, destruction of property, looting and sometimes death (as in this case). 
 
This was, incidentally the first time since 1814 that our Capitol was stormed. That’s astounding. I mean, even in the midst of our Civil War, when the South declared itself a foreign nation (no snide comments, now) our Capitol was safe.
 
Many are calling January 6, 2021 a day of infamy.  But I disagree.  To say that would imply it took most of us by surprise, like Pearl Harbor or 9/11.  If anything, we’re looking at a presidency of infamy, not a day. (even more will come out after he leaves office – mark my words).
 
Ironically, Trump’s swan song is that albeit deeply flawed, America is ALREADY great, and has been since its inception.
 
January 6, 2021 will be seen as one of the brightest days in our nation’s history, because despite the onslaught, our Institutions stand.  No single force can topple our Constitution.  No megalomaniac can prevail.  No fake news or lies or blackmail or money can triumph over We the People.  Hell, Trump and his thugs could only at best delay Congress and its count of the electoral vote. That’s a great country. 
 
Trump says (to the surprise of no one) that he won’t be attending his successor’s inauguration. He’s the first president not to do so in 152 years, when fellow impeached president Andrew Johnson skipped out on acknowledging his successor. Birds of a feather…
 
I mean, the impeached Clinton had the decency to attend his successor’s inauguration, even when Clinton’s vice-president won the popular vote but the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to give the election to his rival. That’s respect for our Constitution.
 
Other outgoing Presidents not to attend inaugurations are, in what became a family tradition, the Adams men. However, although John didn’t attend Jefferson’s inauguration, his willingness to peacefully leave the White House was the talk of capitals all over Europe. It marked the first time the presidency transitioned to a new political party, and Adams left the White House at 4AM to ensure there would be NO inter-party violence.  Around the world, people hailed it as unprecedented, astonishing. 
 
This failed coup will be Trump’s legacy: the first president to try to overthrow our Constitution so he could stay in power.  If anything else, along with corruption, his presidency will also be noted for not making his top priority a pandemic killing 4,000 Americans a day at this point. Trump is Nero, golfing with his golden clubs while America burns:  COVID has infected 21.7 MILLION citizens so far.  That's more American deaths from COVID than from World War II, Viet Nam or World War I. Why isn’t he talking about this every day?

In no way do I mean to imply that this corrupt narcissist will go peacefully in to the night, or that his thugs will cease their violence.  I just believe he will not win.
 
But enough about him.
 
The last time our Capitol was invaded, we emerged with this ingenuity: “O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave…O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave”.  
 
What art, what innovation will this disgraceful incident now inspire among we free and we brave?

On Jan 6th, Homie (now 106 by human standards) got a clean bill of health at the vet's.

Jan. 6 is also "Three Kings Day" and Lillie was crowned queen of Lowell Street when she got the ceramic piece in the Galette des Rois.