Yesterday - Jan 6 2021 - history was made....

I don't even know where to start.  I felt like I should have blogged yesterday while this "history-making" event was all unfurling, but I was just dumb-founded and had no idea how to put into words what took place.

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Yesterday, January 6th, was supposed to be the ceremony of "confirming" the electoral votes for President-Elect Biden that were already certified by each state.  This has been a formal ceremony that has been a significant event in our country's history.  There has been - in the past as well as this year - objection by the opposite party as to the newly-elected POTUS.   

This election, there was some objection by a number of Republican senators - which is expected / anticipated / planned.  But the count was still, ceremonially, to have taken place.   Those who object are allowed to air their grievances.  It is discussed / debated on the senate floor.  

Unfortunately, however, there were protestors and rioters in support of Trump that were incited to storm the Capitol building.  

And - unfortunately - the police force was woefully unprepared to protect the building and the occupants inside!  (which is REALLY scary)  Rioters got in / stormed the senate floor while the count was taking place and senators were rushed out.  They left mid-count and rushed to safety out through a tunnel.  

The rioters destroyed parts of the building, furniture, strewed papers around and - it looked like (on some of the video) that they were actually going through papers / taking photos -- probably a security risk.   They were climbing the walls.  They were sitting at figure-heads' desks and taking selfies.  And - a number of people lost their lives.  

It was an absolute DISGRACE of America.  I felt sick to my stomach.  Mad.  Scared.  Embarrassed for our country.  I know that it absolutely does not compare to 9-11... but... I felt many of the same emotions yesterday as I did almost 20 years ago.  Watching this unfold on TV.  Glued to the set.     

Our country's security was violated by foreign terrorists back in 2001.

Our country's security was violated by DOMESTIC terrorists yesterday.... people from our OWN country.  

Over 200 years ago, the capitol building was invaded.   The British fought their way in during the war of 1812.   Yesterday, the capitol building was invaded by a cult-like group who are following their leader to the very end.  

Trump's politics over the past 4 years have been described as "divisive."  He has divided the country even more than it was already -- creating a bigger gap between Democrats and Republicans.  But he is also dividing the party to which he belongs.  There are more and more Republicans that are denouncing him and his actions.  He is being charged for inciting this riot -- at a rally held in DC that day telling his "followers" to storm the capitol.   

As the event was unfolding, people were calling on the President to call off his followers -- put an end to the storming of the capitol building.  Biden In fact, delivered a powerful speech.  (A portion is at the end of this post.)  It sounded VERY presidential compared to Trump's weak speech barely asking for the event to be called off also saying that the protestors (rioters) were "special" and "I love you."  It was appalling.  

After this debacle on Wednesday, there are BOTH democrats and republicans calling for his impeachment (again) and/or for the 25th Amendment to be enacted.   

But, the count continued after the senate floor was cleared and "swept" and Biden was, indeed, confirmed, as the 46th President of the United States.  It was really inspiring to hear reports from the "trenches" where the senators were hiding that senators from both the Democratic and Republican side were all determined to go back to the senate floor and finish the count THAT NIGHT.    They did.   Pence was the ceremonial host.  He and the rest of the elected officials upheld their constitutional duties.  

The offices were ransacked, there were videos of people going through governmental papers which is a security breach.  There was glass broken, furniture broken, statues defaced.  There are massive offenses and some arrests being made.  

There is an uplifting image afterwards of a representative from NJ staying until 3 am to help clean up as well.   There are some good, inspiring things that came out of this too... like FINALLY seeing the Democrats and Republicans working together a bit more!!

Here is part of Biden's speech below with some additional images. 

"All of you've been watching what I've been watching. At his hour, our democracy is under unprecedented assault unlike anything we've seen in modern times. An assault on the citadel of Liberty, the Capitol itself. An assault on the people's representatives, on the Capitol Hill police sworn to protect them. On the public servants who work at the heart of our republic. An assault on the rule of law, like few times we've ever seen it. An assault on the most sacred of American undertakings, the doing off the people's business.  "Let me be very clear.  The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America, do not represent who we are.  What we're seeing are a small number of extremist, dedicated to lawlessness.  This is not dissent.  It's disorder.  It's chaos.  It borders on sedition.  And it must end now.  I call on this mob to pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward.

"You heard me say before in different context, the words of a President matter, no matter how good or bad that president is. At their best, the words of a president can inspire. At their worst, they can incite.

"Therefore, I call on President Trump to go on national television now to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege.

"To storm the Capitol, to smash windows, to occupy offices, the floor of the United States Senate rummaging through desks, on the Capitol, on the House of Representatives, threatening the safety of duly elected officials. It's not protest, it's insurrection. The world's watching.

It continues, but I thought the 1st half of the speech was the best part.  It was quite presidential!

On a positive note and additional history being made:  

- the 1st African American senator was elected in Georgia in a senate runoff that happened on the 5th.  (He's also now the youngest senator in the nation.)

- the 1st Jewish senator was elected in Georgia - also in the senate runoff on the 5th.  Georgia was the center of the political world until the protests on the Capitol.  

Because of this runoff, all eyes were on us in the months leading up to the runoff January 5th.  On a personal note, we in Georgia are SO GLAD that the political ads, texts, calls, visits, etc have stopped finally.  whew.... it was rough (and quite an annoying barrage). 

Not political - but of note:  my mom had surgery on her leg on Monday and is at home recovering.  She has physical therapist coming to the house and has a medical device that moves her leg while she sleeps!   She came home on Tuesday.  Also on Tuesday, Isabella went to urgent care for severe leg pain (possible post-virus myalgia).  She was tested, but nothing showed up.  She's a little better.  We're taking her to the chiropractor too at the next available appointment in a couple of days to help with any possible mis-alignment which could also be triggering.