By Rick Kunz 2

 et me begin by stating categorically:  I am not an apologist for Donald Trump.  But if this country has any chance of a course correction, we must first clearly understand what has happened.

My first point would be that the actions of Trump were not driven by malice but rather sheer ignorance.  Granted, that does not change the consequences of his actions.  But again, the disease must be correctly diagnosed to assure effective treatment.

Trump lacks the education and the intellect to comprehend the intricacies of our form of government, based on the precept of self-governance.  It’s success requires a delicate balance between the exercise of power, on the one hand, and patience necessary to persuade, on the other.

Nothing in Trump’s upbringing or life experience prepared him for this level of comprehension.  He simply transferred the practices he applied in running his little mom and pop business to the majesty of the greatest experiment in governing the world has ever seen.

For example.  I believe when Trump vetoed the coronavirus relief bill, he thought all that would be required to amend the bill would be to cross out $600 and pencil in $2000. 

Finally, Trump was voted into office, because too many people thought the way our government was run was just a bunch of mushy malarkey; that what was needed was a tough, no-nonsense businessman to take the helm and straighten out the other two branches; his appeal sustained by those similarly lacking the comprehension of the subtleties of our federal system with its crucial checks and balances and distribution of power over the broadest range possible.

We live in the midst of an electorate with no appreciation for the rigors of self-government and the obligations of citizenship.  January 6 was a hissy fit on an adult scale.  Its very existence demonstrates the pathetic ignorance at its heart.  It is easy to curse and castigate Trump.  While necessary, removing him from office does nothing to address the real problem facing this nation; it’s solution a far more difficult task.

Comparison of Wisconsin protests 2011 to 1/6/2021

“Remember in 2011 when tens of thousands of Democrats surged on the Wisconsin Capitol building in Madison and physically occupied it for more than two weeks? We were told, "This is what democracy looks like."” -

From what I have found in the below sources.  

1. “Beginning in February involving at its zenith as many as 100,000 protesters”  in Wisconsin is from February 14, 2011 – June 16, 2011 (9).  Estimated number for the crowd on 1/6/2021 is “several thousand people, even 10,000 maybe” (10). 

2. I was not familiar with this event prior to researching it but from what I have found:

people did sleep in the capitol, with permission, if that is what “occupied” meant (15) (14) (13) (2).   

3. “This is what democracy looks like” was the title of some pieces of work but I couldn't find someone being quoted saying that (11) (12).

    

My thoughts-

The amount of property damage is not even close to comparable (1-7).

Physical violence not even comparable (1-7).

There were threats made by protestors in Wisconsin (5)(6)(9) and they were held responsible- “10+ arrested (5).

The events of 1/6/2021 are still under investigation but as of the research I have done today- 68 people were arrested between Wednesday night and Thursday morning (16), 13 have been charged federally (7), 5 people are dead (7) and “many” injured.  Some of those dead and injured are police officers.  That is not even taking into account those who will become ill from this experience, COVID, PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc.

I did not find any evidence of weapons being brought to Wisconsin, though there were tractors.  We know that there were weapons of many kinds brought to the nation’s Capital.

And I feel it’s worth mentioning, they brought a gallo, a gallo.

Lastly, in Wisconsin they were able to stay in session and do their work (1).  In the Capitol, they were not (6).

(1)https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2021/01/08/wisconsin-act-10-protests-vs-capitol-riot-breach-4-key-differences-violence-arrests-deaths-damage/6584619002/

(2)https://www.nbc15.com/2021/01/07/us-congressman-says-wisconsin-act-10-protests-are-incomparable-to-capitol-hill-violence/

(3)https://www.npr.org/2011/02/17/133847336/wis-democratic-lawmakers-flee-to-prevent-vote

(4)https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/wisconsin-14-group-of-democratic-senators-returns-greeted-by-thousands-at-capitol/2011/03/12/ABB28IS_story.html

(5)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Wisconsin_protests#Law_enforcement_actions

(6)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Wisconsin_protests#Political

(7)https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/thirteen-charged-federal-court-following-riot-united-states-capitol

(8)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_storming_of_the_United_States_Capitol

(9)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Wisconsin_protests

(10)https://news.yahoo.com/difficult-not-impossible-estimate-size-132937968.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADKZV9Rn77_cXrWXIsrD5fnfr2RNJXYAKqeomh78yXMFebCGj1g_V0bPpI6_4kmPra0PqNJyq_nfevZKZfWVDsXgsa50bTrgScXamjpdGgvukIBXygKRBWOxj-c6ZxIJ9-xPBbJQ2QHluAPpMykTcPb0VFMfMhZPxHlH-0MP44yX

(11)https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/51288657.pdf

(12)https://www.asanet.org/sites/default/files/savvy/footnotes/mar11/wisconsin_0311.html

(13)https://www.huffpost.com/entry/report-from-madison-wisco_b_828668

(14)https://beautifultrouble.org/case/wisconsin-capitol-occupation/

(15)https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/02/the-view-from-inside-the-wisconsin-state-capitol/71698/

(16)https://www.medpagetoday.com/washington-watch/electioncoverage/90559

(17)https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/08/capitol-attack-police-officer-five-deaths

A conversation leads to information sharing

One of the conversations I had over the last few days has brought about us sharing different info with each other. I was sent this--

Remember in 2011 when tens of thousands of Democrats surged on the Wisconsin Capitol building in Madison

and physically occupied it for more than two weeks? We were told, "This is what democracy looks like."

Remember in 2016 when Obama was President and hundreds of BLM blocked interstate highways and violently accosted police (even killing several)? We were told, "To assign the actions of one person to an entire movement is dangerous and irresponsible."  

Remember in 2018 during the Kavanaugh hearings when a mob of Democrats stormed the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, DC, and pounded their fists in rage on the door. We were told, "It's understandable." 

Remember this summer's riots in major cities across the country when groups of Democrats marched in the streets, set buildings on fire, looted businesses, assaulted and even killed bystanders and police?  We were told, "These are mostly peaceful protests." 

Remember when Democrats seized several blocks of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in downtown Seattle, declaring it an autonomous zone? Remember the guns ad deaths and utter destruction? We were told, "It's a block party atmosphere."

Remember when a crazed mob gathered after the Republican National Convention and attacked Rand Paul, a sitting U.S. Senator? We were told, "No justice, no peace." 

Remember how police were told to stand down, governors refused to call in the national guard, and Democrats paid bail for violent protesters who were arrested? We were told, "This is the only way oppressed people can be heard." 

I have condemned violent protests and lawlessness every single time they've been reported. I condemn the actions of those who stormed the Capitol yesterday. But I refuse to condemn hundreds of thousands of peaceful protestors because a handful (52 arrested) chose to be lawless and to defy everything the vast majority of the crowd stood for. Conservatives are defenders of the Constitution, the police, and the rule of law. Because a relative few people decided to do something stupid doesn't nullify the concerns of the many. 

The real culprit here? The mainstream media has been telling us for years that violence is the only way people who feel oppressed can be heard, it's the only way to get justice, and this is what democracy looks like. Apparently, a few who were in the crowd on Wednesday listened to them. 

The inflammatory rhetoric of the Left caused this, and it's about time Democrats and the mainstream media took responsibility for dividing Americans and attempting to humiliate those who support the President or any conservative ideals. They have pushed people to the brink, even while claiming, "It's time for unity." It's time for careful reflection and change on all sides. God help us.

--- I have been researching each section and will be sharing what I find. Please share any of your findings or thoughts too. :)

My question from 1/6/2021

 As I watched,

felt,

processed,

discussed,

watched,

answered questions,

felt some more, 

reassured, 

watched some more,

thought, 

I kept coming to "How is this patriotic?"

So I started having some more conversations.  I will share the different paths as we go down them.  And please share your thoughts in the comments or reach out to me.  Thank you!

1/6/2021

My 7 year old granddaughter "Is this good or bad?"

My 20 year old daughter as she is getting ready to go to the store "I think we should take the Biden/Harris sticker of the car.  It is putting a target on our back."