Reflections on January 6th
I’m reporting from the wee hours of Saturday, January 6th, 2024. It’s Greenwich Mean Time here as I write this. Most of you are sound asleep back in good old Friday, January 5th. I’ve time-travelled ahead of you, into the near future, so I can let you know what it’s like. So I can warn you, perhaps.
It’s a deceptively quiet and ordinary day, so far. But then, I remember that’s how the day began exactly three years ago this very day. It didn’t end that way, though. Not by a long shot.
I saw it with my own eyes, and so did many of you. A massive number of thugs and goons, more than battalion but less than brigade strength, attacked the Capitol building with vicious, murderous intent. That’s how it always is and always will be with mobs that do violence and break windows: their effective intent is murderous. Mobs can neither be stopped nor appeased when human beings get caught in their maws. Murder follows quickly, even if the mob doesn’t really plan it that way.
A scaffold was erected. It was no flimsy affair hastily fabricated for hanging effigies. It was competently and solidly built, with neatly fitted, dexterously assembled timber stairs created to hold human weight and topped by a solid crossbeam and an expertly-fashioned hangman’s noose. Somebody who knew what they were doing brought it into existence. And they brought it in pieces specifically for the event. Then they built it on the spot.
They knew exactly what they were doing and they did it with malice aforethought. They say the scaffold was intended for Vice President Mike Pence, but if you look closely at the photos, if you zoom in, you will see that someone had written “Biden” on one side of the platform with an arrow pointing toward the noise.
The truth of the matter is anyone would have done, or a bunch of anyones. They came that day to do a hanging or three and cheer the death by execution of anyone who they thought got in their way, and we were lucky it was never used. Because it easily could have been.
The mob destroyed our windows and doors, damaged our building and desecrated our sacred, marble halls and offices. I say “our” because it was our building they attacked, our building, paid for by our taxes and erected at our volition. They had no right to attack it and I’m angry that they did, and so should you be.
But it wasn’t mere brick and mortar and glass they attacked that day, three years before the day I have time travelled to, it was a sacred idea. My greatest anger is reserved for the fact that they attacked our right to vote and elect the President of our choice. They attacked our right to see him duly installed in office with peace and dignity.
They were welcome to be disappointed that their man didn’t win. This is America, we don’t begrudge anyone their opinion. But they had no right to try to deprive us of our vote and our peaceful transition with violence and murder.
Five people died that day, or as a direct result of that day. Many say we were lucky it wasn’t more. But five lives is five too many. It was the price we paid because one man lacked the maturity and honesty and mental stability to accept defeat. Their deaths lay at the feet of that one man and the fools he inspired.
Today is beginning just like that day. But I hope no day ever finishes the way that one did, and I hope no day ever finishes the way that one could have done. Because that is the day we nearly lost our democracy. We kept it by the skin of our teeth.
So sleep well, brothers and sisters. Sleep well, but when you awaken, remember. Three years ago was a tragic day, an awful day. I travelled a little ahead in time to give you the all clear that today won’t be another one like it. But I also want to remind you that, however awful that day was 3 years ago, in exactly 304 days we have a chance to make sure what could have happened that day doesn’t happen. Because in 304 days it will be November 5th, 2024.
So vote, vote as if your democracy depends on it. Because it does. Don’t make perfect the enemy of good enough. Never forget what happened three years ago today, set aside your differences and re-elect Joe Biden as President of the United States. And, as ever, ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, comrades and friends, stay safe.
Robert Harrington is an American expat living in Britain. He is a portrait painter.