A Sad Four-Year Anniversary

January 6, 2021, was an absolutely terrifying day. 

It wás a day I could never have foreseen, and it's a day I will never forget. 

I know what I saw on January 6, 2021. I watched in horror. I will not forget. I will not forgive.

I know who was responsible. I know whose words and actions resulted in the deaths of several law enforcement officers. I know whose words results in more than a million dollars in damages to the US Capitol. I know whose words threatened the lives of members of Congress.

I was one of millions of Americans who watched in horror and disbelief as the outgoing president of the United States incited his followers gathered in Washington, DC -- at his invitation to attack the US Capitol building, smash windows, destroy property and hunt down members of Congress. Among those targeted by the mob were then-Speaker of House Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence. And now, after 4 years of a normal presidency led by a compassionate man who genuinely cares about this nation, we are facing four more years of lies, chaos, divisions, graft, corruption and attacks. 

I remember watching the crowds of protesters on television, smashing windows, macing police officers and forcing their way into the US Capitol building, where they did $1.5 million in damage. Members of the US Senate and the House were hustled off to safe places to protect their very lives. Protesters were calling out 'Where is Nancy?' as they searched for then-Speaker Pelosi. 

They constructed a gallows on Capitol grounds, ostensibly for the hanging of Vice President hi I'mPence, who refused to delay or prevent certification of the votes. More than Year 140 police officers were injured in the riot. Some committed suicide in the days following the attack. Attacking America's leadership and congressional building is not making America great again. One would have to be stupid, brain dead or brainwashed to believe this is the way to make a nation great.

All of this was done at the behest of the outgoing president of the United States, in an effort to stop the certification of the Electoral College vote confirming that he had lost the election. 

Despite frenzied calls from members of his staff and administration to call in the National Guard to restore order, the outgoing president refused to lift a finger to stop the protest. Eventually the vice-president called in the Guard after several hours. The outgoing president reportedly watched the riots and the protest on television with great glee. He also refused to call off his goons that were attacking the US capital.

And now, here we are again, with the traitorous former president set to take office again on Jan. 20. He has promised to pardon those traitors who were active participants in the insurrection, setting them loose on our government and citizens once more. 

I am a 23-year employee of the federal government, now retired. I spent the majority of my working life as a federal employee. Watching these goons attack our government buildings and elected officials, with the complicity of the outgoing president and some members of Congress, infuriates me to this day. I love my country and I am proud of my government service.

The former president, who has never been held accountable for his actions that day, is in my opinion guilty of inciting an insurrection. Protesters reported that they showed up because the president told them to. The protests were well organized in advance. This was not a spur-of-the-moment gathering. And they most certainly were not, as one congressional apologist stated, simply a group of tourists vising the nation's capitol. Certain members of Congress were, to one degree or another, complicit in the insurrection, having taken some of the insurrectionists on tours of the Capitol building the day before the insurrection.

This insurrection was not about protecting our freedoms or defending America, as the traitors claim. It was about trying to overturn a free and fair election so the outdoing president could remain in power. He simply could not accept that he was defeated at the polls. And he ran for the highest office in the land in 2024 solely to stay out of prison, He doesn't love this country. He doesn't want -- and never has -- done the work a president should do. He loves the attention, the publicity, the perks. He most certainly does not love America or her people.

The riot of January 6 wasn't about making America great again. It wasn't about patriotism. It was, and still is, about a childish, spoiled narcissist -- now showing obvious signs of dementia -- who has never been held responsible for anything in his life throwing a temper tantrum that resulted in the deaths and injuries of many people.

January 6, 2021, was a very sad and very frightening day in American history. More than 1,200 protesters have been charged with crimes related to the events of January 6. Nearly 900 have pleaded guilty or have been convicted of crimes. Some have been sentenced to several years in prison.

I fear for our country once the instigator and ringleader of the insurrection takes the throne once more. His entire platform is about nothing but revenge and retribution. He has chosen members of his cabinet who are unqualified and whose appeal to him is that they will do whatever he tells them to do.

How far this once great country has fallen.