‘The truth shall set you free’ – Jesus
I don’t like binary choices. I don’t see the world that way. I’m neither a Republican nor a Democrat. I try to remain dedicated to the principles of Jesus, and see problems with both political parties. Neither represents the values of Jesus’ Kingdom. Nor could they. They are part of the American empire, not the Kingdom of God. Their approach to changing the world is ‘power over’ not ‘power under.’ They are followers of the way of the dragon, not the way of the Lamb.
All that, as I’ve said before, is to say that although I find myself these days more in tune with those who lean blue I’m not altogether on the side of any political party. I am however altogether on the side of truth. And truth compels me to respond to those who are blaming the January 6th insurrection on both political parties. I’ve heard it expressed in various ways and from various people, from shameless defenders of the President to modern day Neville Chamberlains who think they can somehow appease the deranged inciters and purveyors of violence (and those who sympathize with them) by assigning blame everywhere. ‘Really, both sides are guilty here.’ ‘There are bad actors on both sides.’
Let’s get some things straight.
The Democrats did not spend months before the 2020 Presidential election lying to their voters by telling them that the other side was massively cheating and that they could only lose if the election was stolen. Donald Trump and his Republicans allies did that.
The Democrats did not spend the two months following the election tweeting and rallying and promoting false conspiracy theories about how the election was stolen. Donald Trump and his Republican allies did that.
The Democrats did not dog whistle support for Q Anon conspiracy theories and predictions of a ‘storm’ that would take over the US government and lead to the execution of political enemies. Donald Trump and his Republican allies did that.
The Democrats did not empower and encourage white supremacists, call them good people, and encourage violence against people of color over the past four years. Donald Trump and his Republican allies did that.
The Democrats did not pressure state legislators and election officials to ‘find votes’ or refuse to certify state election results in an attempt to thwart the will of the people in those states. Donald Trump and his Republican allies did that.
The Democrats did not hold phony ‘hearings’ led by extremist members of their party to offer fake ‘evidence’ of election fraud. Donald Trump and his Republican allies did that.
The Democrats did not invite thousands of Q anon conspiracy theorists and white supremacists to Washington DC on the day the Electoral College vote was to be certified. Nor did they tell them to ‘be wild’ as they assembled. Donald Trump and his Republican allies did that.
The Democrats did not deliberately enflame said denizens of humanity by appearing before them and encouraging them to March on the Capitol building, nor did they call for ‘trial by combat’ or encourage them to ‘bring the storm’ on January 6, 2021. Donald Trump and his Republican allies did that.
The Democrats did not, once the Mob was cleared, press on in an attempt to steal the election by refusing to recognize state electors. Nor did they make the preposterous claim that the riots had been led by ‘Antifa.’ Donald Trump and his Republican allies did that.
The Democrats did not encourage the use of confederate symbols, such as the flag waved inside the Capitol building, at any point during the past four years. Donald Trump and his Republican allies did that.
The Democrats did not have 197 members of their party vote against impeaching an insurrectionist President. Donald Trump’s Republican allies did that.
In short, the Democrats did not do a single solitary thing to encourage or support a coup or insurrection. Donald Trump and his Republican allies did that.
To be sure, the Democrats are not perfect. And as they take power in the days ahead they may very well act inconsistently with the teachings of Jesus, constitutional principle, and basic human decency. Like I said, they are part of the empire and follow imperial ways, so it really won’t surprise me. When they do such things, we can call them out for it.
But make no mistake: what happened on January 6th was not the fault of ‘both sides.’
That is the truth. May it set you free.
Under Christ’s Mercy,
Brent