As I was working last Wednesday, I had a hole in my schedule so I thought I would turn on the news and watch the circus, I mean Congresses as they counted the electoral college votes. When I turned on the news, I was distraught and confused. I thought I was looking at another country, not our Capital, that could not happen here, so I thought. As I sat and watched I was wondering what is going on. Then I saw the President’s rally and how he had encouraged his followers to descend upon the United States Capitol and interrupt the proceedings, then I knew, the President was attempting to keep power at all cost, and that intent included running over our constitutional process. What the President and his followers failed to understand is Congress was following the constitution and doing what they were required to do. As I watched in horror and struggling with my feelings, I had known that the event was possible because the President could not accept defeat and refused to accept reality. I had always thought that Americans would do what is right. The people had spoken. I guess I was wrong. Some Americans followed a leader who refused to accept reality and wanted to maintain power at any cost, including our democracy.
The President had stoked the discontent within our country over the last 4 years and continued after his loss. I am truly struggling with how we got here and how we could have elected a President who was OK with betraying the constitution and our country for his own needs. I understand the discontent in our country, and I agree with most people that something needs to be done about the politics. I agree they are not working for us and are working for themselves. This is not the way to change things. If you want a change in leadership, we need to vote them out and that is what was done, the President was voted out, but he would not accept the loss, and incited violence because he refuses to accept reality.
We continue to vote people into Congress that do not have our best interested heart. I was disappointed that our representative Jay Obernolte decided it was in the best interest of the country to contest the election results after what had happened in the Capital. I was initially happy when he was voted in because he has been pro veteran. When Representative Obernolte signed onto challenging the vote of the people and not adhering to the constitution he swore to uphold, he lost me. I cannot support anyone who attempted to undo the will of the people. I feel betrayed by representative Obernolte because of his actions. I spent 20 years of my life upholding the constitution, and I continue to do so. I cannot support anyone who tries to undo our democracy. But the largest betrayal and disappointment I felt was when it came out some of the perpetrators of the assault of the capital were veterans themselves.
I cannot understand how any active-duty military or veterans could join the insurrection. These folks did at the Capitol. It has been reported that the Army was investigating 25 active-duty people who participated, my guess it will be more in the future. These active-duty military veterans could be facing court marshals for the crime of sedition, and if they do, they deserve it. Why a military veteran would participate in an insurrection is beyond me. In my opinion those veteran folks who destroyed the capital could and should be court martialed for their actions and lose any benefits they have from the government. It is one thing to have a peaceful demonstration but another to attack our capital building. So many of those who participated know better. There were active-duty and military veterans, republican party officials, political donors, politicians, and off duty police officers who decided to throw out the constitution because they did not get their way. All these people took an oath at one time in their life to uphold the constitution of the United States, that oath has no expiration date. They should be held accountable for their actions especially President Trump.
I was told by someone I was naïve and had a blind spot for veterans and active duty because I feel we were better than this, I guess some are not. I do not know where we will end up after all this is over, but I just hope we have learned a valuable lesson about choosing a leader. I do not have a problem with anyone doing what they think is best for the country, but it is hard to believe that what happened in the Capital Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 is what was best for the country. Like I told someone in the store the other day I do not know how anyone can support this President after what he has done. I have never felt this betrayed by a leader in my life, and I spent 20 years in the Air Force and had a lot of leaders.
For questions or comments you can contact me at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit my website at www.afterdutyvets.com and like us on Facebook @afterdutyvets.