Fulton County Ohio Media

Below is an editorial I wrote on January 7, 2021.  It was, in fact, my first posting on my just-created blog, Fulton County Media (FCM).  I was in shock from the events of the day before and, honestly, I still cannot fully comprehend it.  My question today is, “Have things, with respect to the political and cultural divide in this country, gotten any better?”  I believe they have become much worse.

The unimaginable wound opened in our Hall of Democracy three years ago has not only failed to heal, it has become infected, with that infection spreading across our nation and the rest of the world for that matter.  For me, 2024 will be a ticking time bomb in America.  I can only hope and pray that time bomb can be diffused before it explodes and takes us back to 1861.  We are living in a fractured nation and we will not survive another Civil War.  Our enemies today are immensely more powerful and capable than they were when we first split apart and they are waiting to pounce.  We need to come back together and work through our differences before it is too late.

Just My Opinion – Where Do We Go From Here?

Is there any more that can be said about the Trump-incited mob that attacked the U.S. Capital Building yesterday that has not already been voiced by someone?  I’m sure there will be, but will it change what happened?  Of course not.  Will it make any difference? We can only hope and pray.  The tragic event that took place on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021 will now take its rightful place in the “Where Were You When” category of American history under the “Shameful, Needless and Preventable” sub-group.

So, who do we blame?  Better yet, who do we not blame?  We all saw it coming and we all let it happen. Donald Trump began constructing this bomb since the beginning of the 2016 Presidential campaign. When, to the surprise of many, including Donald himself, he won the election, he moved his bomb making lab into the White House. From there he began to perfect his weapons of mass distraction and test fired one every time he found himself in political hot waters. Yesterday he launched his most destructive and lethal one to date. And, hopefully, his last.

Finally, after yesterday’s insurrection which failed to achieve Trump’s objective, Donald is agreeing to a “smooth and peaceful” transition of power. If true, it comes two months too late. But nobody will be holding their breath waiting for it to happen. Regardless, Donald and the Trump family will be out of office in less than two weeks. The next question is how do we recover and where do we go from here?

Undoubtedly, it will take many years, a lot of work and a lot more understanding, compromise and forgiveness to heal our nation. We have never been more divided in a four-year stretch since the years of 1861 to 1865. Obviously, our differences and disagreements over past four years pale in comparison to what took place 160 years ago, so it gives me much hope that we come back from this and return to the great nation and role model to the rest of the world we used to be.

For now, the causes behind the self-inflicted black eye America suffered on Capitol Hill yesterday will be analyzed and debated in search of a vaccine that will protect us from repeating a similar attack of our democracy.  Many will still argue in support of the violence but their voices will fade and reason will take hold.  I still have faith in America.