Week 3
America has been ravaged and torn apart by a presidency that was self-sacrificing and by a ruthless virus. The combination of the two powerful enemies has made the past few years debilitating. In order for us, as Americans, to move forward, we must first look behind. We must remember why we are America, and why Francis Scott Key wrote the words “the land of the free and the home of the brave” in 1814. Why In 1776 we wrote the Declaration of Independance, the the Bill of Rights, and in 1862 Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery. In 1920, we passed the 19th Amendment for Women’s right to vote and in 1964 America passed the Civil Rights Act. On
June 26, 2015 it became legal for same sex couples to marry. Having accomplished and overcome these tremendous hurdles over the 200 plus years of America, we must now have the impetus to move forward and rebuild our great nation back to the quality and reputation it deserves. Our new president has already proven that eradicating covid is a priority and that vaccines distribution is becoming more available.
I think Eugene Goodman represents what is good about America. He is an employed member of our capitol police officers and formerly as in the XVIII Airborne Corps. He was fighting for our nation, as an American. I commend him for a job well done, but I do not see him as a hero. I see him as I see all our men and women in blue, as people who have chosen a career to protect others.
AOC was very brave revealing her personal history as a victim of an unwanted sexual encounter. Her vulnerability makes her more approachable and less congressional. Many who have suffered similar fates can sympathize along with her and provide collective support. AOC validated her feelings with support from her colleagues by sharing her experience with Presley. By sharing and exchanging thoughts, AOC can begin to heal.
There is a huge difference between fame and infamy. Anyone can be famous if they are well known. Fame connotes the notion of being a celebrity, in the spotlight, news worthy. Infamy is used when someone is famous for derogatory reasons. They can have a bad reputation or have committed a crime. The issue with false idolatry is believing in a force (Trump) that enables people to validate their violent and destructive behaviors. There is a parallel, on some level, to those who idolized and followed Hitler and carried out his demands. People were searching for something and someone to believe in and to have a purpose. Trump stood his ground against the American government and his followers to action.
The entire raid on the capitol was live-streamed by a caucasian man who was not a pro Trump organizer. He was an amature videographer. I believe that it could have been anyone taking that video trying to raise awareness of the real-time violence and anger being displayed during the raid on the capitol. This is similar to the creator of “Faces of the Riot” , which posted a photo collage of every person who participated in the riot in the capital. The inventor was simply trying to garner help from internet supporters to find clues that might lead to the arrests of these perpetrators.
