We were all shocked and dismayed by the incitement of violence and attack on our nation’s Capitol on Jan. 6. Most Americans agree that things have gone too far, but the next question is, “What do we do about it?” This is a call for every American patriot to use their First Amendment rights in defense of our democracy.
Historian Timothy Snyder says tyranny relies on a “Big Lie” to attain power. Donald Trump is a would-be dictator, and his Big Lie is that the election held on Nov. 3, was stolen from him. Anyone who has believed, repeated or entertained this Big Lie is facilitating an attempted coup d’etat of our democracy.
It is our responsibility to tamp down this lie. America is on fire; everybody grab a bucket. Every person who believes this lie knows people who do not, but our collective silence, our dismissal of it as fringe and ridiculous, has allowed this lie, this fire, to grow.
Every American who values the future of our democracy must act now to drown out this raging lie with a flood of truth. On every platform, small or large, we must state the following:
The election held on Nov. 3 was free and fair, and the people have spoken.
Donald Trump lost.
For too long we have relied on norms, the media and those in power to be the guardians of truth, abdicating our own responsibility as citizens of this republic. Aside from our revolution against the original tyrant, it has never been more vital for us to unite in cause and conviction.
Gwen Joiner
Everett
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