There Were No Patriots in the January 6 Insurrection

Patriot  n:  One who loves and supports his or her country; one who, motivated by their love for their country, fights to defend it and its principles. 

By definition, no one in the mob that attacked the US Capitol building on January 6, 2021 is a patriot.  

Nor is anyone in the collection of motivating speakers at the rally near the White House, including the former President, a patriot.  And it's not just because they don't meet the dictionary definition of the word.  It's that they have no respect for the principle of equality, or the rule of law.  They are pickers and choosers, demanding their own individual rights while desiring to deny others the exact same individual rights.  

No Victims of Tyranny in the January 6 Mob

They are not, as many of them claim, victims of "tyranny" which is, by definition, "the cruel, unreasonable, arbitrary use of power or control".  By all indications, including the social media posts of those who organized the "Stop the Steal" rally at the White House and all of the speakers at the rally including the President, the intention was to disrupt the count and theoretically prevent Biden from being elected.  They were attempting to impose their will by force, and had they succeeded, that would have been tyranny.  Patriots are not tyrants. 

Everyone in that mob had the opportunity to cast a ballot in a free and completely fair election.  When they were not satisfied with the result, or concluded that the election had been "rigged," as Trump kept saying even before the first ballot was cast, there were multiple means available to every one of them to bring whatever evidence they had beyond mere speculation or parroting the slogans to the courts to have an opportunity to open the door to prove their allegation.  

For as many times as Trump and his supporters, including those in Congress, used the term "massive voter fraud," and for as long as they threw that term around, including years prior to the election, they left the impression that they had mountains of evidence to prove it beyond any shadow of doubt.  For the courts that examined the evidence, including several federal courts with Trump-appointed judges, the job was a lot easier and went much faster than anticipated.  They didn't have to spend much time determining how to rule on the weight of the evidence, because there was no evidence presented at all to support the "massive voter fraud" contention.  But with Trump's record of truth-telling, it wasn't surprising or shocking that there turned out not to be any evidence at all, just mirages and shadows, smoke and mirrors.  And a few careless threats.

If there had been "massive voter fraud," there would be evidence of it and not just allegations from people paid to make them.  There are far too many people watching, including hard core partisan supporters from all candidates campaigns.  If the Democrats had been stuffing ballot boxes, they would need thousands of Republican, Trump supporting election officials to be in on the conspiracy or hope that they are all as dumb as a stick not to see fraud being committed right under their noses.  

As bad as the Trump Presidency was, it would not be accurate for the other side to use the term "tyranny" to describe their experience.  The opportunity always existed to make a change.  Things took a really bad turn after he lost the election, as he attempted to use the levers of power of the Presidency to subvert the will of the people and try and remain in office.  Had he succeeded in doing so, that would be genuine tyranny, the end of the Constitution as we know it and the end of American democracy.  

But it did not succeed.  We still live in the American democratic Republic established by the Constitution that was drafted and ratified in 1789, and so do Trump's supporters.  There is no tyranny.  And because that is the case, it would be improper to call anyone in that mob trying to overturn the constitution and institute a dictatorship a patriot, including the former President and anyone who spoke at the rally prior to marching on the Capitol.

True Patriot Values

Patriots accept the results when their candidates lose elections because that's how a democratic republic works.  They defend their country regardless of what political party is in the majority.

Patriots do not use the flag, which is a symbol of their country, as a projectile or to stab a police officer enforcing the law. 

Patriots show proper respect to the members of the national government, regardless of their party affiliation.  They do not rummage through their offices or remove equipment needed to do their job.

Patriots show proper respect to the symbols and buildings of their national government.  They do not break out windows, break down doors or urinate and defecate in the hallways and rooms. 

Patriots do not attack police officers or military personnel charged with the responsibility of protecting and providing security to the national government while it is performing a constitutional duty. 

Patriots fight for their country.  They do not create enemies out of their fellow countrymen who do not share their political preferences or perspective.  Patriots promote national unity and celebrate the diversity of the nation's people. 

Patriots defend the Constitution, which requires knowing what it says and how it is properly interpreted.  

There were no Patriots in the mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021.  Not a single one. 

The Constitution Empowers Patriotism, Not Insurrection

Every time there is an election, the American people have an opportunity to change their government without violence and bloodshed.  Even for those who are impatient and want instant change, the election cycles come around frequently enough to provide an opportunity to make change if enough people agree to it.  Patriots vote.  Not just every four years, when there is a Presidential election, but every time there is an election.  It is those who don't cast their ballot, for whatever reason, that are putting the nation in danger of tyranny.  

As long as our government leaders are subject to a free and fair election, tyranny does not exist.  Education supports free and fair elections, and the difficulties that we have faced in recent elections are an indication that the education system needs an overhaul of its American History and US Constitution course objectives.  Education includes making sure students have the discernment to distinguish between propaganda and truth when it comes to the information they are now bombarded with from multiple directions.  

The boundaries between "free speech" and irresponsible incitement of insurrection have been blurred.  One of the outcomes of the hearings, and trials, resulting from the Trump insurrection, must be the clear definition of what constitutes free speech, and what constitutes subversion, or can be defined as treason.  

It is not impossible for our constitutional republic to fall victim of subversion and be transformed into a tyrannical dictatorship or oligarchy.  Ignorance is its biggest enemy and ignorance has been openly displayed across the country for at least the past four and a half years.  It's of the utmost importance, therefore, for the results of the hearings and trials regarding January 6 to send the clear message that subversion and insurrection, regardless what form it takes, will not be tolerated.  Whether that looks "political"or not, it must be done.