“In the weeks and months following the 9/11 attacks, I was proud to lead an incredible, resilient and united people. When it comes to the unity of America, these days seem far removed from ours, “Bush said.” An evil force seems to work in our common life that turns every disagreement into an argument and every argument into a clash of cultures. “Much of our politics has become a call to anger, fear and resentment. That leaves us worried about our nation and the future together.”
Following reports of rising hate crimes, vitriol debates, occasional physical altercations over coronavirus protocols, and threats to basic democratic principles such as voting rights, Bush contrasted the union observed in the past with the political cracks of the present. The former commander-in-chief specifically drew attention to the “violent extremists at home.”
Only about eight months ago, hundreds of loyalists of then-President Donald Trump besieged the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of a popular and electoral vote he lost, following his repeated traffic of claims of electoral fraud without foundation. A rally scheduled for this coming weekend aimed at supporting those arrested for their involvement in the insurgency is already alarming in Washington.
”[W]We have seen growing evidence that the dangers to our country may come not only from the borders, but from the violence that gathers within them. There is little cultural overlap between violent extremists abroad and violent extremists at home, “Bush said.” But in his contempt for pluralism, in his contempt for human life, in his determination to contaminate national symbols. “They are children of the same evil spirit. And it is our duty to continue to confront them.”
Some who saw Bush deliver his speech, included Georgetown University Professor Donald Moynihan, noted how important it was for him, as a Texas Republican and leader at the time, to directly compare the al-Qaeda terrorists who launched the deadliest attack in the country’s history with the violent extremists in his home. “If any Democratic politician had tried to do so, they would have been attacked for exploding on September 11 for political gain,” he wrote on Twitter.
The vast majority of Republicans, such as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, have joined the argument that Trump had “no involvement” in the siege. Others, such as Arizona Representative Paul Gosar, have come to offer an unequivocal defense of participants as “peaceful patriots.” Those, including Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney, leader of the House Selection Committee investigating the Jan. 6 incident, are now the exception to the rule for taking a stand against such statements.
The interruption of this dark day at the Capitol also resulted in the death of five people.
Organizers of the “Justice for J6” rally, which will take place this Saturday, have asked to meet in the public park next to the Capitol’s reflective pool, the Washington Post reported. It is estimated that about 700 people will attend, and plans for a counter-rally in Freedom Plaza that day have circulated online, the newspaper reported.
Nearly 600 people have been charged with federal crimes for their involvement in the January attack, during which Trump supporters descended on the Capitol with an aggressive crowd, looted the building, opened barriers, assaulted officers. of police and secretly sent elected officials. .
Preparing again for the threat from far-right extremists and Trump loyalists, reinforcements are being called to make backups of Capitol police and security closures have been called for around the Capitol, he said. reported the Associated Press.
After giving his warning to the nation on Saturday, Bush referred to those on board Flight 93 as a means of conveying what citizens should aspire to.
“These Americans were brave, strong and united in ways that surprised terrorists, but they shouldn’t surprise us. This is the nation we know,” he said. “And whenever we need hope and inspiration, we can look at the sky and remember”.
Shannon Larson can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @ shannonlarson98.