On this day in American history...the most extensive plot to kill senior US government officials and prominent Americans in history took place. It targeted two former presidents, their families, a former Secretary of State, a former head of the CIA, senior members of Congress...
...a leading media organization & one of America's most distinguished philanthropists. It involved the coordinated distribution of deadly explosive devices across the country and was only foiled through the intervention of America's top law enforcement agencies.
Nothing on this scale or level had ever been attempted before. The motive was apparently political with the objective apparently being snuffing out the leading spokespeople for the views of the Democratic Party. As such it was not just an attack on senior individuals...
...but it was also an attack on democracy itself.
If you read about such an attack in a history book, you would assume it was a major turning point in the life of the nation. But it happened today. And the reaction of the president was essentially to pay it lip service.
If you read about such an attack in a history book, you would assume it was a major turning point in the life of the nation. But it happened today. And the reaction of the president was essentially to pay it lip service.
The reaction of many in his party was to dismiss it. Within hours Donald Trump was back on the campaign trail churning up the atmosphere of hatred and combativeness that surely contributed to these attempted murders. He wants it behind him. He wants it forgotten.
But this should not be shrugged off or consigned to a single news cycle. This was a very bad day in our history and we need to devote the time and energy not just to brining the people behind it to justice...but to understanding what is happening to us and why.
