Look Towards the Horizon

As a proud citizen of this nation, especially having lived in the NYC metro area during 9/11 and then seeing what occurred at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, I have so many feelings and thoughts.

I am angered that people like those who caused the rioting insurrection were able to even get that close to the Capitol, let alone within it.

I am completely disappointed that law and order wasn’t in place far sooner in a manner that would have prevented what happened.

I am saddened by the deaths and huge amounts of those severely injured.

I am still aghast that those who represent our states on one of the most important days had to fear for their lives and go through all they did.

I am at a loss that in a time when our nation has endured so much and still has so much fear related to COVID-19 that a human who’s supposed to lead this nation that stands for democracy has instilled such additional levels of fear on top of the flames of all of his insane rhetoric on a worldwide stage.

While this nation won’t ever forget the act of insurrection on January 6, 2021, I will also fondly remember . . .

The power of people who worked together for the better good.

The day when Georgia’s senatorial race made major history on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

• Reverend Raphael Warnock became Georgia’s first African American senator who is the pastor of the church founded by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.
• Jon Ossoff became Georgia’s first Jewish person elected as senator.
• Together they changed a strong red state with the help of many people of that state to a blue one.

When our nation’s government officials didn’t fail democracy on January 6th, to make sure that law and order, that the ways of our democracy would prevail before they left the building that hours before had brought many of them terror.

When social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) took away the current president’s ability to worsen an already terrible barrage towards violence, at least through those mediums.

When Twitter stated on January 8, 2021 would permanently ban this president from ever having an account again. Perhaps this will lead to others getting the same ban due to the extreme harm done against humanity.

I will also remember discussing what occurred at the Capitol on January 7th with my middle school students, because what they knew, how they thought and felt about the insurrection and how democracy still prevailed afterwards, instilled in me an even deeper hope in he future of our nation.

I know that generations caused a lot of harm in our nation, but along those paths, we have begun seeing tremendous amounts of evidence that the tide is turning and a better sun rising in more ways than one.

I choose to not let all of the horrific acts reign stronger, but rather be a stark contrast to what all the good that is rising up in phenomenal ways towards a more perfect nation. No land is perfect, but I can see a better one across the horizon.