BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG
UPDATED JANUARY 2026
On January 6, 2021, an attempted coup (insurrection, riot…call it whatever you want except a peaceful demonstration) by Trump-inspired rioters storming the U.S. Capitol placed our democracy in grave danger. While some of the rioters donned furs, antlers, and other preposterous outfits to match the preposterous ideas and other mental disorder in their heads, others came with guns, bats, swords, stun guns, and flex cuffs (which are used just like handcuffs) and wore Kevlar vests. Some used American flags to spear Capitol police officers. Some came to kill or capture our democratically elected leaders. Rioters built a wooden gallows next to the Capitol Reflecting Pool, and planted pipe bombs at the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican National Committees. They shouted, “Where’s Pelosi?!…”Hang Mike Pence?!” If you go online and watch videos of the terrible violence that was committed against Capitol Police by rioters you will be (or should be if your moral compass remains intact) disgusted and outraged. More than 140 police officers were injured by the mob that stormed the Capitol. One died after being attacked by the mob; another committed suicide days later. In one chilling video, dozens of rioters attacked D.C. Metropolitan Police officer Michael Fanone, knocked him to the ground, began beating him and electrifying him with his own Taser, and yelled, “Kill him with his own gun!!!” On that day, Officer Fanone suffered a heart attack, a concussion, and a traumatic brain injury.
Many of the rioters were fueled by lies about the election from Trump and conspiracy theories that would be laughable if they hadn’t caused people to try to overthrow our democracy. Representative Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican and military veteran, had the following to say about the attempted coup (as he called it): “On Wednesday I felt literally and real evil as the insurrection went down. It is not something that happens much, but I’ve never felt it stronger than that day.” But order was eventually restored at the Capitol.
It’s important to never forget how disinformation, hate, and lawlessness nearly shook our democratically elected government to its core on that day. More importantly, we need to stay vigilant against radical Americans (including members of the current Trump administration) who seek to destroy our democracy. Trump is the poster man-child for everything that I was taught was wrong and sinful as a Christian growing up, and he is a friend of dictators rather than leaders of democracies. In school, we were also taught about democracy and the central place that the United States played in the world. We were a beacon of hope because we promoted democracy at home and around the world. We were—at least, theoretically, and sometimes practically—a place where people of different religions, ethnicities, and backgrounds were respected and protected under the law. I remain mystified that tens of millions of Americans who were raised in these traditions made a choice in the 2024 presidential election that repudiated these lessons. This choice and the actions of the Trump administration is now turning the U.S. into an illiberal democracy and, at worst, a fascist state. But I’m heartened that some of the brightest, most-decent, and ethical people I know have stood up against the incompetence, decadence, grifting, and meanness of spirit of the Trump Administration. This is not about Democrats vs. Republicans, but about decency and democracy.
Whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or politically nonaffiliated, we must all respect the rule of law, use fact-based sources to make decisions, and re-learn how to engage with people who do not agree with us (as long as their opinions are based on facts and a genuine desire to improve the world), and simply treat each other with more love and respect. With that said, I also have little patience for those who say “there’s no difference between the two parties.” There are clear differences between the moral principles of the current administration and those (Democrats, Republicans, non-aligned parties) who oppose it. Yet, in the wake of such comments, we still need to find away to work together for the betterment of our country.
I understand that what I’ve suggested in the current political environment is akin to asking an ant to lift a broken tree branch, but studies show that thousands of ants working together can lift 5,000 times their own body weight. Let’s be like the ants (this is probably the only time in my life that I will say that phrase) and work together to heal our country. We can ALL prosper if we work together and put hate, lies, and partisan politics aside.
The problem is that words don’t solve most problems. There are organized groups (many of whom rioted at the Capitol on January 6, 2021) that do not want to work together but simply sow discord and try to subvert democracy. We must be watchful and diligent to not let this type of evil and hate overwhelm our country. We need to meet evil with good, criminal acts with prosecution and prison terms, lies and disinformation with facts, and disorder with the rule of law.
Trump-inspired insurrectionists tried to overthrow our government on January 6, 2021–and killed and injured police in the process. For this and countless other reasons, it’s crystal clear that Donald Trump is grossly unfit to lead our country—yet he was elected to a second term by a narrow margin. Less than one year into his second term, Trump has fundamentally changed (negatively) the fabric of our nation. The next year is a critical year in the history of the United States (let’s call it a “Year of Peril”), especially as President Trump continues to subvert the rule of law and he and his family profit from the presidency. Whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or politically nonaffiliated, wrong should still be wrong and Trump is morally compromised and does not follow any moral or Judeo-Christian (or other religious) frameworks that we were taught to follow as children. Keep this in mind as we move toward the midterm elections in November and for elections at every level. Vote your consience, not your fears. Vote on the facts, not on disinformation and fearmongering. Because, otherwise, what good are the lessons on morality, ethics, and democracy that we received as children if we don’t follow them as adults?
Copyright (text, except quoted material) Andrew Morkes
Copyright (photo) Shutterstock
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