Letter to the Editor: In response to just one previous incident
To quote your letter, “As of this month” (October), ” two years ago, there had only been one time in our history when a major part of our government in Washington, DC was taken and pillaged by hostile forces. British forces, during the war of 1812, took the White House, enjoyed a hearty meal, then burned the place down.”
Your point is unclear. Your use of the word had instead of the word has implies there has been a second time in US history “…when a major part of our government in Washington, DC…” has seen violence.
You are mistaken.
I want to believe you did not present your statement in an attempt to convince people that the riot of January 6, 2022 was a unique occurrence needing some sort of exceptional response. Two hundred and sixty plus people an insurrection does not make. A weak and uncoordinated response to those rioters amplifies the visual but does not alter the fact that it was a small and short-lived event. On top of that a news media that broadcast lies (not error) to fan the flames of hatred made a one-time event into a major crisis by some that would like to use the visual to achieve ulterior motives unrelated to the event itself. Ya, read that line again.
There have been shootings, violent fights among the congressmen and on March 1, 1954 a Puerto Rican Nationalist group went to the public gallery of the House of Representatives and then began shooting at members of Congress, who were debating an immigration bill. Five members were wounded, but all recovered. Anthrax coated letters.
On February 13, 1861 there was a “mob” that attempted to “…break into the Capitol to disrupt the electoral vote count following the 1860 United States presidential election.” to read further see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_violent_incidents_at_the_United_States_Capitol. (A Wikipedia source but you can search the web for yourself to verify its accuracy.)
And if that is not enough the act of the south succeeding from the union and firing the first shot at Fort Sumter to start the not so Civil War should pale your fear of a group as small as the one on January 6, 2022 to no more than a foot note in history.
A congressman once said, “You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” Rahm Emanuel (D-Illinois)
The current speaker of the United States House of Representatives certainly takes that quote to heart in most of what she does.
On the other hand, if your intent was nothing more than to share a bit of US history trivia, thanks for sharing.
Phil Shafer,
Quincy, CA