DO WE? WILL WE?

Read the following excerpt from Liz Cheney's speech yesterday and then read again. And again. Even as you marvel at her courage, pay particular attention to the ending question. Answer it after open soul and mind are engaged, along with reality.

"America is great because we preserve our democratic institutions at all costs. Until January 6th, we were proof positive for the world that a nation conceived in liberty could long endure. But now, January 6th threatens our most sacred legacy. The question for every one of us who serves in Congress, for every elected official across this great nation, indeed, for every American is this: Will we adhere to the rule of law? Will we respect the rulings of our courts? Will we preserve the peaceful transition of power? Or will we be so blinded by partisanship that we throw away the miracle of America? Do we hate our political adversaries more than we love our country and revere our Constitution?"

And the answer is.....The game of Jeopardy has turned into a real and vital existential game of life. Our future or lack thereof depends on our answer, one demanding sanity, demanding truth and acceptance of truth, and a true horror and fear lest the planners of Jan. 6 destroy us after all. 

Anyone watching, listening, thinking, yesterday, knows that the national GPS, the country's WAZE have gone awry, sending us off on strange, perilous routes, having us u - turn at the next opportunity, illegality never mattering, betrayal of all that we have and should continue to hold as sacred, without question, discarded by the wayside as we frantically try to do....what? That is, to repurpose the iconic query: "That, is the 64,000question" - and a priceless answer.

As Kinzinger teared up, promising to "defend democracy", as the emotions, the fear, the trauma, were relived by Capitol and Metropolitan Police, even then, the liars, the Trump devotees,  struggling to maintain power, called these brave, wounded souls, "crisis actors! Definition from the twisted dictionary of the traitors? "a term used by far-right conspiracy theorists to refer to those who have been hired to manipulate public opinion by lying about events as victims and witnesses" . One Republican after another, be they government official or ordinary citizen, agreed to this obvious, outrageous lie, consented to the destruction of their lives, to loss of rights, only awaiting enforcement, and a new way of life -or, rather death - in the new Amerika.

Even as the vicious nastiness and lies of Jim Jordan were kept outside this vital hearing, the madness escaped, penetrating walls, the very heart of our country. No, Biden was not arrested by the military as they planned a coup. Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact. No, Biden has not instituted a "Communist takeover" of the country. Thankyou for that, Taylor Greene. Jordan obviously is a mentally challenged individual as he cannot answer a question with a simple yes or no, his memory so impaired that he cannot recall whether he spoke to Trump on such an inconsequential day as- Jan. 6. Even as it becomes clearer and clearer that he was in the planning right up to his neck!! A traitor. Not alone either, as there are other GOP members who stood at the ready to throw this country away, to trash its history, its ethos, its purpose, its accomplishments, its promises and standing as a beacon of light in an dark world, and yes, even its mistakes.

Mo Brooks, being sued, for his role in Jan. 6, has the temerity to argue that he qualifies to be exonerated, defended, by a government DOJ lawyer, as he was 'only' doing his job, a representative of the government. What a hoot that would be were it not so twisted and warped. If one works from within to overturn the legitimate government of a country, then one is fulfilling his duty to the people? Pardon me, but that is truly too big a gulp to swallow, no matter how many times nor how long it is chewed. It is just plain wrong!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, crazed characters continue to deny the pandemic, calling it a  hoax. Someone should inform the hundreds of thousands already dead as well as those dying once more.  Religious leaders get involved in medical areas, telling the congregation to not wear the masks, certainly, not in the sacred church building!! So much better to die, miserable, painfully, lonely, but  in the name of god. Explain that to me, if you can.

Racial physical and verbal abuse is on the rise, along with the worst terms and slurs. Those arrested continue, in cases, to be literally kicked when they are literally down on the ground. Past criminals are being told they are now participants, like it or not, in a program that uses past offenses as a reason to limit their freedom now, to be 'Big Brothered', as their every step, word, every action is examined under a microscope of questionable origin. Legality and values? Uh, sorry, but could care less.

So, we have arrived at the existential crossroads. Careful, for here are buried the witches, the accused and convicted, condemned to be buried at a crossroads, to never have any peace. Their restlessness, inability to repose in peace, are reflected in the unease of society, the roiling of its values, the uncertainty which plagues the future of all.

Look again at the excerpt from the speech of a brave woman, a true American. I do not agree on much that she espouses, but on this we agree. We are on a cusp, standing on one foot on the crumbling edge of a cliff, blindfolded, deafened, no clues as to how close we are to death - the death of a nation, the death of a beautiful experiment of mankind - a viable, positive democratic government. 

Please, read it again, paying particular attention to the closing question. It demands an answer. It demands courage, to know and defend the right cause, the right answer that will serve as the guide to us, to those who follow. Do we or don't we? Again, as always, your choice, your answer, your life. But mine as well.