Cowardice

I watched as the protestors stormed the capital last month. I watched as they fought with the police to gain entry. I have watched the news reports of the atrocious things they did while they were inside. I mourned with the families of the slain. And I celebrated the bravery of not only those who perished, but those who kept the mob at bay until Senators and the Vice President could gain safe haven.

In sharp contrast to the bravery of those men and women, consider the actions of the mob, for a mob it was. Consider their pleas now that they are charged with sedition and rioting and assault. "I was only doing what my President told me to do."

What a bunch of cowards. You were brave enough to storm the place with, in some cases, guns and ammunition, and in other case, bats and poles. But when it comes to taking responsibility for your actions you show more cowardice than anyone.

The problem here, you see, is that this is endemic to our current culture. It's fine to do something, anything, and claim it is our right to do it. But when it comes to reaping the consequences we can't quite grasp the concept. What? Me responsible? I was just doing what someone told me to do.

It's just plain and downright cowardice.

And if you don't like me calling it that, you are probably part of the problem.

I'm not saying that storming the capital was right or wrong. I'm not taking a side in that because I can actually see both sides.

Let me explain.

On one hand you've got, whom I will call, the stormers. For lack of a better word. They thought they were rebelling against Old King George himself. "Tyranny!" they shouted. "The vote was rigged!" they said. Ok, I can see that point of view. They thought they were doing the same as our forefathers did and rebelling against oppression. I can respect that, though only through half-closed eye holes.

On the other hand, you've got the "innocent" Senators and Congress-people. They are the ones in "power" and were only doing what the Constitution told them to do. Besides, hanging Mike Pence or Nancy Pelosi was not going to do anything but incite more violence. I can respect the fact that they were afraid for their lives, and the stormers WERE violent. There's no doubt about that.

So which side to take? I'm not saying here. And I could. I've got a lot of arguments for one side and not many for the other. But be that as it may.

What I am saying is that once you do something you need to be ready to accept the consequences, whether they be good or bad.

These people, the stormers, won't accept that. Thus, to me they're just penny-ante cowards.

They're like children who got caught with a fist full of cookies. "Well," they say, "it's not my fault," they say. "Donnie told me to do it!"

Come on, guys. At least have the guts to admit you were doing it because you wanted to. Be a grown-up and admit you were wrong. Accept the responsibility that always comes with your actions.

No one FORCED you to travel to DC. No one held your family captive. No one said you'd go to jail if you didn't go.

So now that you've done the crime, it's time to start paying the time.

In other words, be a man.