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Fireflies Unlimited
One can make a strong case that we are experiencing a dark era in American history. There are the seemingly nonstop mass-shootings. There is the organized republican effort to bring us back into the dark ages by overturning Roe. And this evening, we will see the January 6 Committee reporting on the insurrection.
We are all aware of this darkness. We know that many are actively engaged in efforts to prevent the light of truth from illuminating the nature of the darkness. The vast majority of republicans in DC want to avoid discussing the insurrection. Fox News will not be carrying the Committee's hearing tonight.
This is directly connected to the fact that when you or I venture out into public, perhaps visiting a grocery store, we know that a certain percentage of those we encounter exist in that darkness, both without and within. They are the dark holes that are playing a significant role in sucking the life-light out of democracy.
There are other types of darkness we must be aware of. These are the nay-sayers, the stick-in-the-mud mentalities that say the needed changes -- including necessary legal charges -- will never happen. They note things like the Committee and DOJ as identifying the Proud Boys as "key instigators" of the violence on January 6, and pretend this translates to the "only key instigators," as if we should forget everything we saw coming from the White House from the November election to Trump's speech to the crowd on January . And everything that we have learned since, including from the Committee and DOJ.
This doesn't mean we will not have moments of doubt. That includes doubt about if tonight's televised hearing will help. Doubt about if the DOJ will charge those in the Trump cult who were connected to the Proud Boys, even though there were connections, with Peter Navarro having spoken of the coordinated Green Bay Sweep and the republicans in the House and Senate supporting it. Doubts about if the Attorney General determines if there is enough evidence to prosecute Trump successfully, and doubts about if even that would result in Trump being indicted.
We must still do our part. When the DOJ shines a light by indicting Navarro, we know it is a good thing. When the Committee shines its bright light on the roots of the insurrection, it is a good thing. For that is their part. Our part is to respond. To light up the darkness like thousands of fireflies on a June night.
How do we do that? Clearly, it will be fun to participate in discussions here for the next 24 hours. There are good and intelligent people here who will give insights on the most significant parts of tonight's hearing. But, as citizens, we have the responsibility to do more. Amendment 1 includes the phrase "the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Petitioning government can, obviously, include getting people to sign a letter, on paper or on the internet, and sending it to an individual or group in one of the three branches of government. But everyone knows these petitions carry the least weight or influence among the various ways of redressing grievances and concerns." A petition with a thousand signatures is far less powerful than a thousand phone calls, letters, or e-mails. Thus, it is better to concentrate on providing light by those individual contacts.
Recently, I posted contact information for the DOJ:
https://www.justice.gov/contact-us
https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice
I suggested that forum members contact the DOJ on Friday, to do one of two things: either to express confidence in what you assume is their current approach based upon what indictments have already been handed down, or to express your thoughts about the need to iindict those beyond the members of the crowd on January 6, including those in the White House.
As anticipated, some did not respond seriously, and one response expressed the person's strong disagreement with me. And that's fine. But others responded in a more positive light. And that's what we need. I'm reminded of a few years back, when my cousin and his son were shot in a road rage incident. The drunk, off-duty law enforcement officer killed the son, and seriously injured my cousin. There came a time in thr pre-trial period where DU community members contacted the District Attorney and the judge's offices, expressing their opinions on the case. It turned out to be by far the largest number of American citizens to make such contacts in the county's history. That is Amendment 1 in action.
Amendment 1 is not in action when people take the bump-on-a-log inaction. The "it won't matter" approach that only adds to the danger of the darkness. For only the mentally dead could watch tonight's hearing and fail to recognize that the Committee is shining a bright light upon a threat to our country that remains extremely dangerous. Don't go quietly into the dark night. Light it up.
23 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
We will be contacting the DOJ on Friday. 
Gonna make a phone calls! Mr. Garland, hate to bug you did you viddy that thing?
Important 
Thanks, good post. I appreciate your perspective.
I too love fireflies, although here in the Southeast we call them lightning bugs. 
Sitting on the front porch at sundown and seeing the occasional one drifting near the ground is one of the loveliest gifts of this season (and an encouraging sign that most of my neighbors have stopped spraying for mosquitoes).