Writingbolt's Creation

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It has begun!… [Insert Mortal Kombat music.]

Donald Trump’s second chance–unbelievable–at being the president of the USDA…I mean…USA.

And, among the first things I hear of him doing…he’s PARDONING rioters from the infamous January 6th incident?!

Sir, if I can even be that polite, you don’t get that right. It’s not your place to do this. You incited that riot. Regardless what you say, what responsibility you accept or do not accept, for that day, you do not take away the responsibility of all those violent and lawless people.

You can’t pardon the pilgrims for slaying Native Americans, either. But, that is what this resembles. You stir a pot of violence, like a Boston Tea Party but with people getting critically hurt in the rebellion, and then professionally excuse the participants, as if they did nothing wrong (even if “wrong” only means some people are upset while others are happy about what happened). The participants of the Boston Tea Party were not responsible for the entire USA or the British Empire. They were not the (first) president, who had to hear and satisfy both sides if the states were to remain UNITED. Abraham Lincoln’s actions led to a civil war, regardless who thought he was right or wrong. Are you willing to engage in the same? Your decision does not satisfy both sides and does not UNITE the USA.

Even if the rioters could be seen as another Boston Tea Party rebelling against some British Empire trying to restrict them, neither they nor you, however you want to label yourself (as, essentially, the man behind the plan, even if all you did was suggest a response to a vote you felt was wrong), has the right to excuse or deny someone else retaliation, whether that retaliation is a legal decision or something more hostile (like a war/revolution). The participants of the Boston Tea Party didn’t attack anyone. What they did upset business and angered their former homeland. That lead to more conflict. If you don’t want more violence or retaliation, you have to, at least, take responsibility for what you did, not deny it.

[Did Abraham Lincoln survive the Civil War and simply tell the surviving members of the Confederacy, “Sorry you had to lose all those people, who didn’t agree with the North. But, I had no part in that. And, all of the Yankees who killed your friends and family are totally innocent, too, because I forgive them.”]

By pardoning rioters who acted on your behalf, you remain guilty of being one of them, even though you did not tear anything down or hurt anyone with your own body or weapon (other than those words you like to so casually throw around at the expense of others). You do not start your second and utterly shocking second chance at being responsible for one of the biggest and most powerful countries in this world with a pardon for violence. Are you going to pardon ISIS as well? You should. I mean, they are just as wrong (or right) as your rioters. Both could be considered hornet nests who act out of anger, out of disapproval, and who damage lives as well as property.

You would rather fire staff and replace them than pardon them…but you’ll pardon people who attacked the very place you now call your office, people who acted recklessly on your behalf. [It’s astonishing anyone is willing to serve you.]

I cannot be polite or respectful in any way with you. You’re being…very stupid. [I guess that is a polite way of putting it.] I’d say you’re an idiot, but I don’t think I am too paranoid or dumb to say you’re probably not making these decisions alone, by yourself. Someone (cough) is steering you. And, it surely isn’t your wife.

Are you strong-arming some Democratic assembly? Is this a hostage situation? Are you holding someone at gunpoint until they let your soldiers go free? What other threat may you be holding in your hands?

You might as well be the leader of a terrorist unit demanding control of the country. Please excuse your gun-and-other-weapon toting radicals after they scare enough people with their violence. You are now back in control and making all demands public.

Did Johnson pardon the shooter (or shooters) who killed JFK? Did Abraham Lincoln pardon the Confederacy (instead of engaging in a civil war)? Did anyone pardon JWB for shooting Lincoln at the theater? Did anyone pardon Adolph Hitler for just being an angry artist who didn’t like enough of the people he had to live with on this planet? Did anyone say, “You know what, Dick. You had your hands deep in that Watergate scandal. But, why don’t you come back and lead this country as if nothing happened?” Did anyone pardon the terrorists behind 9/11 or any of the more recent mass-shooting disasters? ‘None of the above.

[I don’t fully understand the annual pardoning of turkeys, either, but that’s a subject for another day.]

Are you going to pardon those who looted the homes of wildfire victims in California, too?

So, how can anyone pardon your riot squad?

If anyone would be permitted to offer such pardon, it would be your replacement, provided they are not your ally because I don’t trust any ally of yours, either. If Joe Biden pardoned the rioters, I’d say he was being too kind…way too kind. But, he could do it, if he chose that route. Maybe Kamala Harris would have pardoned them if you let her win. You’ll never know.

Yet, regardless, forgiveness shouldn’t precede accepting responsibility. If someone breaks a window and doesn’t, at least, admit to doing it, they are a cowardly outlaw. The owner of the window may forgive the one who broke it, but the responsible person cannot excuse the damage done. Famous outlaws of the Wild West didn’t kill people to remain anonymous.

These January-6th rioters wanted to be seen and make a public statement. They did. And, if someone deems them criminals for what they did, the rioters deserve some kind of punishment. They cannot excuse themselves (completely). And, if you are in anyway responsible for them being so violent…well, I don’t need to repeat myself.

If you tell someone to punch another person–and they do that for you–you are, in some capacity, responsible for the punch. If you choose to get drunk and careless behind the wheel just because you’re feeling lousy about life, are you free to drive into a building or some other person without deserving some sort of punishment? Is a crime only okay when you say it is?…when it benefits you?

No one is unaware of you, at least, inspiring the rioters you are now pardoning. The whole world may know you are excusing violent criminals. What does that say about you making the USA great again?

I went to school (or, rather, a poor excuse for a school) with reckless idiots like you. [Yeah. Now I’m calling you an idiot, as you so casually like to call other people who just don’t agree with you.] They thought they could do as they pleased because their parents paid for the school, because their parents were affluent, wealthy. Damaging school property and speaking very rudely to school staff didn’t concern them.

You could erase the national debt and still be responsible for what happened (but, at least, the country would appreciate your donation). And, if you think money can wash away the crime of those rioters (or any terrorists), you’re nuts.

This case will never be dismissed until you all accept responsibility (and, maybe, atone?).

But, when you do, what then? How do we punish you? Honestly, I have no idea what punishment fits the crime. No fee or prison time is going to change how you and your rioters feel about this country and the election system (other than maybe intimidate a few people, weaken their resolve).

If you don’t want a violent revolution to upset your “party,” you shouldn’t kick the hornet nest. You had your revolution moment. Are you willing to accept others acting out in response? And, even if you are, should the USA suffer for this situation?

I’d say I’m speechless…but I think I just gave an angry speech. Ha. [And, I don’t deny it.]

If we ever cross paths and I feel compelled to punch you so hard in the face that you feel pain or need surgery, I hope you’ll pardon me, too, because I’d sure like to skip out on responsibility for that crime. I would assume you’ll accept my violent retaliation as common courtesy for you being so rude and reckless with so many lives and laws. At least, I didn’t use a gun.