Un-American acts are a disgrace

We live in a democratic republic.

That much we thought was clear, until Wednesday.

On that day, American citizens stormed the U.S. Capitol building. They paraded it through it carrying a treasonous flag. They sought to overthrow the will of the voters.

They labeled themselves patriots.

Their actions could not have been less patriotic.

In our elections, there is a winner and there is a loser. It happens all the time, throughout our nation, and not just at the national level.

In our local primary election in June, we had a county commissioner who lost his seat. It was the second time in his government career that he had lost a bid for re-election.

But Mike Leonhard, who had served in county government for the better part of two decades, did not throw a fit and claim the election had been stolen from him. To his credit, both times, he was gracious in defeat.

In 2004, an election he lost by a mere 34 votes, he said of winner Faron Parr, “I wish him all the luck in the world.”

In June, when he lost to Rex Journay: “The people spoke.”

That is how one properly handles defeat.

President Donald Trump and many of his supporters insist this year’s election was stolen from him.

It was not.

The votes were counted. As those who paid attention in government class know, vote counting is observed by representatives of both parties. Local election boards also have representation from both parties.

Then, in cases in which it was warranted, there were recounts.

Trump’s attorneys brought dozens of lawsuits. Repeatedly, they were offered opportunities to provide evidence supporting their allegations of fraud. They could not produce such evidence.

A lawsuit unfortunately supported by many state attorneys general and even our own U.S. Representative went to the Supreme Court. There, where two-thirds of the justices were appointed by Republicans including three by Trump, the case was found to be baseless.

Election results were then certified by each of the states.

Trump had his day at the polls. He had his day in court.

He lost. Period.

What happened at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday was shocking. But it probably should not have been surprising.

It seems that it was the logical result of years of enabling a power-hungry narcissist and justifying the never-ending stream of nonsense that spews from his mouth and Twitter feed.

There were those who were still enabling him before, during and even after the appalling insurrection in Washington, D.C.

We urge all local units of government — county commissioners, county council, city, town and village councils, and others — to pass resolutions at their next meetings denouncing Wednesday’s despicable display. Such resolutions would be merely symbolic, but they would send an important message.

And that message is this:

If you were among those who infiltrated the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, you were wrong.

If you watched the chaos unfolding and cheered it on via social media, as some did, you were wrong.

If you sat passively but in your mind felt they were doing the right thing, you were wrong.

We have elections in this country. Once a winner has been determined, we follow through with the peaceful transition of power.

The transition will still happen, we believe, as it should. But the siege of the U.S. Capitol that occurred Wednesday will forever be a stain on our nation.

It was shameful.

It was treasonous.

It was wrong.

And, perhaps most importantly, it was un-American. — R.C.