Articulating Democracy in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave
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I am struggling with the concepts of right and wrong. Who determines what is legal and what is not? Does having more money than the other guy make you right? Are political ties more important than what is morally correct? What is the concept of Democracy? Not the dictionary definition, but the purpose that is practiced day in and day out!
As a youngster in 1960 America, I asked my teacher, “What is communism?” I didn’t get a straight answer, and you would have thought I was swearing out loud.
When I witness live national television an armed mob storming the Capitol of the United States, police officers losing their lives in defense of the Capitol, and perhaps our way of life, there is a cause for pause. Precisely what is going on? The police arrested no one that day.
Recently, Georgia Representative Park Cannon (D) was arrested for knocking on the door where Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) signed a newly minted bill that criminalized giving food and water to potential voters standing in lines at the polls. An arrest warrant was signed by a judge and then executed. Cannon was led from the building where the signing was taken place in cuffs. The facts of the arrest warrant were easily verified by all the physical recordings of the incident. Long story short, Cannon didn’t do want to see was accused of doing.
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In contrast, a dangerous mob stormed the United States Capitol, killed police officers (plural), and damage thousand of dollars in property. On the day of the riot, not a single arrest was made. Furthermore, the lead instigator has picked back up his bullhorn after a brief pause.
According to all official channels at the Georgia Secretary of State, there were no election irregularities. One question? If it’s not broken, why fix it!
I guess there is another question? Why do criminal charges now apply to receiving water and/or food while casting a vote?
More questions keep coming. Rep. Cannon is an actual member of the Georgia General Assembly, while Governor Kemp is not a member of the General Assembly. How does an adequately elected member of the General Assembly not have access to General Assembly business?
Where is the so-called justice? I guess the concept of justice being blind has several meanings. If I ever were to get into trouble, I would like to know where to find a judge willing to sign such a warrant. I understand the police are duty-bound to serve the warrant once it’s signed by a judge. No questions asked.
Cannon was charged with obstructing law enforcement and disrupting a General Assembly session. The first charge § 16-10-24(b) is alleged to have involved “violence,” which is a felony punishable by between one a five years in prison. The second charge, § 16-11-34.1(h)(3), was alleged in court papers. And the third offense made the second a felony punishable by up to three years in prison.
Just to understand the sequence of events. On Thursday, March 25, 2021, Cannon knocked on a door at the General Assembly and was arrested at the General Assembly building. An arrest warrant was issued and signed on March 25, 2021. Court papers have been filed with criminal charges applied, and it’s Monday, March 29, 2021. A mob stormed the United States Capitol, killed a police officer on January 6, 2021. They impeached the ring leader of the riot, found him not guilty, and plans exist to start his own news agency. While there have been many subsequent arrests, it makes very little sense not to hold the ring leader accountable.
I saw police officers opening doors for the mob on January 6, 2021. On March 25, 2021, I saw five police arresting a black women for knocking on a door.
When I learned about the German Reich (1933 to 1943) in history class (1965), it was common to read about injustice. There was some comfort in the thought that we beat back tyranny in a World War. I was saddened to see injustice on live television on March 25, 2021, in the United States of America.