Peaceful protest can be achieved
I have been to Washington, D.C., many times, attending various events, conferences and rallies. I will admit I have been arrested there a few times. I was a part of several ACT-UP, nuclear power and weapons protests.
Several were loud but never put anyone in danger, especially for their lives. The famous/infamous "Die-In" in the rotunda of the Capitol by ACT-UP, I was a part of it. I point this out to show one can make a point without killing anyone.
Growing up in the Quaker faith, a faith that believes in peace, allowed me to perform a peaceful protest. If we look at people in history like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., peaceful protest was a big part of their lives.
It is beyond scary the people who overtook the Capitol were able to do so, apparently quite easily. They are not patriots; they are domestic terrorists. They seem to be determined to undo the American election results.
Let's hope the Democratic way we are familiar with in America is not in danger of disappearing.
Mark Grantham
Lookout Valley
'Shameful' Jan. 6 revealed gullible cult
Jan. 6 was truly heartbreaking. If it wasn't such a shameful event, you could almost laugh at the "cult followers" trying to create an insurrection. They were obviously not paying attention, nowhere in sight was Trump, or little junior, or Rudy-boy. Even though their wonderful leader said he would be right there with them walking to the Capitol. Just another lie.
Can't they see they were being used? Trump wasn't going to get his hands dirty. Now he is backtracking and saying (in Texas) "No violence." Really? After he told his cult to fight, fight, fight. And Rudy-boy said, "Trial by combat." Really?
It doesn't matter that he wasn't there. He is still as guilty as sin. Remember Charles Manson? He wasn't physically there the night in August 1969 when people were slaughtered. Or, more recently, the case where the young girl who encouraged her boyfriend to kill himself as they were texting. In both situations, Manson and the girl both went to jail. This crime is no different. Trump stirred up his cult, he gave them instructions to fight, and they did.
It is shocking that good Christian people have lost their minds to such an evil man. I just hope when he is out of the office the spell will be broken and things can be normal again.
He once said he could kill someone and he would still have loyal followers. Jan. 6 proves he doesn't have to kill; his cult will do it for him.
K.D. Hopper
Soddy-Daisy
Cowardly Fleischmann backs 'dangerous' Trump
Shame on Chuck Fleischmann. Our nation has never been afflicted with a more disgraceful, dishonest and dangerous president than it has with Donald Trump. He has sought to undermine our electoral process, our independent judiciary, our free press, our quasi-independent Justice Department, and our intelligence agencies from day one of his term.
Fleischmann does not think Trump bears any responsibility for the attack on the Capitol. Absurd! Trump orchestrated the rally, a Republican congressman from Alabama tells the crowd "We are going to kick --," Rudy Giuliani tells the crowd we need trial by combat, Donald Trump Jr. threatens lawmakers by telling them we are coming for you, and the president tells the crowd to march on the Capitol. That is inciting an insurrection against the United States.
Fleischmann is a coward and should resign or be fired.
Jeff McCall
Signal Mountain