terrific must read ... reading your articles & those of Victor Davis Hanson and a few others makes it so apparent that media, especially so-called conservative media / pundits, completely fail the public.
I am a high school student currently reading your book, *A Patriot's History of the United States*, and I have enjoyed it so far. It has been relatively unbiased (nice point, by the way, about acknowledging your own bias). However, after skipping to the end of the book, I felt compelled to search for your social media presence. I must say that your recent post is appalling, unmannerly, and entirely unfitting for a gentleman. Your insistence on name-calling, the straw man fallacy, and incorrect rhetoric is concerning.
I have some questions that I would like to ask:
1. Should it be called Patriots’ Day when ten people died?
2. Should it be referred to as a peaceful protest when, as you yourself admit, windows were broken and officers were attacked?
3. Do you support the Blue Lives Matter movement but disregard it here, considering that five officers died?
My answers would be:
1. No, whatever the reason, violence is uncalled for.
2. No, breaking windows and attacking cops does not equate to peaceful protest.
3. No, consider Officer Brian D. Sicknick of the Capitol Police, who was attacked by the mob and died on January 7. Officer Jeffrey Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department took his own life after the attack. Officer Howard S. Liebengood of the Capitol Police also died by suicide just four days afterward.
I am appalled and sickened by this approval of violence and terrorism. Occam's Razor suggests that the simplest answer is usually the most likely to be correct. Isn’t it easier to say that rioters attacked the Capitol and frightened everyone present—officers, Republicans, Democrats, Mike Pence, and others?
I have read and watched Trump's speech. He did say "peacefully" multiple times; however, I don’t know if that absolves him of guilt, especially since he told everyone that the election was stolen and to "fight like hell."
Speaking of officers, Smith’s wife, Erin, told *The Washington Post* that her husband related to her the fear and panic he experienced during the Capitol assault, expressing his fear that he might die. In defending the Capitol, Smith was struck on the helmet by a metal pole thrown by rioters. Later that night, his wife said he went to the police medical clinic, where he was prescribed pain medication and placed on sick leave. Erin mentioned that he “wasn’t the same” in the days following the riot and appeared to be in constant pain. After visiting a police clinic on January 14 and being ordered back to work, he tragically took his own life on the way to work.
A metal pole, fear, and suicide—these are issues that Republicans, or Trump supporters, claim to stand for. I am not stating this to attack you personally, sir, but to remind you that comments like these contribute to the feelings of despair that many in my generation experience, making us wish we had never been born in "the greatest country the world has ever seen."
Jesus said not to return violence for violence (Matthew 5:38-48). Why can’t we try harder to adhere to this principle?
Sincerely,
A concerned citizen
Bodybuilder, high schooler, moderate Republican, and above all follower of Christ
terrific must read ... reading your articles & those of Victor Davis Hanson and a few others makes it so apparent that media, especially so-called conservative media / pundits, completely fail the public.
Guess I'm late to the party...
Mr. Schweikart,
I am a high school student currently reading your book, *A Patriot's History of the United States*, and I have enjoyed it so far. It has been relatively unbiased (nice point, by the way, about acknowledging your own bias). However, after skipping to the end of the book, I felt compelled to search for your social media presence. I must say that your recent post is appalling, unmannerly, and entirely unfitting for a gentleman. Your insistence on name-calling, the straw man fallacy, and incorrect rhetoric is concerning.
I have some questions that I would like to ask:
1. Should it be called Patriots’ Day when ten people died?
2. Should it be referred to as a peaceful protest when, as you yourself admit, windows were broken and officers were attacked?
3. Do you support the Blue Lives Matter movement but disregard it here, considering that five officers died?
My answers would be:
1. No, whatever the reason, violence is uncalled for.
2. No, breaking windows and attacking cops does not equate to peaceful protest.
3. No, consider Officer Brian D. Sicknick of the Capitol Police, who was attacked by the mob and died on January 7. Officer Jeffrey Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department took his own life after the attack. Officer Howard S. Liebengood of the Capitol Police also died by suicide just four days afterward.
I am appalled and sickened by this approval of violence and terrorism. Occam's Razor suggests that the simplest answer is usually the most likely to be correct. Isn’t it easier to say that rioters attacked the Capitol and frightened everyone present—officers, Republicans, Democrats, Mike Pence, and others?
I have read and watched Trump's speech. He did say "peacefully" multiple times; however, I don’t know if that absolves him of guilt, especially since he told everyone that the election was stolen and to "fight like hell."
Speaking of officers, Smith’s wife, Erin, told *The Washington Post* that her husband related to her the fear and panic he experienced during the Capitol assault, expressing his fear that he might die. In defending the Capitol, Smith was struck on the helmet by a metal pole thrown by rioters. Later that night, his wife said he went to the police medical clinic, where he was prescribed pain medication and placed on sick leave. Erin mentioned that he “wasn’t the same” in the days following the riot and appeared to be in constant pain. After visiting a police clinic on January 14 and being ordered back to work, he tragically took his own life on the way to work.
A metal pole, fear, and suicide—these are issues that Republicans, or Trump supporters, claim to stand for. I am not stating this to attack you personally, sir, but to remind you that comments like these contribute to the feelings of despair that many in my generation experience, making us wish we had never been born in "the greatest country the world has ever seen."
Jesus said not to return violence for violence (Matthew 5:38-48). Why can’t we try harder to adhere to this principle?
Sincerely,
A concerned citizen
Bodybuilder, high schooler, moderate Republican, and above all follower of Christ
Works Cited
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/05/us/politics/jan-6-capitol-deaths.html
https://www.factcheck.org/2021/11/how-many-died-as-a-result-of-capitol-riot/
the bible
P.S. sorry was to lazy to properly cite my sources
Thank you for your consideration this was not meant as a personal attack but rather as an honest question into your reasoning.
Jesus help you...you are clearly off the deep end.
Great truths in this well written article.