Where's the Outrage?

These are fraught times. Everywhere we look, and even many places we might not be looking, there is no shortage of serious news. 

... the pandemic... the Supreme Court... Russia... China... the climate crisis... President Bidens legislative agenda... voting rights... natural disasters... and on, and on...

It frankly can be overwhelming. As we discussed earlier, it’s okay to be exhausted. 

But at the same time, as crisis after crisis crests in our consciousness, there is one that keeps bubbling along, albeit with the bubbles that come from a boiling pot on a raging fire.

The events we witnessed on January 6, 2021 - now remarkably almost a year ago - were horrific enough in real time. The more we have learned since, the more outrageous they become. 

We now know how dire the situation was for the law enforcement officers attempting to hold the line. We can trace the paths to radicalization in men and women charged, arrested, and convicted. We have had to witness the faux sense of victimhood and misplaced martyrdom from those on the political right, including the willingness of almost every Republican politician of note to condone the violent mob either explicitly or with silence or muffled critiques.

We have figures in the Trump orbit refusing to answer questions from the Congressional committee investigating the insurrection. And we have more details emerging that cast a grave light on the events leading up to January 6. How much is there still that we do not know? Almost assuredly a ton. 

This is a news story of the highest magnitude, one so brazen and dangerous that up until now it would have been relegated to a genre of Hollywood fiction. But this is real. All too real. 

On Twitter and other online forums we can see many people, including some politicians and journalists, ringing the alarm bells with all they can muster. Perhaps many of you are also following the twists and turns of new developments in one of the greatest threats to American democracy in our history. 

Undoubtedly January 6, and the inability of the nation to come to a consensus on what it meant and how to prevent future such acts of anti-democratic violence, represents a clear and present danger. The danger has not subsided. If anything, as hard as it is to believe, it has only increased. 

I wrote this a little over a month ago.

Dan Rather @DanRather

I am not over 1/6. I will never be over 1/6. The only way to move beyond it is to deal with what caused it and what has been left in its wake.

It still holds true, and likely will for months to come. 

What I am interested in hearing from you in the Steady Community is how are you processing this information, and how do you think others, in your social and work circles and beyond, are handling it. 

• In short, where is the outrage? 

• Do you feel it? Do you think others do?

• Are you paying close attention?

• Do you think the media is reporting on this with enough urgency and focus?

• Do you think other issues are more important?

• Do you think that the committee’s work will lead to a national moment of truth?

• Do you think those who may have fomented the attack on the Capitol will pay a price, either politically or criminally?

• Do you hear people talking about this? Do you think the country is aware?

• Will this motivate voters?

Often stories build over time. But in this case, we already know the big event. We all saw it with our own eyes. A bigger picture is emerging that is stretching into places we might not be able to predict. Do you think America will care? 

Note: We are opening the comments to all readers today. And we want to hear from others outside the Steady Community. So please share this post with others if you are so inclined.