Aditya Vikram Singh/New Delhi:
The recent shootout at Capitol Hill in Washington DC by angry supporters of the outgoing US President Donald Trump, that claimed four lives including a woman who was an American Air Force veteran, is not just shell-shocking but has also confounded the whole world, particularly the democracies across the globe, and will have far-reaching ramifications in the time to come.
Although, it is still too early to write off democracy by instance of mere one incident or event but the shootout at Capitol Hill in WDC can’t be described as mere one incident or event, because the incident was quite historical in nature, occurring almost 208 years back, the last one being around 1812, wherein British soldiers targeted the Capitol Hill setting it aflame.
It was quite evident that the transfer of power following US presidential elections wouldn’t be so easy as Donald Trump was not ready to accept his defeat in the just concluded US presidential elections that saw Democratic candidate Joe Biden having an edge over his arch rival Donald Trump, and thereby winning the presidential poll.
Although, it is still too early to write off democracy by instance of mere one incident or event but the shootout at Capitol Hill can’t be described as mere one incident or event, because the incident was quite historical in nature, occurring almost 208 yrs back, the last one being around 1812, wherein British soldiers targeted the Capitol Hill setting it aflame
However, it was beyond anybody’s guess that Donald Trump and his supporters would go berserk to such an extent that they wouldn’t mind even launching an attack on a premise, highly sacrosanct for democratic credentials and temple of democracy, to display their utter frustrations, and with a motive to occupy the Presidential Office by hook or by crook for another term.
Although Donald Trump may not have been directly involved in the Capitol Hill shootout, but his recent speeches and rhetorics were certainly provocative for his enraged supporters who also like Trump, were not ready to concede to defeat. Trump too spread rumours of having won the elections even much after the poll outcomes became public.
What spurred Trump and of his ilk to launch attack on the Capitol Hill, is yet to be ascertained and probed, but one thing is certain that this move is going to prove his kamikaze step- his political harakiri.
Notwithstanding Trump being a political novice, he had successful stint as US President for his tenure of four years, but at the end of his term, Trump went on to script a black chapter in American history. The incident will be remembered and retold by US people to their next several generations.
The great American dream is shattered to pieces and it will take time for the President- Elect Joe Biden to rebuild that faith in American democracy which proudly claimed to be world’s best established and most successful democracy till date.
Moreover, Donald Trump, who never missed any opportunity to mock at US betnoire China, North Korea and Iran, particularly China in the wake of novel coronavirus global pandemic, has now himself given ample opportunities to these countries to jeer at United States of America.
Now China, Iran and North Korea will say when the USA can’t protect her own citizens, how could it talk about protecting the world.
Still, as the New Year rolls further and moves on, we hope for the best for the great American democracy. To save the democracy and strengthen it further, now it’s the onus of both Republicans and Democrats to come together and save the great country from further chaos.
Amen, to the inauguration of new US President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021 amidst hope that the inauguration goes off well, and he takes the US to new heights and progress. Joe has been shouldered with responsibility to protect US from the present mess that America has plunged into, and take the USA beyond its darkest hours at the moment.
(Author Aditya Vikram Singh is a senior journalist currently associated with Democratic Accent. The author has extensive experience in International Relations & Geopolitics. Aditya had previously worked with reputed groups such as Indian Express and Hindustan Times.)
