3 ms·

It was literally an attempt to overthrow the peaceful transfer of power of a democratic election. That is not a "protest turned riot". That is a coup attempt.

ALittleLight 5y ago
Phrases like "Coup attempt" or "Insurrection" are good examples of dramatics. Let me use a parallel example to explain. Near where I live there was a protest called "CHAZ" - a self-declared anarchist autonomous zone. If I were being dramatic I might say that this was "Attempted secession! Not since the civil war..." and all that. But, if I were being honest, I would say that it was a protest where protesters fought with police, occupied a couple blocks, and trashed a public park. Maybe, in some sense, some of the protesters really were trying to secede or dissolve the government of something. But, realistically, there was no chance that the autonomous zone was going to last or separate from America or anything like that. Similarly, maybe some of the protesters on January 6th thought that by delaying the certification ceremony then Trump would become President. Again though, realistically, there was no chance of that happening. I think news outlets just sensationalize what happened and use hyperbole. Some people uncritically listen to the news and repeat what they are told. This gets us people who think January 6th was some horrible tragedy and we need to reign in free speech and social media platforms to prevent a repeat. I disagree with that and I'd rather have a January 6th style protest for every future President than have the government, media, and big businesses collude to suppress speech.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- rhinoceraptor 5y ago
  They stormed the House and Senate chambers while the electoral college vote was taking place, to attempt to stop it and/or destroy the vote records. What about that is not a coup attempt?
  - quantified 5y ago
    This. It’s not some obscure park. It was Congress in session, with the event organized by #45 and team, not we the people.
    - ALittleLight 5y ago
      I think it is infinitely more appropriate to protest an election at a political building for a few hours, even if that degenerates into rioting and fighting with police, than it is to occupy city blocks including apartments, restaurants, and small business. Note that the CHAZ protesters fought with police and rioted too. Plus, they actually killed people. The idea that it is okay for rioters to destroy, loot, vandalize in a random residential area, or murder random citizens, but it is beyond the pale for rioters to protest at a political building is exactly inverted.
      - rhinoceraptor 5y ago
        I'm not sure what this what-aboutism has to do with Trump flag waving rioters attempting to stop (and temporarily succeeding in stopping) the election vote count.
        ALittleLight 5y ago
        It's not "What-aboutism". I'm taking an event where I assume we both agree - in this example CHAZ was not a succession it was a protest that went out of control, and saying that the January 6th event was essentially similar. In both cases you could use hyperbolic language (secession or civil war versus coup or insurrection) but the reality is just not as dramatic. January 6th is much more like a protest turned riot than it is a coup or insurrection.
      - quantified 5y ago
        Who’s saying these CHAZ folks are okay? Not sure what this is about here.
        5y ago
- goldenchrome 5y ago
  You’re the first person I’ve seen articulate this idea. It’s not necessary to overly dramatize it. It was a terrible event. However, there was a near-zero chance of the protests resulting in a real coup. Maybe people don’t realize that the power in this country isn’t located in a single building. Not since the 1700s at least.
- southerntofu 5y ago
  > Maybe, in some sense, some of the protesters really were trying to secede or dissolve the government of something. But, realistically, there was no chance that the autonomous zone was going to last or separate from America or anything like that. I agree that was not what was happening, but how is people living free from a government that exploits/murders them a wrong thing? I get that secession in the name of keeping institutional slavery isn't ideal, but now that we've had 150y of wage slavery that's not much better for people or the environment, doesn't secession of autonomous communes sound like a reasonable thing to you?

ALittleLight 5y ago

Phrases like "Coup attempt" or "Insurrection" are good examples of dramatics. Let me use a parallel example to explain. Near where I live there was a protest called "CHAZ" - a self-declared anarchist autonomous zone. If I were being dramatic I might say that this was "Attempted secession! Not since the civil war..." and all that. But, if I were being honest, I would say that it was a protest where protesters fought with police, occupied a couple blocks, and trashed a public park. Maybe, in some sense, some of the protesters really were trying to secede or dissolve the government of something. But, realistically, there was no chance that the autonomous zone was going to last or separate from America or anything like that. Similarly, maybe some of the protesters on January 6th thought that by delaying the certification ceremony then Trump would become President. Again though, realistically, there was no chance of that happening. I think news outlets just sensationalize what happened and use hyperbole. Some people uncritically listen to the news and repeat what they are told. This gets us people who think January 6th was some horrible tragedy and we need to reign in free speech and social media platforms to prevent a repeat. I disagree with that and I'd rather have a January 6th style protest for every future President than have the government, media, and big businesses collude to suppress speech.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
rhinoceraptor 5y ago
They stormed the House and Senate chambers while the electoral college vote was taking place, to attempt to stop it and/or destroy the vote records. What about that is not a coup attempt?
- quantified 5y ago
  This. It’s not some obscure park. It was Congress in session, with the event organized by #45 and team, not we the people.
  - ALittleLight 5y ago
    I think it is infinitely more appropriate to protest an election at a political building for a few hours, even if that degenerates into rioting and fighting with police, than it is to occupy city blocks including apartments, restaurants, and small business. Note that the CHAZ protesters fought with police and rioted too. Plus, they actually killed people. The idea that it is okay for rioters to destroy, loot, vandalize in a random residential area, or murder random citizens, but it is beyond the pale for rioters to protest at a political building is exactly inverted.
    - rhinoceraptor 5y ago
      I'm not sure what this what-aboutism has to do with Trump flag waving rioters attempting to stop (and temporarily succeeding in stopping) the election vote count.
      - ALittleLight 5y ago
        It's not "What-aboutism". I'm taking an event where I assume we both agree - in this example CHAZ was not a succession it was a protest that went out of control, and saying that the January 6th event was essentially similar. In both cases you could use hyperbolic language (secession or civil war versus coup or insurrection) but the reality is just not as dramatic. January 6th is much more like a protest turned riot than it is a coup or insurrection.
    - quantified 5y ago
      Who’s saying these CHAZ folks are okay? Not sure what this is about here.
      - 5y ago
goldenchrome 5y ago
You’re the first person I’ve seen articulate this idea. It’s not necessary to overly dramatize it. It was a terrible event. However, there was a near-zero chance of the protests resulting in a real coup. Maybe people don’t realize that the power in this country isn’t located in a single building. Not since the 1700s at least.
southerntofu 5y ago
> Maybe, in some sense, some of the protesters really were trying to secede or dissolve the government of something. But, realistically, there was no chance that the autonomous zone was going to last or separate from America or anything like that. I agree that was not what was happening, but how is people living free from a government that exploits/murders them a wrong thing? I get that secession in the name of keeping institutional slavery isn't ideal, but now that we've had 150y of wage slavery that's not much better for people or the environment, doesn't secession of autonomous communes sound like a reasonable thing to you?