off the fence
After spending considerable time educating myself by analyzing the various essays found on onthefenceusa.com, I am now ready to jump off the fence. As someone who has often found themselves torn between conflicting political ideologies, this decision didn’t come easily. However, throughout my process of reflection, there was one issue I kept returning to—an issue that I believe has deeply divided our country: the storming of the Capitol on January 6th, 2021. The more I reflect on that tragic day, the more convinced I become that former President Donald Trump is responsible for this horror.
Of all the topics that weigh heavily on our nation—economic inequality, healthcare, immigration, and even the contentious debate around a woman’s right to choose—January 6th stands out as something far more profound. While most political issues are complex, with room for negotiation and compromise through the checks and balances of our government, the insurrection on January 6th represents an irreversible breach. It was not a matter of policy, but of the integrity of our democratic process itself. You can negotiate policy differences, but you cannot undo an attack on the very foundation of our democracy.
Former President Trump repeatedly and falsely insisted that the 2020 election was stolen from him, even though it has been proven time and again—through investigations, audits, and court rulings—that the election was fair and legitimate. Yet, even if his baseless claims had somehow been true, would that ever justify inciting an angry mob to storm the Capitol? No. What happened on January 6th was a direct result of a president who refused to accept the mechanisms of a free and fair election, choosing instead to divide the country with dangerous rhetoric and incite violence.
To me, Trump’s actions were not those of a responsible leader, but rather those of a petulant child who, when faced with a loss, chose to throw a tantrum by undermining our democratic system. His refusal to contest the election through the proper legal and political channels, followed by his encouragement of his supporters to march on the Capitol, showed a stunning lack of respect for the rule of law. The man who once swore an oath to uphold the Constitution became the very threat to it.
What truly breaks my heart is revisiting those moments when, instead of stepping in as a leader to de-escalate the situation, Trump sat idly in a hotel room, watching the chaos unfold on live television. While police officers fought for their lives and elected officials feared for their safety, he did nothing. His inaction speaks volumes. It demonstrated not only a failure of leadership but also a complete disregard for the democratic principles that are meant to unite us as a nation.
For me, it all boils down to one simple truth: a man who actively encouraged the destruction of our democratic institutions can never be trusted to lead again. Whatever else we may disagree on as a country, we should all be able to agree on this. I may still have nuanced views on various political issues, but I cannot look past January 6th. I cannot forgive or forget the role Trump played in bringing us to the brink of chaos.
Ultimately, after carefully reflecting on everything I have read, I can no longer sit on the fence. I refuse to allow the man responsible for this injustice to ever hold power again. Our democracy is too important, too fragile, to be entrusted to someone who has shown such reckless disregard for it.