The Day America Lost Its Soul
Congress could have—and should have—used this moment as an opportunity to redeem America from its past sins
The Senate vote
On February 13, the U.S. Senate voted 57–43 to acquit former President Donald Trump of inciting the terrifying and violent attack on the Capitol that occurred on January 6. Although 57 votes were “guilty,” and 43 votes were “not guilty,” a total of 67 votes, or a two-thirds majority, was required to convict. This means that 10 additional GOP senators would have had to cross party lines and vote “guilty.” This, we know, was not going to happen.
This could have been the first step toward healing the racial divide that exists within this country.
According to MSN, President Joe Biden made the following comment about the first-ever second impeachment trial of a former U.S. president: “Even those opposed to the conviction, like Senate Minority Leader [Mitch] McConnell, believe Donald Trump was guilty of a ‘disgraceful dereliction of duty’ and ‘practically and morally responsible for provoking’ the violence unleashed on the Capitol.” MSN goes on to explain how “the president ended his statement by drawing on his previous calls for unity to heal ‘the soul of the nation.’”
Why did McConnell refuse to vote against Trump?
McConnell may believe that Trump was guilty, but he still voted in opposition to his conviction. Why? This was our national leaders’ chance to prove that they will no longer be complicit and complacent with White supremacist terrorism. This could have been the first step toward healing the racial divide that exists within this country. The leaders of America could have shown the world that they will not allow a corrupt, narcissistic president to threaten the safety of its people, the safety of its leaders, and the safety of our national security system. Congress could have—and should have—used this moment as an opportunity to redeem America from its past sins.
But instead, February 13, 2021 is the day America lost its soul, if it ever had one to begin with.
