‘We will get through’

Although violence in the halls of our most sacred buildings is shocking, our nation is built on its people, and people are showing up everywhere, in big ways and small, to ensure the fabric of our nation stays stitched together, regardless of the strain placed upon it.

Recent weeks have been rough for America. From FBI reporting, it looks like this next week might be rough as well. Seeing violence being brazenly perpetrated in the halls of our Capitol was shocking; a seemingly unreal attempt to subvert our constitutional democracy, that was more troubling in what it showed about how far down the rabbit hole some people will go, than in any ability it had to undermine our nation’s ability to function.

Between the attack on the Capitol and our response to the coronavirus, it is understandable that many are deeply concerned about the state of the nation.

But I have found comfort in the resilience of the response that so many have shown to these challenges. We developed a vaccine faster than has ever been done in history, and our health care workers and system are battered, bruised, burnt out, but far from broken. Our teachers are adapting to new challenges regularly, going above and beyond in many cases to ensure our children receive the education they deserve. Our slow and cumbersome legal process is beginning to hold those who challenged the foundations of our democracy to account, with significant efforts being taken in individual states by officials from across the political spectrum.

Although violence in the halls of our most sacred buildings is shocking, our nation is built on its people, and people are showing up everywhere, in big ways and small, to ensure the fabric of our nation stays stitched together, regardless of the strain placed upon it. It will take far more than a high stakes game of king of the hill to bring this nation to its knees, whether it is the one we saw play out Jan. 6, or what we might witness in the future.

We have been through troubling times before as a nation. We have always found our way through, and reworked ourselves into a more perfect, if perpetually flawed, union. That may only provide a small glimmer of hope for some, but even a small glimmer can guide you a long way in the dark. This has been hard. It may get harder. But we will get through.