The aftermath

 I've already made the comment elsewhere that I really need to keep my mouth shut when talking about possible future events; the disaster that was the invasion of the Capitol building by a pro-Trump mob bent on overthrowing the result of the electoral college vote was actually far worse than I could've possibly imagined, and the very real possibility that it could happen again on Inauguration Day fills me with a dread that I shouldn't be feeling in a country that's never previously gone through such a naked coup attempt. I'm under the impression that security will be incredibly tight on January 20th. Indeed, it'd be utterly ridiculous to not have airtight security after what happened on the 6th. But what if the neo-fascists (and make no mistake - that's precisely what they are) try it again?

One of the more reassuring sets of facts about what happened on the 6th is that a good deal of the energy that Trump created by stoking anger in his followers in Washington has been dissipated; their figurehead has been permanently stripped of his public megaphone on Twitter and is rightly facing the possiblity of removal under the 25th Amendment or a second impeachment. In addition, a number of the new-generation Blackshirts responsible for the Capitol building riot have been arrested and will eventually be facing a number of felony charges. Even so, the possibility that any number of co-conspirators are still at large and active is not a happy one. Especially considering that the current sitting President is a completely treacherous bastard: witness how he allegedly wanted to use the National Guard.

All of this is a highly mixed bag, and it's exceedingly grim in parts. But this country has survived far worse, and someone who was responsible for making that survival possible during another crisis needs to be quoted here to reassure anyone that we can, and most probably will, come out of the other end of this intact:

So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

-Franklin Delano Roosevelt, March 1933