By Dr. Zekeh S. Gbotokuma
According to the Christian tradition, January 6 is the day of ‘Epiphany,’ or “manifestation of [Jesus] Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi” (Matthew 2: 1-12). Epiphany is the official end the Christmas time. The term also means, “a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being” (Oxford Languages). In the USA, a country that has referred to itself as “a Christian nation,” January 6, 2023 is not only and necessarily celebrated as Epiphany and the last day of Christmas but also and above all, it has become the day to commemorate the January, 2021, big lie-based or Trump-incited insurrection, that is the assault on Capitol. On that “day of shame,’ the whole world witnessed a different kind of epiphany. They witnessed the fragility of democracy in the very Cradle of modern democracy, the United States of America. They witnessed the manifestation of the 45th POTUS Donald Trump as a kind of supernatural or all-powerful and lawless ‘Übermensch’ described by Nietzsche in Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Acting as ‘Me the President’ against “WE THE PEOPLE,” the twice-impeached, defeated, and delusional president decided to “fight like hell” to prevent a peaceful transfer of power.
The recently released January 6th Committee Report has shown the 45th POTUS’ key role and responsibility in in the attempted and failed coup. That is why Trump and some of his enablers were referred to the U.S. Attorney General for criminal prosecution. The coup fiasco was not only due to a poor execution of the un-American plan but also and above all, to many patriotic Americans’ commitment to and respect for the U.S. Constitution. During this year’s second commemoration of the January 6 insurrection, President J. Biden honored 12 people – both Democrats and Republicans – for their heroic defense of democracy. He gave them the Presidential Citizen Medal. These patriots are Joselyn Benson, Ruby Freeman, Shaye Moss, Michael Fanone, Daniel Hodges, Brian Sicknick, Eugene Goodman, Harry Dunn, Caroline Edwards, Aquilino Gonell, Al Schmidt, and Rusty Bowers. Good job. Congratulations!
As we congratulate these heroes for their outstanding service, it is also necessary to remember and thank many other unsung heroes of democracy in the USA. Trump’s numerous assault on and existential threat to democracy and the concerted efforts to stop him began before and continued during and after his presidency. These efforts have been made by both patriotic liberals and conservatives. Unfortunately but not surprisingly, most Americans fail to recognize and appreciate some of the good things that are happening in the opposite party because of the partisanship and polarization that have characterized the U.S. political system. Whenever we talk about the existential threat to democracy during and in the post-Trump era, the focus is on the GOP, especially the ‘MAGA Republicans’ or as I call them, ‘Trumpublicans.’ But a ‘Sankofic look back suggest that not all Republicans are created equal. Not all Republicans are ‘Reich-Wing-MAGA Republicans.’ This is apparent, among other things, in the 2020 presidential election and pre-insurrection war on Trumpocracy. For example, it is a known fact that the following four conservative movements and groups have made invaluable contributions to democracy thereby denying ‘45’ a second term.
The Never Trump Movement, a.k.a. #nevertrump, Stop Trump, Anti-Trump, Dump Trump movement. Never Trumpers were Republicans — generally long-standing, professional Republicans or conservatives — and in most cases voted for other Republicans in the 2016 primaries. The long list of prominent Never Trumpers include, among others, John Kasich, former Governor of Ohio (2011-2019); George Pataki, former Governor of New York (1995-2006); Independent conservative Evan McMullin; neo-conservative political analyst Bill Kristol; libertarian-conservative political commentator George Will; Canadian-American political writer and speech writer David Frum, author of Trumpocracy and Trumpocalypse…
The Lincoln Project was established on December 17, 2019. It is a Republican/Anti-President Trump initiative. It is a conservative super PAC, whose aim is “to defeat President Trump and Trumpism at the ballot box” in November 2020. The founders named the Project after the 16th POTUS because according to them, President Abraham Lincoln “understood the necessity of not just saving the Union, but also of knitting the nation back together spiritually as well as politically.”
Former Republican National Security Officials.
The Republican internal rebellion against Trump has received a huge boost from more than 70 Former Republican National Security Officials who have rebuked President Trump and endorsed Joe Biden for President. Like other disappointed Republicans and many (most) Americans, the 70 officials believed that Trump was unfit to continue serving as the President of the United States.
Republicans for Biden
To make things much worse, 27 former members of Congress, including former Sen. Jeff Flakes of Arizona, former Senator John Warner of Virginia, and former Congressman Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, chose the first day of RNC – August 24, 2020 – to launch a “Republicans for Biden” initiative. Like many other disappointed Republicans, they justify their move citing, among other things, “corruption, destruction of democracy, blatant disregard for moral decency, and urgent need to get the country back on course” (Brenner 2020). These are some of the unsung heroes and democracy fighters who have contributed to the national effort to rescue democracy in the USA. They too, deserve our appreciation as President Biden and the nation honor 12 fellow Americans for their heroic acts during the challenging time of democracy not only in the USA but worldwide.
E Pluribus Unum.
About the Author
Dr. Zekeh S. Gbotokuma, Founder, Polyglots in Action for Diversity, Inc. (PAD) & Associate Professor of Philosophy, Morgan State University. He is the author of OBAMANOMICS AND FRANCISCONOMICS: A Call for Poverty Alleviation, Fairness, and Welfare (Europe Books 2022) 2nd Place Winner, MILANO INTERNATIONAL LITERARY AWARDS 2022.
https://www.europebookstore.com/products/obamanomics-and-francisconomics-dr-zekeh-s-gbotokuma/; Democracy and Demographics in the USA (2020: Paperback: https://amzn.to/2KbcOUV eBook: https://amzn.to/35BsCbN); Global Safari (2015); A Pan-African Encyclopedia (2003). He is one of “the Key Figures in the African Intellectual Revolution” (QUORA).
CONTACT: Zekeh.Gbotokuma@morgan.edu 443-622-3033
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The post EPIPHANY AND UNSUNG PATRIOTISM: A Tribute to the Republican Leaders in the War on Trumpocracy and Our Collective Struggle to Rescue Democracy in the USA appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers .
