POLITICS
Capitol Chaos in Retrospect The necessity of courage in politics BY MD. MAHMUDUL HASAN
A
lthough we are often cynical For years, most of them were scared of a media establishments have been complicit about politicians in general, they are populist leader who many considered ridic- with the demonization of Muslims, Blacks the ones who formulate the laws and ulous. Apparently, many GOP politicians and other minorities for a very long time. policies that affect us all in various viewed their attempt to retain power at all The ongoing flare-up of Islamophobia and ways and degrees. Although many of us may costs as more important than being honest racism is just one upshot of this toxic brew. not wish to engage in politics, we cannot and brave enough to challenge Trump’s popAgain, if the police had remained neutral dispense with it altogether. toward the BLM demonstrators, In an increasingly interconTrump’s white supremacist supnected world, what happens in porters would have had second one country may have a bearing thoughts about taking the law into on others. This is especially true their own hands and storming the if the country in question is a Capitol. superpower. Indeed, eventually, many The January 6 chaos in the Republican politicians distanced heart of the U.S. shocked us all. themselves from a weak Trump. Although the U.S. now has a new During the last few days of his president, President Joseph Biden, presidency, some even resigned the huge military presence that from his cabinet – but only after dominated his swearing-in cereCongress finally recognized Biden’s victory and upheld his mony indicates that the repercussions of the Trumpist mob attack right to assume the presidency. are far from over. But such last-minute actions only Previously, the procedure used NO, COWARDLY POLITICIANS DON’T revealed their political opportunby the Congress to certify the presism and hypocrisy, not necessarily EXIST ONLY IN THE REPUBLICAN ident’s election or reelection was any principled and courageous PARTY. POLITICIANS IN THE always an uneventful and purely stance on their part. ceremonial event. But not this For years, during and before U.S. AND GLOBALLY WEAR THE time. The seizure of the Capitol his presidency, Trump had been MASK OF POWER AND HIDE IN to stop the certification process making irresponsible statements, tells us more than it says about POLITICAL PARTIES. PERHAPS THEIR glorifying violence and inciting Donald Trump, his incendiary hatred and enmity based on race COWARDICE AND OPPORTUNISM tweets and political support base. and religion. However, on all preIn fact, it points to a deep vious occasions GOP politicians AWAIT THE RIGHT MOMENT TO malaise in politics in the U.S. and lawmakers had remained MANIFEST THEMSELVES. largely silent. January 6, which and beyond and makes us rethink its trajectory worldwide. The has been variously described as mayhem we all witnessed that an “insurrection’” and a “terrorist day is just the tip of the iceberg of a much ulist rhetoric. Their failure to speak their attack,” was partly a result of this unjustified larger problem, one that is common to most conscience and hold Trump to account silence and cowardice. No, cowardly politicians don’t exist only political systems across the globe. only encouraged him and his supporters Trump’s refusal to concede may not have to behave even more grotesquely. in the Republican Party. Politicians in the influenced the vast majority’s opinion about If Republican leaders could have sum- U.S. and globally wear the mask of power him. Some believe that not many took him moned the courage to stand up to Trump’s and hide in political parties. Perhaps their seriously and that those who did had to give racist rants and inflammatory invectives cowardice and opportunism await the right forced meanings to his words. However, the levied against Muslims, ethnic minorities moment to manifest themselves. Republican politicians who refrained from and the demonstrators who marched in We often dismiss politicians and those in telling the truth about the election and from support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) power and consider it fashionable to dencongratulating Biden for so long (and some movement, perhaps none of the January 6 igrate them. However, politicians who are even until now) made their inexcusable cow- havoc would have happened. true to their calling deserve respect. Many of ardice unmistakably clear. Unfortunately, the U.S. political and them venture into their preferred profession 36 ISLAMIC HORIZONS MARCH/APRIL 2021
