#378
The Truth
By Hank Silverberg
One of the more difficult things for many people to understand is how an event that happened just five years ago, that most of us saw on TV as it was happening, can get so distorted with myth and conspiracy theories that a state legislature has to pass a bill requiring that the truth about the event be taught in schools.
But that is what has happened here in Virginia where many federal workers live. Governor Abigail Spanberger signed the bill this past week that prohibits schools from teaching falsehoods about the 2021 attack on the Capitol in Washington, DC.
The bill says school instruction must: "Describe the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the United States Capitol as an unprecedented, violent attack on United States democratic institutions, infrastructure, and representatives for the purpose of overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election."
Not surprisingly, that legislation passed the State Senate in a 21-19 vote with all 19 Republicans voting "NO".
State and local police from Virginia, and eventually the Virginia National Guard were all called to the Capitol that day to help overwhelmed first responders, so the issue hits home here more than in many parts of the country, though New York's legislature is considering a similar bill.
To be clear, teachers don't have to bring the subject up at all, but if they do, they are required to report the facts on what actually happened, not the revisionist version which calls the event a "patriotic, peaceful, protest".
More than 1,500 of the "protesters" were charged and convicted of crimes from that attack, including hundreds charged with beating up police officers during the assault. They were all later pardoned by President Trump.
More than 140 police officers were injured during the melee on January 6th, 2021. One died of a heart attack and four others committed suicide or died from some other injury as a result of that day.
Congress passed a law in 2022 creating a plaque honoring those who protected the Capitol during the attack, but there was Republican opposition and the plaque was hidden away. The narration had changed, fed by social media and conspiracy theories. Many on the right started to memorialize Ashli Babbit, the one "protestor" who was killed by police, instead of the officers who were attacked.
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| (The Plaque before it was hung up) |
That plaque was finally installed this past week, put up with no fanfare at 4 a.m. on a Saturday morning. It reads:
"On behalf of a grateful Congress, this plaque honors the extraordinary individuals who bravely protected and defended this symbol of democracy on January 6, 2021. Their heroism will never be forgotten."
This entire story is a good example of the dangers we now face with disinformation, a polarized political climate, and people's inability to understand the truth when it is staring them in the face.
Pass on the truth to the next generation. Don't let the revisionist win.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/virginia-legislation-prohibiting-schools-jan-6-falsehoods/
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5773634-law-enforcement-capitol-jan-6-plaque-installed/
News You May Have Missed!
Remember Voice of America, the government-run radio network that helped spread fair and balanced news to places around the world that has no free press since World War Two?
Now, a federal judge has ruled that Lake did not have the authority to dismantle VOA because she did not get Senate confirmation for her job. He said there are laws that guard against unqualified government appointments.
Several members of VOA's staff who had been laid off filed the lawsuit. But it's not clear at this point what effect the ruling might have on the future of VOA or more than 500 employees who had their careers interrupted.
Fox News Gets Caught!
Fox News is apologizing for an error on its broadcasts on Saturday. President Trump, the Vice President, their wives and several members of the Cabinet were in Delaware, at Dover Air Force Base to greet the remains of the six service members killed in the war with Iran. Those ceremonies, which often include family members of the war dead, are always dignified. But President Trump took some harsh criticism for wearing a white USA baseball cap and not removing it when the coffins came out of the plane as custom requires. Trump also wore a dark suit and a red tie.
Most news organizations had video of the event, but viewers noticed something different about the Fox coverage. On that broadcast, Trump had no hat and was wearing a full overcoat.
Someone had pulled out video from a previous, similar ceremony with Trump not wearing a hat, and edited that in for the coverage of Saturday's event. Was this an attempt to divert criticism of Trump for wearing the white USA cap, which sells for $55 on his merch website? There was no explanation of the obvious edit from Fox News.
(You suggestions and comments are welcome)
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Q7K6M5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-campaign-hank-silverberg/1126429796
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