1-20-21

Two weeks ago, on the morning of January 6, I opened G3’s social studies textbook to begin our lesson of the day. It just so happened that we had recently finished the unit on the American Revolution and were now studying the Constitutional Convention. My son — having watched Hamilton, gone to the National Archives in Washington D.C. and see the Constitution, and having visited James Madison’s house down in Virginia — already knew most of what was in the textbook. In fact, he was so well versed on the topic, he complained the textbook left more out than it included. “They didn’t mention the Federalist Papers at all,” he observed. “And why didn’t they talk about Madison being the Father of the Constitution? They didn’t even say he wrote the Bill of Rights.” The breakdown of the Separation of Powers he also found extremely underwhelming. “You do realize,” he pointed out, “I’ve lived this all year. All you ever do is watch the news and I have to listen to it. Trump, McConnell, Barrett. If I didn’t live with you, maybe this textbook wouldn’t be boring.”  

When we got home later that afternoon (my friend has allowed us to use the little house in her backyard as our schoolhouse) my spouse had the news on for background noise as she worked on her lesson plans for the following day. Serendipitously, not long after I walked in, “Breaking News” flashed across the screen. The cameras showed Trump supporters storming the Capitol Building in an attempt to prevent Mike Pence from certifying the election. In shock, I turned up the volume and the three of us — son, spouse, and I — watched the riot unfold. None of us could believe it was happening. 

The following day, back in our Somerville schoolhouse, I asked my son to reflect on the Insurrection through the lens of what he had learned the previous day. In short, what would the Founding Father’s have thought of the attack? As always, he grumbled that it was too hard, but he eventually sat down at his computer and over the course of several days he wrote a brief essay. This morning he finished his revision. The last sentence of the essay will only make sense if you have seen Hamilton. Otherwise the reference will appear confusing.

Here is his essay:

Trump’s Failure

On Jan. 6, 2021, it was 1814 all over again. I thought of this because it was like when England had invaded and was burning down the White House. This incident happened during the War of 1812. It was the only other time the Capitol was stormed. This year, thousands of rioters stormed the Capitol and broke into offices of Congress while Congress was confirming Biden as the winner of the Oval Office. They called themselves protesters, but they were terrorists. These terrorists committed treason, trespassing, and one stole mail. Five people died. In The Constitution, Article II says there will be a single Executer, and the Executer should transfer peacefully. Throughout our history of 245 years, every President has transferred power peacefully, until now. 

That donkey, birdbrain, numskull, nut job, fool, and dullard orange idiot has caused 400,000 deaths. He has also let police get away with killing black people and black supporters. He has also put kids in cages. It is a bad thing that his species — Trump Supporters — still have a long way to go before extinction because uneducated Trumpers will be around for a long time.

I wonder what George Washington would have thought of this insurrection? Hamilton wanted Washington to be king, but he said no. There was no reason for him not to be king. But he retired after two terms. He was trying to set an example for future presidents and to show that the president should not get too powerful. When he retired, even King George respected him. 

The Founding Fathers knew there were flaws in the Constitution and Trump has exposed them. Trump has no respect for the Constitution at all because he is trying to overturn the election and get rid of it. Washington was once displeased with Adams so he stopped inviting him to Cabinet meetings and that’s how the Vice President got less power. However, in March 1797, when Adams won, there was still a peaceful transfer of power between Washington and Adams. Four years later, Adams and Jefferson hated eachother, but again there was still a peaceful transfer of power.

If Washington was alive and knew how to use a television, he would have said that democracy was “Goin’ off the rails on the crazy train.” As I have said before, Washington stepped down and did not run a third time to set an example for future presidents. Trump has taken that idea, chewed it up, spit it in the blender, and burned it. The one good thing about this is that Trump may have lost some calories worrying that he might be removed from office. Anyway, Washington might feel as if the example he set was for nothing. Washington would have felt sickened by the terrorists and he would let his thoughts be heard. Gouverneur Morris, who wrote The Preamble to the Constitution, would think that “We the people” turned into “Me the people for Trump.” Adams would say, “Get the hell up, lick your wounds, and get the hell out of office.” This might be said because Adams also lost to someone he hated and also served only one term. Jefferson would sing, “He’s never gonna be president again, he’s never gonna be president, again,” while dancing around him throwing copies of the Constitution up in the air.