US Capitol riots: Scotland must not allow its democracy to fall as low despite passions of independence debate – Christine Jardine MP

Supporters of Donald Trump storm the US Capitol after he told them to go there in a rally near the White House (Picture: Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

The song is a lyrical representation of George Washington’s decision to resign, rather than contest the presidency again, believing: “If I say goodbye the nation learns to move on, it outlives me when I’m gone.”

As I watched the frightening, almost surreal scenes played out in the capital city named in the first US President’s honour, I couldn’t help but wish that this was a lesson that the 45th occupant of the Oval Office had learned.

From my earliest political thoughts until the moment last November I was assured that Joe Biden would be the 46th President I, like so many others, have looked to the words and actions of my American heroes for leadership.

John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy, Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln. Each an inspiration to so many generations.

Accept defeat graciously

But on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, the world witnessed just how fragile even their great democracy can be in the hands of one irresponsible and power-hungry caretaker: Donald Trump.

Scotland must take care to ensure passionate feelings about independence and the Union do not get out of hand (Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)

Here is a man so completely unable to acknowledge the basic principle that you accept the outcome of an election that he threatened to undermine the entire process.

I and so many of my colleagues know what it is to lose. You accept defeat graciously and go learn the lessons from it.

Instead Trump manufactured false grievances and faked allegations of electoral fraud to whip up an angry mob who he then incited to violence.

If it had happened anywhere else in the world the media and political comment would have been strewn with references to tin-pot dictators and tyranny.

As it was a cartoon depicted the leaders of China, Russia and Iran smiling as they roasted marshmallows on the bonfire that was the US capital.

Failed coup attempt

A close friend in the states – a life-long Republican – told me she was horrified and fears nobody, and no country is safe. I fear she is right.

We should all be careful, not to dismiss what we witnessed as a single, inexplicable and media-exaggerated incident which, now past, can be consigned to history as a dark day.

The following day those who had taken part in what was little short of a failed coup attempt were brazenly strolling around DC in their military style gear, waving their flags and boasting to global TV companies of their pride in “shaking-up” the politicians.

Their hubris should be our warning.

What happened in Washington could easily happen elsewhere, even here if we allow ourselves to be taken down that route.

For the past ten years we have seen an exponential increase in flag waving and emotionally charged identity politics.

During, and after, both the independence referendum and the EU debate crowds gathered in many streets waving flags, surrounding both politicians and the public while aggressively chanting or blowing whistles in their faces.

They didn’t mean it, but I felt intimidated

At the height of the Brexit debates in Westminster, thousands thronged the pavements outside from both the Remainer and Brexiteer camps.

It became difficult to make your way the hundred yards or so from the Commons exit to the media encampment through protestors and yes, there were times when it was intimidating.

Fortunately I never felt that any of those legal protests crossed the line and became a threat to the building and those in it.

There was one moment however, in 2014, when I did feel physically threatened.

On the eve of the independence referendum, my pro-UK colleagues and I were overwhelmed by coach-loads of flag waving nationalists who joined a rally which halted traffic and brought the area to a standstill.

They waving our flag but they were not our friends and, while I am confident that they did not mean it, they were intimidating.

I have also seen, and experienced, what it can be to beat the nationalists in Scotland. The false allegations and libellous slurs of electoral wrong-doing they throw at the victors.

Threats, and actual court cases, against those with the temerity to defeat them.

Did Pence listen to Hamilton cast?

We have been fortunate in this country that we have never descended to the depth of behaviour we have seen from Trump and his followers.

But we cannot rest easy. Freedom and democracy need, like most most things which are worthwhile, constant work to protect them.

Responsibility for doing that is not confined to those of us in elected office, but shared by us all.

To be silent in times of trouble is to acquiesce in democracy’s undermining.

In November 2016 the then Vice-President elect Mike Pence attended a performance of Hamilton which had an ending which diverged from the script.

At the curtain call one of the cast, who played Vice-President Aaron Burr, Brandon Victor Dixon, acknowledged Mr Pence in the audience and said “We hope you will hear us out.”

“We, sir — we — are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights,” he said.

“We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.”

In the end perhaps on Wednesday he did. It was Vice President Pence who led the Republican acceptance of the congressional confirmation of the election result and we are told demanded the involvement of the National Guard and ended the insurrection.

As I write this we are waiting to learn if the horror show that has been the Trump presidency will end in his removal from office or impeachment.

We would all do well in this moment to heed that other great number from Hamilton: “History has its eyes on you.”

Christine Jardine is the Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West

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