Immigration Bill Set to Reignite Partisan Flames as Biden Takes Office

As Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on January 20th, an immigration debate has been reignited across the country. President Biden is set to propose a piece of legislation that ensures citizenship for Dreamers, known as DACA, political liberals and conservatives are soon to have another bone to pick with one another.

DACA, an Executive order signed by President Obama in 2012 gave children of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, assuming they had no criminal record. This order sparked outrage not just because it created a race to cross the border for illegal immigrants, but because many Americans were concerned with the order’s constitutionality. Many, including myself, wondered what legal authority POTUS had to rewrite immigration laws, instantly legalizing and granting citizenship to those who were residing in our country illegally. With the new administration, one upside is that their proposed DACA legislation will be presented as a bill to Congress, not as an Executive order, seen by many as executive overreach.

What’s wrong with DACA as a bill sent to Congress? Nothing. Assuming we have our southern borders secured with no flaws. However, with pores throughout the wall, fence, invisible line- whatever you prefer to say, there is still the opportunity today for people to cross into our country illegally and undetected, presenting a grave security risk. This is not some crazy hypothetical, it happens practically every day. Since 2016 over 52,000 illegal immigrants detained by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol had prior criminal records. Now, with a bill that grants a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, who wouldn’t want to give entering the country a shot? This vacuum is already in full effect as NBC News has noted, with a caravan from Central America already on the way to the border. This caravan is set to arrive after President Biden rescinds the national emergency order on the border- how fitting. In addition to the lure of free citizenship, the Biden administration has included in their $1.9 trillion proposal, a national $15/hr minimum wage. Not only is this country offering free citizenship, but a high wage as well.

Don’t get me wrong, I support a pathway to citizenship for the law-abiding immigrants here already- immigrants are what make this country the best in the world. I do not support, however, amnesty before security.

“Stats and Summaries.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 2021, http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats. 

Ainsley, Julia. “Incoming Biden Administration to Migrant Caravan: Don’t Come, You Won’t Get in Immediately.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 17 Jan. 2021, http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/incoming-biden-administration-migrant-caravan-don-t-come-you-won-n1254550. 

Favazza Promises Progress for Spring Semester; Changes Prompted by Students

In less than a week, the currently sleepy hilltop will be abustle with students, monks, faculty and administration alike, all striving toward the monolithic goal that lays ahead: finish the spring 2021 semester on time, and on campus.

What the Saint Anselm College community achieved last semester, through the dedication and hard work of many, was impressive. While many other schools and institutions (sorry, SNHU) closed for the semester, Saint Anselm College kept students on campus, and closed out the semester without needing a lockdown or any other drastic measures. The students of Saint Anselm, despite the fatigue, strain, and seemingly endless sources of stress, were happier and better off being on campus. This effort, it should be noted, was an imperfect and an incomplete one.

The Student Response Task Force, under the purview of the Student Government Association, compiled and presented to the administration and student body an in-depth look at the achievements and shortcomings of the school during the fall semester, aimed at the goal of improving the school’s response for the coming semester. In an interview with President Favazza in the week before the student body’s return to campus, Doctor Favazza shed some light on the changes the college is making for the spring.

The President of the College began with noting that he, and the other COVID preparation teams, listened to the student feedback. One of the major criticisms the student body levied at the admin was the lack of transparency in the process of loosening restrictions on campus and “opening up” more normal interactions. Despite weeks of “reviewing intervisitation”, these reviews never produced any change, nor inspired any optimism among students. To combat this, President Favazza described a “phase system” where the college would clearly move from different levels of openness and restrictions. Admitting that last year’s methodology of loosening and tightening restrictions was “pretty vague”, Favazza pledged improvement, saying “We are gonna be very clear about the different phases through the semester. We have identified five phases”.

The president stayed mum on what these particular phases would entail, but was willing to provide insight into potential resources that might be “opened up” in the looser phases. Favazza provided some hope when he detailed what might be some exciting developments for dining on campus: “When we get into moderate activity or lighter restrictions, we are looking to be able to open, at least one day a week, the pub, with limited restrictions…hopefully if it can work, open the grille”.

While he didn’t provide specifics, he also indicated that intervisitation would be revamped for the new semester: “We are looking to add ways where we can make the student experience richer…visitation, moving that to a broader visitation, with lighter restrictions”. While students have heard this before, and might be dubious about these claims, they might be heartened to know that a Student Government proposal to increase intervisitation within buildings was passed through the Student Senate and to the administration before the end of last semester.

Visitation and other social needs are closely tied to what should be remembered as the administration’s biggest struggle of the Fall 2020 semester: student mental health. The college should be commended for keeping the positivity rate low, and being ahead of the curve on rapid testing accessibility, but the scourge of college and COVID-related anxiety, stress, and depression was on full display at the end of the fall semester. In response to this, Favazza detailed some promising changes and programs meant to address this growing issue.

The Anselmian Anchors program, first mentioned in Favazza’s email last week, is a program where college staff and faculty will be assigned to students who test positive or are quarantined as a result of contact tracing: “This is coming out of a recommendation from students, one of the focuses of this is providing more care to those who test positive and to those who quarantine. ‘Case workers’ will be assigned students in quarantine, and will check in on them to see how they are doing. It’s a pretty isolating thing, [quarantine], and it gets to the issue of mental health.”

To further the college’s effort of improving communication with the student body, Favazza also revealed that there will be a COVID-19 resource page on Canvas. This page is to present resources for students who test positive or are in quarantine, make clear the college reopening phases, as well as the metrics they rely upon, and more mental health resources related to the virus.

During our discussion, President Favazza revealed that some (not all) professors indicated to him that they were rethinking the workload they were assigning students. “They, a few faculty have had conversations with me understanding that the workload, perhaps trying to recalibrate this, you have to remind yourself students are taking three or four [other classes]”. Many students throughout the fall semester lamented the apparent dearth of understanding that the administration and many professors had with regards to student mental health, workload, and the unique strain of online learning.

To make in-person learning more attainable, the college has made physical modifications to Poisson and the third floor of Alumni hall. Walls were removed over break to ensure that classes that would have otherwise been hybrid will have the capacity for all the students in the class, thus eliminating the need for synchronous zoom sessions.

If nothing else, students should be assured that the college did not rest on its fall accomplishments this semester. The college has made changes, and claims that many of these changes were made as a result of student advocacy, whether through the Student Task Force or Mental Health Committee, or elsewhere. President Favazza remarked that, unlike last semester where we expected the virulence of the pandemic to increase as time went on, this semester, we are going headfirst into the deep-end.

“I don’t think anyone has any illusions over the first few weeks of the semester, it’s gonna get tough…but it will get better, we will have more options”. Favazza expressed hope for the college as the semester continued, noting that nursing students and eligible faculty would have higher access to the vaccine as time goes on, given current New Hampshire state guidelines. However, the college will be at an advantage this semester when it comes to detecting the virus on campus. The college has tripled its testing capacity, now with three rapid testing machines instead of just one.

The administration has promised, above all else, improvements in communication and transparency for the spring semester. Many of these improvements have come about thanks to the hard work and organization of students, and will be implemented by receptive administrators. If these things don’t end up coming to light, it would not have been for a lack of student advocacy.

The Hilltop beckons us all back to her rolling emerald hillocks and towering umber masonry. We must answer its call and return to our home away from homes, unified in our gratitude for the achievements of last semester, as well as our determination to do better this time. All of us- students, admin, faculty and the monastic community- have a duty to these ends.

What Now? Cabinet Appointments & Other Grave Consequences of the Georgia Elections

To my Conservative friends, buckle up. With a 50-50 tie in the Senate, which is essentially a Democratic majority, it’s time to focus on something bigger than all of us. Every single nominee Joe Biden puts before the Senate will have the theoretical backing of almost every Democrat, save a few. Xavier Becerra, the Medicare-for-All and abortion whenever candidate is getting his estate in order and ready to move to the Capital as Biden’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Lloyd Austin, a retired 4-star General and failed strategist in the war against ISIS is the nominee for Secretary of Defense.

Despite the potential for Democrats in the White House and in Congress to push through their agenda with little ability for congressional Republicans to present any opposition, many conservatives are still lamenting President Trump’s electoral defeat choosing instead to support futile legal challenges instead of preparing for the substantial challenges ahead. But please, tell me more about overturning individual results in Georgia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, all after going 1/62 in the courts.

Procedurally Democrats can, if they hold their line, nuke the filibuster and allow for a simple majority to pass virtually all bills that come to the Senate floor. What would that mean? $15 minimum wage- sure. Legislatively passing DACA without funds for border security- why not? Abolishing the Hyde Amendment- of course! Don’t believe me- that’s ok, don’t take my word for it, take Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro’s.

In a committee hearing on the Hyde Amendment, a bill that prohibits federal funding for abortion procedures for Medicaid patients, Democratic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut’s 3rd district had this to say, “While the Labor, HHS, Education bill has carried the Hyde amendment every year since 1976, this is the last year.” A bill that prohibits federal funding for abortion, with exceptions to cases of incest and rape, as well as endangerment of the mother, this policy has been on the books since 1976 and is now in jeopardy of being struck down. Although Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) are pro-life, they have supported the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and liberal judges in confirmation hearings. In addition to these Senators, both Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are among the most liberal Republicans in the Senate and identify as pro-choice. Even if two of the previously mentioned senators object, that wouldn’t be enough, as a 50-50 tie would require the vice president to cast the tie-breaking vote. Kamala Harris is about as pro-abortion as it gets, with a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood’s Congressional Scorecard. That would bring the bill to President Biden’s desk, where in 2019 he indicated “… I could no longer continue to abide by the Hyde Amendment. “

What about nationalizing the minimum wage? This is a senseless proposal that would destroy small businesses in states with minimum wages vastly smaller than such. I am not against raising the minimum wage, but I believe states know their respective economies and how to stimulate growth more so than the vast bureaucracy that is Washington DC. Not to mention, 48(!) states are below the $15/hr mark by over 20%, of which 21 would need to more than double their wages per hour. A blanket wage increase with no phase-in period has no logic and would be devastating to a still-recovering economy. With a $15 minimum wage bill already clear of the House floor (passed in the 116th Congress), it could come down to the wire in the Senate, which would have been impossible if not for the sweep in Georgia.

Now is the time for the Republican party to be unified, sticking together to stand up for Conservative values, most importantly the right to life and economic commonsense. These issues are of great importance to members of the GOP, yet lawmakers are instead focusing on dangerous and detrimental ideas such as overturning federal elections to retain power.

https://www.vox.com/2019/6/22/18713603/joe-biden-hyde-amendment

https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/congressional-scorecard#CA/

Students Advocate For Students: Student Response Task Force Publishes Report To The College

In an email to students sent out on Monday, the Student Government Association announced that the Student Response Task Force (SRTF) had completed its work and had published its findings in a report entitled, “A Report on the Student Response to the College Policies Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The SRTF was formed in early October under the purview of the SGA by Student Body Vice President Kevin Chrisom. The task force, composed of 12 SGA members, met twice a week through October and November in order to gather student feedback through listening sessions, Instagram polls, and an anonymous submission form in order to then draft their report for the Saint Anselm College administration.

All students were invited to participate in two “Student Listening Sessions” on October 28th and November 4th where students were asked for their opinions on a wide variety of topics related to the college’s COVID policies. Students had a lot to say. The report states that approximately 40 students took the opportunity to make their voices heard, and said things such as, “I have always felt that Saint A’s has supported their students except for this year. It is beyond frustrating to see the school hosting tours and weddings yet I am not even allowed to have my mom or my friends to my apartment for lunch.”

A total of 448 students participated in a series of SRTF sponsored Instagram polls which demonstrated the collective feelings of many students. Out of the 448, 95% of student participants favored extending the hours of the Jean Student Center, and 94% of the respondents also favored some form of intervisitation policy being reinstated. When asked whether or not the college had done enough for student socialization, 74% of respondents said that it had not. Unsurprisingly, 73% of student participants responded that they did not think that online or hybrid classes were as productive as a typical school year. Finally, despite a rather large portion (28%) of students claiming that their experience at Saint Anselm had been negative in the fall semester, 95% of student respondents said that they felt safe on campus.

The SRTF also provided an anonymous feedback submission form for students who were not comfortable attending the listening sessions or providing their feedback in person. 45 students chose this option. Of those students, 9% were from the class of 2021, 33% from the class of 2022, 33% from the class of 2023, and 15% from the class of 2024.

The twenty-two-page report paints a detailed picture of the fall 2020 semester and the effects it had on the students of Saint Anselm College. It highlights some of the measures that students found beneficial such as President Favazza’s Town Halls, a well-designed move-in plan, and quick and effective mitigation of campus outbreaks, as well as some significant areas of student concern. The report lists 27 specific issues that students voiced to the task force, ranging from a lack of enforcement of COVID policies to overbearing course loads. 

Although the student body only recently received the finalized report, the Student Response Task Force met multiple times with President Favazza and Dean of Students Finn to discuss their findings and provide recommendations on how to improve the experience of students in the spring semester. When asked how he would characterize the SRTF’s meetings with Favazza and Finn, SGA Vice President Chrisom said, “I am very appreciative of the level of thought and care both Dean Finn and President Favazza showed to us during our work.” He added, “On a more personal note, I would like to thank both of them for the job they have done throughout the year and look forward to continuing working with them in advocating for the students.”

The publication of the report and its subsequent delivery to the student body marks a major milestone in the task force’s work, and the question now becomes, “Where will they go from here?” When asked, Chrisom said, “There are several avenues to which we could go,” but that the direction of the Task Force will rely largely on the environment and circumstances of the upcoming semester. Chrisom then mentioned that “the task force plans to continue listening sessions and encourages students to continue attending them and voicing their opinions. When the Student Senate reconvenes, the expectation is that many resolutions will be coming up for discussion and for a vote on areas regarding dining services (the reopening of the pub), intervis, etc. The task force was pleased to see students partake in the decision-making process for the upcoming second semester, and will continue to advocate for their involvement.”

A Report On The Student Response To The College Policies Regarding The COVID-19 Pandemic

The following statement was sent to the student body of Saint Anselm College on Monday, January 11, 2021 by the Student Government Association:

“Dear Saint Anselm students, 

The Student Response Task Force has completed its work in collecting student feedback regarding COVID-19 policies for the fall 2020 semester. This group, under the purview of the Student Government Association presents a comprehensive report on the student response to the college policies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Student Response Task Force was established in order to give Saint Anselm students a forum to voice their thoughts and opinions regarding Saint Anselm College’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only was this Task Force meant to efficiently collect and present student feedback to the administration, the Task Force was created and run by students so as to allow fellow students to express their opinions and concerns in a more comfortable setting.  Furthermore, the Task Force has come together to supply student feedback to college administrators, so that they might use the student body’s perspective during preparations for our upcoming return to campus. The Task Force plans to be a continuous presence on campus, to work with the school administration, the student government, and the student body as we adapt to the strange time we find ourselves in. Readers will find the full report prepared by the Task Force attached directly below along with a short summary of the report’s recommendations.


Firstly, the Task Force recommends changes in a variety of college policies. For example, the reinstatement of intervisitation on campus. The Student Senate has already unanimously approved legislation endorsing the revival of limited intervisitation for students within dorm halls. The Task Force supported this legislation, and will continue to push for action from the Student Government on this, as well as other issues ranging from building hours to a reexamination of the academic calendar. 


Second, the Task Force found a need for more student representation in the decision-making process. While it is understandable that the college was faced with a high-pressure situation to return students to campus, it is regrettable that students were not consulted initially. Moving forward, the Task Force recommends the administration continue to prioritize student input on decision making committees in regards to decisions being made on COVID policy which affect the student body. Be they from athletics, student government, or another student program, a variety of students should be consulted throughout the spring semester. Thirdly, the Task Force has placed an emphasis on the need for transparency from the college administration on COVID policy. This may be in a variety of forms, such as expounding upon policies that are chosen by the school, as well as a formal notice to students regarding any and all policy changes. Transparency will be a necessary step for continued student engagement with the rules that are enforced, and an ongoing mutually respectful partnership between administrators and students.


The Task Force is encouraged by the engagement we have already received from the student body, and if this is the first you are hearing from us please feel free to reach out, as we will be active on campus for the foreseeable future. This will be in various capacities, through the Student Government Association, social media, and various other avenues should the need arise. We look forward to working with the administration as a conduit for student feedback and as a partner to craft policy moving forward. 


The entire report is attached to this email for review by the reader, and if you have any questions regarding this report, please reach out to us at sga@anselm.edu. The Student Response Task Force wishes you all well, and looks forward to returning to campus for the spring semester.”

The Attack on the Capitol is the Epitome of White Privilege in America

On Wednesday, January 6th, we all bore witness to a series of tragic events that took place at our nation’s Capitol. We saw what months of falsehoods, misinformation, and lies – all spewed by Donald Trump and his inner circle – amounted to as the U.S. Capitol was attacked and overrun by domestic terrorists in support of Trump. On a day in which the Electoral College votes were to be counted and mark the official end to a long and chaotic presidential election cycle, our nation was, instead, having to deal with these heinous acts carried out upon our nation’s Capitol. From these events, there are many topics and issues that one can pick at and further discuss, but the issue that is most prevalent and urgent for the student body at Saint Anselm College to understand is white privilege

In short, the events that took place at the Capitol are a perfect illustration of white privilege at its finest. 

First, think back to just this past summer as you witnessed millions of Americans protesting horrific acts of police brutality that had taken the lives of Black Americans such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, and countless others. Almost always at these protests, protestors were met with law enforcement officers lined in tactical gear and armed to the teeth with riot shields, batons, canisters of tear gas, and rifles filled with rubber bullets or live rounds. It appeared as if law enforcement officers were ready to battle soldiers of a foreign nation invading our borders, not fellow Americans. Videos and photos that emerged from these protests made it clear, however, that law enforcement did not hesitate to consider these protestors as the enemy and viciously attack them at any opportunity they were given. 

Now, think about what we all saw take place at the U.S. Capitol this past Wednesday. We saw a group of domestic terrorists storm and raid the Capitol with little to no resistance from law enforcement. These people were able to march onto the Capitol’s steps, smash windows and force open the main doors, mozy their way through the halls of the building, invade and completely trash the offices of members of Congress, and casually pose for pictures after having overtaken the U.S. Senate chamber, all without having barely met any resistance from law enforcement. And even after having done all these atrocious acts, these same people were then able to peacefully walk out of the Capitol, steal some property as they were leaving, and then carry on with their days as if nothing had happened. 

The major contrast between these two instances is that those who were protesting against police brutality this past summer largely consisted of and were led by Black Americans, while those who attacked the U.S. Capitol largely consisted of White Americans. This stark contrast in law enforcement response is indicative of what Black, Brown, and other communities of color have been saying over and over again…. we are not viewed the same, nor treated the same in this country as white people are. White people are given certain privileges and luxuries solely based on the color of their skin that are not afforded to the Black, Brown, and other communities of color. 

It is now important to understand, however, what acknowledging the existence of white privilege does and does not truly entail. Acknowledging the existence of white privilege does not attempt to villainize white people and/or point to them as the root of all evil. It does not mean that white people should feel guilty or feel ashamed for who they are. It does not mean that society is attempting to dismiss all the work that has been done by white people in the present or in the past. It does not establish the notion that white people have never struggled in their lives or that, because of their privilege, they should not be proud of their accomplishments in life. Rather, the point in acknowledging the existence of white privilege is to understand that you have not had to face any difficulties in how you live your life and/or how you are viewed by society because of your skin color. Acknowledging the existence of white privilege means acknowledging the fact that communities of color are burdened with specific issues that white people have the luxury to never face and be concerned about. 

It is because of white privilege that white people never have to face the hardship of being considered a danger to society until proven otherwise. It is because of white privilege that white people do not have to deal with the burden of overcoming negative stereotypes that are placed upon members of their own community. And most importantly, it is because of white privilege that white people do not have to protest and march in the streets in order to stop police from killing them and other members of their communities. 

Instead, it is because of white privilege that white people are afforded the luxury of insulating themselves from the daily toll of racism. It is because of white privilege that white people have the luxury of automatically having positive relationships with the police and other law enforcement. And the events which occurred on January 6th showed us that it is because of white privilege that white people have the ability to storm and attack the U.S. Capitol without having to face the same amount of resistance and punishment that Black Americans face when protesting for their own lives.

Going forward I challenge those of the Saint Anselm College community who are unaware or not well-versed in the concept of white privilege to learn more about its inner-workings and how it shapes our society. Understand how white privilege gives certain people certain luxuries while depriving others of those same luxuries. And once having done this, understanding how to use this privilege to help those around you who are not afforded the same luxuries as you are. How to use this privilege to support non-privileged communities in their fight against injustice, remove bias that exists throughout facets of life, and make society and its many institutions work for all, not just a select few.

Now, this may be difficult for some to do. It may be a harsh reality that some do not want to face. Our future demands that we are truthful and honest about the privilege that comes with white skin, however, because if we fail to do so, then we will never be able to fully establish the fair, just, and equitable society we all strive to achieve.

White Privilege and Racial Inequality At Work in Capitol Riots

The riots that took place at the Capitol building were not only a destructive and immature display of the worst conduct but also showed how white supremacy has and continues to have such a domineering presence in the U.S. One of the most shocking and disturbing aspects of the whole situation is how it further highlights the racial inequality so deeply rooted in this country. Law enforcement’s polar opposite reactions to the peaceful protests for Black Lives Matter versus the more lax treatment shown towards these rioters further emphasizes this divide.

On the day of the riots, Ibram X. Kendi tweeted “White privilege is on display like never before in the U.S. Capitol. If these people were Black…well, we all know what would be happening right now to them.” White privilege is a concept that has been further explored and highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement. It is shown in obvious and discrete ways, on small-scale and large-scale forms. It covers everything from having accurate representation in the media to going into a store and not being followed, and recent events have shown that white privilege also includes being able to breach the Capitol building wielding a Confederate flag and wreaking havoc and not expecting punishment but rather a selfie with a police officer. During the peaceful protests for Black Lives Matter, people stood in solidarity fighting for the human rights and equality that Black people should have been afforded long ago, and apparently this called for tear gas and excessive militant force. But when rioters disturb the peace and leave a trail of destruction in their path, and even re-enact the murder of George Floyd underneath a BLM banner, they’re deemed “patriots.” President Trump adds to the pile of hypocrisy in the way he condemned the BLM protests and called the (non-violent) protestors “terrorists” but spoke with “love” for the violent rioters and called them “special.” If the mob had been mainly comprised of people of color, there would have been an immediate and visceral reaction from law enforcement, but because it was a mob of white supremacists they were given a temporary free pass.

Not only does this incident highlight the marginalization and unequal treatment of people of color, but it also just shows that losing gracefully is a lost art to some people, especially this pro-Trump mob. If Trump had won and Biden supporters were pulling the same stunt and protesting the result, Trump supporters would write them off as “anarchists” who can’t accept the victor who won fair-and-square. But when the election doesn’t work out in their favor, then the conspiracy theories come flying out about how the whole thing is a sham.

This country was founded by slave-owners who believed that White people were the superior race. Now, only a week into the year 2021, this white supremacist mentality that has gotten off on the exploitation and dehumanization of people of color has reared its ugly head yet again and proven the point that while many things have gotten better, genuine and real change is still a long-term goal the nation needs to work towards.

A Libertarian Take On The Capitol Siege

January 6th, 2021 will be a day that will live in infamy. Pictures and video from the siege on the Capitol resemble scenes from developing countries such as Colombia and Egypt, but these scenes were from the United States of America, the beacon of freedom and democracy. And yet those who stormed the Capitol called themselves by the liberal title of Libertarian.

As a Libertarian, those that stormed the Capitol haven’t the slightest clue what a libertarian is and what their actions resemble. Political violence is to not be tolerated and is to be shunned by all those that have any form of intelligence in a society. When becoming a Libertarian, I took an oath to not use violence for political gains. Those that laid siege to the Capitol – built on the ideas of liberty, reason, and the rule of law – did not care nor understand any of those ideals.

The insurrectionists who desecrated the most important building in the United States fought not to depose a dictator, oppose a new authoritarian decree, or revolt against a new war – no, they went to the Capitol to oppose an election certified by every state and to support a President that has become increasingly against the rule of law. While the putsch failed, it will have long-lasting effects that we have yet to fully understand. The Bier Hall putsch among many other similar failed attempts in history did not extinguish a movement or idea, often it was the mere beginning of something bigger.

The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has condemned the activities that took place on the 6th and I stand with the party on this even before they put out a message. I have yet to see the RNC, DNC, nor LNC put out a press release yet. I realize these things take time to craft and put out politically, but time is of the essence and a strong handed message is imperative.

I did not vote for Trump nor Biden, I voted for Jo Jorgensen, but because she lost does not mean I go to the Capitol and cry my heart out with blood and lead. To mature is to not accept authority and the way things are, but is to use reason and logic when no one else is. To devolve to the situation seen on the 6th is a backstab to the reason why this country exists thematically.

The only path forward is pragmatism and unity. Biden certainly has his work cut out for him.