utopia 2023 or another president

January 6th

1. A middle aged man shares his story:

I really believed in Donald Trump. I followed him on Twitter and of course joined the rally on 6th of January 2021. We had to protect our country, our future. Right?

We stormed Capitol Hill and succeeded getting into the building when we suddenly heard:

"Okay guys. What's going on?"

I didn't really want to listen, but it was hard to ignore him:

"Do you really believe that your fellow citizens are not able to make up their minds and decide something, you might not like? Or do you believe that they simply don't have the right to decide something, you oppose?"

It hurt. But I tried to ignore. Someone tried to shoot him, but was shot in his hand instead.

" Would you please help this person? I think, some health care is needed." , said the guy some stairs above. Some people cared and guided the wounded outside. Moods inside the crowd changed. We listened:

"I'm quite a conservative guy. I come from a small family farm in X. In our neighborhood were farmers, crafts people and few other professions. But when I entered the army, I suddenly met people from all over the country. People with different skin colors, ideas, social backgrounds, religious and political beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. Some I found weird. But we all were proud Americans and stood united to protect our beautiful country.

Later in combat, my comrades repeatedly saved my life and I saved theirs. And those who saved my life were often not so much like me. They were different in many aspects. I realized that this is the real strength of our country, it's the foundation of our great nation. If only people like me joined the army, we wouldn't have the biggest army in the world.

If I hate and mistrust my neighbours, every idiot can bring us down by just playing one against the other. But if we stand united, even a strong opponent will not easily bring us down."

Someone else tried to shoot him, got wounded instead. This guy seems to respect us. He does not mow us down, but he also honours his own life and makes sure that he is not going to be killed. He actually might be an excellent president, I thought. I looked around. Some were hesitant, some angry. But we still listened to the clear voice without microphone.

"Where is your president? He doesn't have the balls to tell you that he's lost the game, that many people outside there are fed up with him. Where is he? Why isn't he here with you defending his case? He is sitting in the White House, watching TV and refusing to do anything, a decent normal person would expect a sitting president to do in such a situation." The voice now is really angry and sounds sharp.

"Why isn't he here with you to fight for his cause?", asked the guy on the stairs. We looked at him and some despice ran over his face: "It's because of strategic ambiguity and deniability. If this doesn't keep him in power, there might be some criminal charges. And he doesn't like to take them."

It struck us like a lightning.

"When some years ago judges found that big part of his enterprises were gigantic money laundromats for Russian mobsters, they couldn't prove that he did know. So he is still around. He would have been bankrupt without these masses of illegal money, but no one could prove that he knew, all his new friends and partners were actually Russian mobsters and his enterprises gigantic money laundromats."

He looked at us and his voice became softer: "If you do business, you should know who your business partners are. You have some responsibility towards society and your country. Right?"

He lead us to the core of the Parlament and talked to us about representation and representatives. Why do we have, why do we need representatives? What's their job? Why do we call them lawmakers? What does it mean to make a law?

Somehow it was exiting. When we arrived, he asked some lawmakers and crowds that were already there if we can join and discuss some things together. Then he made us understand that such a big country like ours needs some representation of ideas and interests of the people. This is not easy, not without flaws. But it's the best solution, we have so far invented to prevent infighting, continuous destabilization through coups and war and all the miseries of tyranny.

For the first time in my life, I understood that making laws is anything but easy. The more laws you have, the more you need to consider to make new laws fit. Otherwise they might have opposite results to what was intended.

After a while, he said, it's time to leave: "This is not the stage where I have a big role. If I'll become president, I might visit this temple of our democracy to worship our constitution by answering the questions of our lawmakers on your behalf."

We went out. National guard had arrived. Most of us were silent and someone asked me: "What do you think?" - "I think, he knows what he says and he knows what he does." - "Maybe, he's going to be an excellent president." - "Yes"

This is why I believe that he is caring. He cares about us, about our nation, our democracy.

2. A policeman from capitol shares his views:

We stood against the raging crowd. It was hell. No additional forces, no relief in sight. Then the brake through. I was tired, felt helpless and somehow guilty. But no time to pause. Suddenly his voice. I thought, this was madness. Things will become even more complicated. But the mood in the crowd changed. Situation relaxed. He stood calm and firm. They somehow followed him. We accompanied this strange development with some amazement.

When he had finished, he talked to us and expressed his gratitude for our service:

"I know, a soldier and a policeman has to follow the rule of law and the direction of his commander - however his personal beliefs and wishes might be. You all, you stood together to protect those who relied on your protection. You risked your lives to protect our lawmakers, our citizens and our democracy. You didn't shoot our citizens, though they behaved inappropriately. You didn't leave our lawmakers unprotected. You threw in your own lives instead. This is patriotism and heroism. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to bring relief to you much earlier. I tried. But you know, I'm not yet in charge."

He put his right hand on his heart. We did the same.

"Would like to see you again and talk about your thoughts and experiences. You know, I'm not going to be in charge directly, but I would like to put some of your thoughts & needs on the table when talking to the speaker and other lawmakers."

We appreciated and he kept his promise.

When I returned home, I no longer felt left alone, betrayed, unhappy. I felt that I probably did the right thing and probably becoming a police officer in the first place was the best choice of my life. I didn't elect him president, but I think, he is able to represent and lead our country.

3. Proud boy:

I went to jail for Donald Trump. I thought, my president would help me, pardon me or come speak up against these judges and police guys that I'm right and that they are wrong. But he didn't care. Came instead this young athletic guy. He visited me in prison. He simply said: "I'd like to understand." So we talked. I can't say that I love him. But I respect him and he respects me more than Trump ever did.