Taking personal responsibility for one’s words and actions is a hallmark of human maturity. Personal responsibility is embraced and articulated at the core of conservative social and political philosophy. Of course, personal responsibility is essential to liberal thinking too.
Thus, those who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 cannot evade responsibility for their actions by suggesting President Trump or others in the crowd made them do it.
Neither can any who addressed the crowd, including President Trump, evade their responsibility for their words. Words do have power, and once spoken, words cannot be retracted or edited.
To be sure, most of the people gathered in front of the US Capitol on January 6 did not breach the perimeter with its barriers and police officers. Whether they cheered on those who did or dispersed rather than get caught up in the melee, their presence was some expression of distrust and even hostility toward Congress. Still and all, thousands did break through to storm the US Capitol and hundreds made it inside the building. All must be held accountable for their actions as well as their words.
To be clear, I affirm the right of those who gathered on January 6 to assemble and express their objection to the election, even if I disagree or think them misguided. I have always opposed violence and destruction of property in demonstrations, protests, and other first amendment expressions of free speech and assembly, including those causes I affirm. Nevertheless, storming the US Capitol is of unprecedented character and magnitude.
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