In an act that demonstrates a concerning disregard for the norms of our democracy, the administration is planning to grant military honors to Ashli Babbitt, the former Air Force member who was fatally shot during the notorious Jan. 6 Capitol riot. This decision does not come across as a mere tribute to a Veteran, but rather as a deliberate move to reposition the image of the participants in the infamous event from insurgents to heroes. Such manipulation is part of a larger scheme aimed at distorting the public memory of the violent day and is particularly favored by former President Donald Trump, who has been working tirelessly to redefine Jan. 6’s participants as patriotic individuals wrongfully accused by his successor.
Babbitt’s death has consistently served as a focal point for Trump and other right-wing politicians and activists. Their collective effort to reinterpret the Capitol assault as a patriotic act is gaining momentum, mainly due to their relentless backing of the Jan. 6 participants. This is in the face of Trump refusing to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election, a move that could only be described as an attempt to destabilize our democratic institutions.
Just under six years after the event that made Babbitt a symbol in the MAGA narrative, she is set to receive military funeral honors. Receiving an invitation from the undersecretary to visit the Pentagon is the Babbitt family, in what could only be seen as an attempt to align with a politically charged narrative rather than an act of compassion. This follows a wrongful death settlement where the government agreed to payout nearly $5 million to her family.
Evidently, the aforementioned act of awarding military honors is an integral part of a larger shift in how Trump’s camp regards the Capitol riot. A step that is remarkable through its audacity, the move could very well be seen as an endorsement of the actions of the rioters. However, it still manages to blur the line between serving the country and assaulting the foundations of our democracy, causing a rather unfortunate, if not alarming, conflation.
Trump’s perspective has found allies in the conservative legal advocacy group Judicial Watch who represent the Babbitt family. They argue that the Biden administration’s stance should be reassessed in light of Trump’s pardons and clemencies granted to those involved with the Capitol insurgency. However, many critics find it shocking that the group would ignore the clear distinction between pardoning cases of minor misdemeanors and endorsing an attempted insurrection.
Despite Trump’s manipulation of the narrative, it is important for us to remember that The January 6 incident was a clear attempt to overthrow a democratic process. Whitewashing this disturbing event is, in reality, an act of endorsing insubordination against a democratically elected government. It has been claimed that by awarding Babbitt military funeral honors, Trump is dishonoring the very institution he seeks to honor.
Former GOP congressman and Air National Guard Lt. Colonel Adam Kinzinger echoed a similar sentiment. He expressed his regret over Babbitt’s death yet highlighted that her participation in the insurgency brings into question the integrity of the honors bestowed upon her. Addressing the situation as ‘absolutely tragic,’ Kinzinger shed light on the contradictory act of honoring someone who has, as per his words, ‘dishonored her service by committing an insurrection.’,
The former National Security Adviser and Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, known for his controversial perspectives, praised a letter that was sent to the Babbitt family by Lohmeier, positioning it as an example of leadership. Despite this endorsement from Flynn, this gesture of sympathy can be interpreted as a masked attempt to discount the gravity of assault on our democratic institutions.
It is important to understand the ramifications of military honors awarded posthumously and the precedent it sets. Normally, these would involve the mere playing of ‘Taps’, the folding and presentation of the American flag by at least two uniformed service members to the next kin. However, one cannot ignore the amplified significance of such honors being granted to a person involved in the Capitol riot.
In conclusion, the decision to award military honors to Ashli Babbitt does not simply pay respect to a Veteran, but primarily serves as political maneuvering to enable a revisionist narrative that could have damaging long-term implications on our society. The attempt to redefine an event that was explicitly an assault on our democratic process is not only a departure from the truth but also a potential threat to the principles that hold our democracy together. The stakes run high in this scenario – will the truth hold ground or will falsehood pervade?
The post Biden’s Disregard for Democracy: Honoring Insurgents over Veterans appeared first on Real News Now.
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