For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. It is a fundamental law of physics that is taught to every science student. Whether its planets in motion or politics that define nations, one can't ignore, dismiss, or defy that constant.
So when a summer of street violence and looting that devastated a number of American cities during 2020 was met with tacit approval or silence by many in the media and more than a few politicians, the fuse was lit for an "opposite and equal reaction." It would just be a question of what, when and where.
Make no mistake. The storming of the United States Capitol was tragic and unlawful, an inedible stain on our nation's history, and the killing and injuries suffered by Capitol Police need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
But as the nation seeks to move forward it is important to consider what triggered that invasion of the Capitol: the underlying anger of 70 million plus Americans who believe the presidential election was stolen, and the role of courts in declining to consider efforts to present the evidence. Ignoring an anger generated by what many believe is the "Crime of the Century" sets the stage for a deeply disturbing forecast of America's future that will truly empower the enemies of freedom who are waiting patiently beyond our borders to act.
While revealing an underlying political anger of enormous passion, what the Capitol insurrection did was provide the Democrats with the means to redirect public focus from systematic voting irregularities and turn the national debate to whether the president "incited the riot." Interestingly, a former assistant attorney general of the District of Columbia who has prosecuted street rioters during his tenure says absolutely not. Jeffrey Scott Shapiro makes his case in a detailed essay in The Wall Street Journal.
Yet a rational review of the facts is nearly impossible when placed against the screams, violence and chilling imagery of our nation's Capitol under assault by our fellow Americans. And the Biden team is making effective use of those images as their media allies such as MSNBC replay the video almost continuously through their broadcast day.
Commentators steeped in the law are reminding that history will not let our judiciary escape responsibility for the nation's crisis for in refusing to hear the evidence of massive voter fraud they disenfranchised many who were on the Capitol lawn.
Attorney Peter Taussig has written "The desire of judges to avoid jeopardizing the prestige, standing, and stability of the courts as an institution by avoiding involvement in the ugly political mud brawl is understandable. However, the inevitable consequences of their insistence on remaining above the fray will do the opposite of safeguarding the Judiciary, the nation's institutions, and a peaceable civil society."
Others see political ideology harming the ability of the Supreme Court to engage, that obstacle arriving in a different form: "pillow talk."
All the actions, reactions, personalities and events that would be brought together to create an explosive political response at the Capitol this month were always there if we were prepared to acknowledge them. However, as noted 20th century mathematician Alfred North Whitehead once observed, "It requires a very unusual mind to undertake the analysis of the obvious."
If we want to preserve our nation as a functioning democracy we had better start asking why 70 million plus Americans feel robbed and undertake his "analysis of the obvious," for America is at risk.
Lawrence Kadish is a nation wide developer and investor in commercial and industrial real estate. In the arena of foreign policy Mr. Kadish is on the Board of Governors of Gatestone Institute, has served as a senior advisor to Americans for Victory Over Terrorism (AVOT), and is a founding chairman of the Committee for Security and Peace in the Middle East. He has served as a prior delegate to National Republican Conventions.