“I do not believe the additional, extraneous commission that Democratic leaders want would uncover crucial new facts or promote healing. Frankly, I do not believe it is even designed to do that.” were the words of Senate Minority Leader McConnell. He has successfully blocked the formation of a commission to look into the riots that hit the nation’s capital on the 6th of January.
If we are to take Mitch at his word, we can certainly see some merit in what he has to say.
1. Arrests have already been made.
2. No crucial facts would be found.
3. It does not promote healing, nor is it designed to do so.
Sounds noble, right? Let’s put these things to the test.
Arrests have been made
Suppose a crime has been committed and some arrests have been made. Should that be reason enough to block further investigation? One could argue not. We have seen less than 500 arrests. There were thousands of people on the Capitol. More than 500 of them certainly committed criminal offenses.
We can argue about whether this was done with or without the right intentions. We know for certain that the rule of law cannot be satisfied if the facts are not fully established. To stand in the way of the probe is undemocratic.
The document’s wording outlining the commission does not provide a clear view into what they believe needs to be investigated. It doesn’t say that any given fact should be looked into. That is problematic. The reason it doesn’t say that is because facts are subjective. One could argue that this is why the commission is required.
No crucial facts would be found.
There is no living human being that could categorically state that “No crucial facts would be found.”
Senate Minority Leader McConnell is levitating above the rest of us. He, in his benevolence, knows what would or wouldn’t come out of an investigation that is yet to be carried out. He has no way of knowing that he is, in fact, wrong. There is no way to know how the investigation would look, and this makes McConnell’s statement false and ludicrous.
Not only would it be a disservice to the American people if facts were not uncovered, but it wouldn’t even be readily apparent.
It does not promote healing, nor is it designed to do so
We have seen truth and reconciliation commissions formed in various parts of the world. They have been put in place to bring forth the truth and promote healing. These are no easy conversations to have. A lack of truth is what leads to riots in the Capitol.
It is nonsense that “it doesn’t promote healing.” The good book that Christians are supposed to follow teaches the value of “truth.” It may not be convenient truth, but a necessary one. To refuse to uncover it is to put a turn away from a gaping wound. Let’s all look away from it; it will heal.
What a commission would do is uncover the root cause. Perhaps that is what worries McConnell and his colleagues. This should not be a partisan issue. Neither Republicans nor Democrats should be able to stand in front of the truth in the land of the free.
It sets a dangerous precedence. What else may be blocked in the future?
