So you were surprised ...

So you were surprised yesterday when terrorists whipped into a frenzy by an aspiring dictator and his lieutenants stormed the U.S. Capitol?

Had you been a person of color, you'd not have been. Or an older LGBTQ+ person. Or a Jew. Or Native.

Nothing new here. The rot at the core of the American mythology --- racism, chauvinism, xenophobia, caustic religion, anti-Semitism and more --- bursting briefly into full poisonous bloom.

For those who self-identify as Christian, the hazards of replacing that image of the Jesus in your hearts with a portrait of Mr. Trump have been evident for some time.

For those who are newly frightened, be concerned about the ignorant and easily manipulated foot soldiers who did the storming yesterday --- they might come for you next. 

But focus your scorn and your anger and energy on those who manipulated them or stood silently by as others did --- including Iowa's senatorial delegation, Grassley and Ernst, and governor, Reynolds --- from whom nary a peep was heard.

The world is watching and at the moment we've no high ground left to stand on. But there is hope, in Georgia and in Washington, D.C.