Every Tuesday at 6:15pm, I pick up pizza from Cape Ann Pizza (CAP) in Essex for what we call "Magic Pizza Tuesday." We've been hosting this event at our house since about 2014, starting with just 3 or 4 people (my husband and I and a friend or two) coming together to play Magic the Gathering and to eat pizza (it all started on Tuesdays because that's the day that pizzas at CAP are buy one get one free). In 2019, it was not uncommon to have 20 or more people in attendance, sometimes complete strangers would hear about the event on facebook or through a friend and would show up to play Magic with us. It had been an amazing community building tool. We got to know so many people (most especially the kind and gracious employees at CAP). But then the pandemic hit in March, and we were all quarantined, so we stopped hosting Magic Pizza Tuesday, which had only ever been cancelled a handful of times in the 5+ years of existence. (Even when we were away, we'd have a friend be in charge and host at our house. Even in a terrible snow storm when most people had to cancel, our neighbor friend snowshoed over to our place to play.) It was devastating to cancel the event, but it was the right thing to do. When things started opening up again in May/June, we invited back a small group of friends to join us for Magic Pizza Tuesday once again (I consider them like my quarantine pod of Magic players). It's definitely not the same as having a full swarming house of people, but at least it's something, we get to play a fun game and socialize during these dark and not-so-fun times we find ourselves living in.
So yesterday, I was in my car driving home from CAP, with the hot pizzas filling my car with their deliciously cheesy aroma, listening to the NPR, and everything just happened to be timed perfectly for me to hear the entire speech given by a woman during a session of the U.S. House of Representatives regarding Resolution 21, calling on Vice President Michael R. Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and to declare President Donald J. Trump incapable of executing the duties of his office.
I didn't intend to have any entries in this blog be political, but I was absolutely enamored by her speech, and surprisingly delighted by her clear, concise language and captivating presentation (surprised because even though the subject matter was dark, awful, and depressing, the way in which she spoke was just delightful, I can't describe it any other way!). Even muffled from wearing a mask, I was able to understand each and every single one of her words. I appreciated the way she was able to summarize the events that took place last Wednesday at the Capitol Building, and her firm sense of morality, ethics, decency, and decorum. While I have heard other politicians on both sides of the aisle become angry and enraged, yelling and shouting their speeches in recent years (which absolutely disgusts me and turns me completely off from politics), this woman was calm and composed and I hung onto to every single one of her words.
As I reflected back on my day yesterday, there were a few other delightful moments I considered writing about (some fun word games that my husband and I played, and an inspirational interview I had to start my Meals on Wheels volunteering), but I couldn't get the experience of hearing this speech about of my head. So I did a bunch of googling, and eventually found out who this speaker was (Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania), a video of the speech, and eventually (finally!) a transcript of the speech on C-Span (originally I started just transcribing the speech myself from the video, but then thankfully thought to google some of the phrases I transcribed, and found a copy at C-Span. I love technology sometimes-- it definitely delights me when it works!)
Here are some snippets from her speech:
“The whole world watched in horror on January 6 as the administration encouraged the mob to attack the seat of our democracy, to disrupt the election of Joseph R. Biden, and then stood by as rioters sacked the capitol…Blood was spilled on the marble floor just outside this room. Members, staff, and reporters were forced to take cover under furniture and barricade themselves in rooms, clutching gas masks, and fearing for their lives, as the President's MAGA supporters chanted enraged nearby.
But it didn't end there. The President reportedly watched with excitement as the news media began streaming images of the terror at the Capitol. The President tweeted that the Vice President had betrayed him and even after the violence was apparent, the President and his lawyer placed calls to allies on Capitol Hill trying to persuade them to prolong their objections to the counting of the electoral votes. Members in this chamber know that for hours, the President refused to return their calls begging for help.
And in the days since, the administration has continued to claim that the election was rigged. It has denied any responsibility for the riot and praised the rioters all while reports proliferate that the administration’s supporters are planning more violence in the weeks ahead. This is why this President remains a clear and present danger to the country so long as he continues to serve. The reality is that we all know this President is unfit for office. Any other President with an ounce of character would have resigned after seeing the bloody consequences of the actions on Wednesday. Any other administration would have invoked the 25th Amendment long ago. I don't care if the President incites a riot against congress on the first day or the last day of his or her Presidency. Such an act is a crime against our government, much less against the people who are terrorized or killed in the attack.
If a President can refuse to acknowledge the will of the American voters, then incite a coup to stay in power without punishment, then our Democracy is lost. That's why it's vital for Vice President Pence and the cabinet to do the right thing, to invoke the 25th Amendment. Otherwise this Congress must remove Donald Trump from office. I've heard the calls for unity and I agree that now is the time to come forward in unity, to defend our country, not to defend a man who has proven himself incompetent to occupy the office of the President for another day."
Very powerful words, and a very powerful presentation. I know it may seem like such a little thing, but I absolutely noticed that she said "his or her" presidency, including women as possible Presidents of the United States. I don't know what the future holds for our Democracy, but I have hope that leaders like Rep. Scanlon will continue to stand up for what is right. Thank you for delighting me with your words.
With delight,
♥Jamie
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