Jan 6 anniversary: Remember these leaders, values that unite us and protect our democracy

January 6 marked a rupture in our nation's history. The peaceful transfer of power was threatened and the seat of American democracy, the Capitol, was stormed by our fellow Americans.

Three years have passed since that day, and the crisis to our democracy is far from over. To meet this challenge, Americans from all walks of life must be firmly rooted in love for our country and committed to defending our democracy.

When George Washington refused to run for a third term, he made it clear that the new republic would be based on a peaceful transition of power. Over time, our country has built a civic and electoral system that supports campaigns with passion and purpose, recognizing that the final outcome of an election is final.

Candidates need to accept the results knowing that the winners will need to heal the divide and move forward to govern, and the losers will be able to remain engaged in democracy and even choose to run for re-election. I understand.

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Of course, since Washington's time there have been periods of great division and turmoil in our country, the most dangerous of which was the Civil War. But still, Abraham Lincoln did not abandon his belief in democracy and the American people.

Lincoln rejected requests from some members of his administration to cancel the 1864 presidential election, which many thought Lincoln would lose. Lincoln reportedly told his cabinet members that canceling the election would be tantamount to allowing the Confederacy to win, and our very democracy would be lost.

A scene from the January 6 riot at the US Capitol in 2021. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

He also promised to work with his opponent, George McClellan (likely to make peace with the Confederacy), if McClellan won. And despite the criticism, Lincoln continued to plan the Transcontinental Railroad and complete the new Capitol dome as the war raged, ensuring that the nation remained “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” He has proven that he can withstand anything. The core is protected.

At its core, of course, is free and fair elections and the agreement of all Americans to accept the results.

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My father, a World War II veteran and Battle of the Bulge survivor, often reminded our family that “democracy is an alternative to violence.” Other political systems rely on force and intimidation to maintain power, or are constantly disrupted because rival factions use violence to gain power.

Supporters of President Donald Trump enter the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Our system is much better overall. My father was adamant that freedom was our top priority. And our freedom depends on each American being able to vote freely, knowing that their vote will be counted and accepted.

Freedom requires that those running for office understand that, regardless of the outcome, the survival of the country depends on their acceptance of the final outcome of the election. It also depends on whether you understand it or not.

I first ran for office in 2002, but lost. I still remember standing at my local polling place, holding campaign signs with other candidates and supporters of both political parties, getting more and more excited each day. We shared the love, knowing that democracy was in the works, and hoping the candidate would win. Regardless of political party, for the process we witnessed.

Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi), chairman of the special committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, speaks. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)

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In 2004 I ran for the same election and defeated the candidate who had defeated me two years earlier. Six years later, I will be re-elected by him. During that time, I never doubted, and neither did my opponent, that we would continue to disagree on policy and politics. But we also knew we could respect the voters' decision.

So what does this mean three years from January 6, 2021?

Since January 6, we have made significant bipartisan progress in addressing the challenges facing our country, including rebuilding our infrastructure and strengthening American manufacturing. When we focus on what we have in common, we can accomplish great things.

President Donald Trump arrives to address a rally ahead of the Capitol riot in Washington on January 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)

Just as Lincoln insisted on building the transcontinental railroad even during the Civil War, we will follow his example and ensure that our democracy continues to serve the needs of our people, even in polarized times. can do.

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Continuing this progress will depend on whether we truly make January 6th an anomaly in our nation's history. And to do that, as Americans, we must come to a common understanding of former President Trump's refusal to accept the results of a free and fair election. , ultimately culminating in the January 6 attacks that threatened the foundations of our nation.

If our democracy is to survive, both Democrats and Republicans will need to say in a unified voice that they support free and fair elections and reject partisans who do not accept the election results. right.

National Guard members arrive to secure an area outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)

Our country can withstand policy change, but our children will not survive in a democracy if the ballot box and the rule of law are replaced by violence and chaos. We cannot allow January 6th or anything like it to happen again.

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In the midst of the Civil War, Lincoln wrote a letter to Congress reminding the American people that it was up to us to “nobly save this, the last best hope of the earth, or spitefully lose it.”

Granted, we didn't survive the Civil War, the Great Depression, two world wars, and the myriad other challenges of building a nation where the Capitol was stormed and elections overturned. Instead, we can choose to put aside partisanship and once again defend our last best hope in order to protect democracy itself.

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