From the Twitter account of real estate broker Jenna Ryan aka @DotJenna via TinEye image search. An accompanying tweet read: “Window at The capital. And if the news doesn’t stop lying about us we’re going to come after their studios next.”

The Awful Symbolism of the Assault on Our Capitol

Among the many ugly symbols on display in the attack on the U.S. Capitol, the event itself stands as the most offensive symbol of all

The attack on the United States Capitol by insurrectionist Trump supporters was awful for a litany of reasons, but it’s symbolism of the event itself that makes it so unique.

Yes, there were Confederate flags. Yes, there was that casually horrifying Camp Auschwitz hoodie. There was the QAnon “Q” worn by many, signifying alliance to cultish conspiracy theories. But these were borne by individuals, so many others who broke into the Capitol could claim a sort of plausible deniability: They will protest that they’re not aligned with those particular symbols. But by participating in breeching the Capitol building at all, they affixed themselves a larger symbolic event.

Although we’re known to be a surprisingly cooperative species, we human beings have also long resorted to violence to get our way. We attacked people physically. We bludgeoned them. We went to war. We, well, beat the shit out of each other. You don’t need a compelling argument, when you have a club. Or, for that matter, a gun. But over time, we have learned to approach our differences differently and in increasingly complex and organized ways. To argue our points of view. To discuss them. To present evidence. And to vote. And that’s how we make progress, even if in fits and starts, in this gloriously imperfect thing we call democracy. Or civilization, for that matter.

Like the various chambers of government worldwide, the Capitol represents a great achievement in this evolution of human cooperation. It’s the seat of the legislative branch of our federal government. It’s where our various elected officials come together and argue on our behalf, despite their diverse differences and sometimes even reach agreements. And whatever the flaws of this process in this venue, it’s the best we’ve been able to do so far. As Winston Churchill said, “No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”