It is time we expand our thoughts about how to address the assault on the Capitol. The president of the United States took an oath to uphold the Constitution, then did everything he could to override the outcome of the election — including fomenting insurrection. I hear the Democrats calling for accountability and Republicans calling for healing. It is not a binary, either/or situation. It is both/and. Healing comes through acknowledgment of the wrong, accountability for the wrong done, reparation for injury caused, personal commitment for a change of mind, heart, language and action, and then forgiveness. Accountability and healing are not opposites but connected as a whole.
Eileen Wallace, St. Charles, Minn.
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Like many, as I watched our lawmakers take cover on Jan. 6, I became more aware of how tenuous our democracy is. I was also aware that it's not just a thin line of law enforcement that is protecting us; it is the thin line of our laws and norms.
The line of defense of our laws and norms has been slowly eroded in recent years. This time it is vital to make it clear that no one is above the law. What precedent do we set if we allow one president to call for an insurrection and incite violence against our government and have no consequences for it? I am not overly concerned about a coup attempt in the next eight days. I am concerned about four, eight and 12 years from now. Someone smarter and with more vision than President Donald Trump will so easily mow over what we, right now, are laying the groundwork for.
Our lawmakers need to take action now. It needs to be bold, and it needs to be unwavering. I call on my senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, and my representative, Betty McCollum. If our vice president won't do it, you are our only hope. We need impeachment and conviction. Truth is on your side. If not now, when? Holding on to articles of impeachment until you have the majority just weakens the country's resolve, and the moment will be lost. Standing up is hard. Drawing the line for democracy is hard. But we, as citizens, rely on you to do it.
As a physician on the "front lines" of the pandemic, I've heard other health care workers say that we are not actually the front line of defense. We are the only line. Our lawmakers are also our only line, and in this moment with so little time, we need them to stand up and hold it.
Amy J. Engebretson, St. Paul
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To the four Minnesota Republican congresspeople: If not impeachment, then what punishment for Donald Trump? You certainly can't suggest zero consequences for his actions on Jan. 6? For what he incited? For what he caused?
Just what do you recommend as a punishment?
Stephen Williams, Minnetonka
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In the past couple of days, I have heard several people say it makes no sense to try and remove Trump from office or impeach him because he only has a few days left in office. So, imagine a board votes to replace the CEO of a company at month's end. In the meantime, the CEO embezzles money from the company and passes on company secrets to competing organizations. Should the board act to hold the CEO accountable for these actions or say, "Well, he did some good things for the company and he will be out of office at the end of the month, so it makes no sense to bring charges"? Or imagine a company tells an employee that they are being let go from their position at the end of the week. The employee goes back to their office and ransacks the place, destroying thousands of dollars in equipment, and then does the same to the company car. Does the company call the police and ask that the employee be charged with destruction of property, or do they say, "Well, they will be out of the job at weeks' end"?
