Yesterday’s (January 6) assault on the US Capitol building was tantamount to insurrection, incited by President Donald Trump and bore all the hallmarks of a banana republic.

It would have been a different story if that was Black Lives Matter protestors and people of colour getting out of control and disrupting a sitting by the highest lawmakers in the land. Then the stormtroopers would be on them for sure and body bags would be piled up high.

The old-timers were right – “Keep your hands on the steering wheel and keep it to ‘yes officer, no officer’.”

What is particularly disturbing is that those securing the building capitulated and allowed hordes of people to stream into the legislative chamber and take over for a few hours.

This marked a new nadir in American history.  It was an affront to democracy and takes away the greatest country on earth’s moral authority. Make no mistake, if this had occurred in another country, America would have condemned it in no uncertain terms, seeing it as hostile, undemocratic, reprehensible and the act of a tinpot banana republic dictator who insists on having their way regardless of the will of the people.

Former President George W. Bush said: “This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic, not our democratic republic. I am appalled by the reckless behaviour of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions and our law enforcement.”

President Trump called for a march on the Capitol building in protest of the ratification of the election of Joe Biden as President and did nothing to stop it when protestors got out of hand.

Trump continues to insist that the election results of November 3rd is rigged and that Joe Biden cannot be acknowledged as the winner and therefore the next President of the United States.

Bush continued: “The violent assault on the Capitol – and disruption of a constitutionally-mandated meeting of Congress – was undertaken by people whose passions have been inflamed by falsehoods and false hopes.”

The 43rd President of the United States stressed the importance of abiding by the rule of law and the democratic process and both were flagrantly breached for the entire world to see.

It was a horror show brought to you live by news channels, not a fictional drama, dreamed up by a creative professional with a fertile imagination. This was America today, not 1812.

“In the United States of America, it is the fundamental responsibility of every patriotic citizen to support the rule of law. To those who are disappointed in the results of the election: Our country is more important than the politics of the moment. Let the officials elected by the people fulfil their duties and represent our voices in peace and safety,” added Bush.

Closer to home, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson-Smith and Minister of Finance Dr Nigel Clarke conduct themselves with more decorum, dignity and respect for democracy than senior members of the United States Cabinet.

Jamaica has its problems, and yes criminality is out of control, but it can never be said that such a brazen disregard for the democratic process has taken place, with people storming Gordon House with guns and legislators having to flee for their safety and lives.

Indeed, during this point in history, the level of statesmanship is higher in Jamaica than it is in the United States!

In September of last year, the JLP was returned to power with an overwhelming majority, practically obliterating the PNP but it did not result in insurrection and revolt in protest of a fairly conducted election with a decisive result.

If America cannot respect the democratic process and acknowledge the will of the people, then it has hit a new low and must reside within the realms of those who are deemed autocrats, dictators, tyrants, banana republics.

US Ambassador Donald Tapia has during his tenure – which ends on Friday – lambasted Jamaica for deals and having cordial relationships with China.

He has even accused Digicel of allowing its network to be manipulated so that the Chinese can eavesdrop on his telephone conversations of which he has not presented any evidence to substantiate his claims.

Throughout his bombast, Jamaica has bitten its tongue, smiled benignly no doubt in fear of raising the opprobrium of a country that provides vast parcels of financial aid and who grants desperately desired visas.

But how can Tapia be taken seriously if this is what Jamaicans see? He has yet to vociferously condemn the protestors that ransacked the Capitol Building, yet gets on Jamaica’s case.

It is difficult to convince countries not to work with China on state-of-the-art technological advances when your country cannot get coronavirus infections under control, the economy is cratering, democracy itself is called into question and the President of the United States is stark raving bonkers!

America has been referred to as “that shining city on the hill,” a beacon for others to emulate and follow its lead. In the first quarter of a new century, America is losing its standing in the world.

If you thought last year was terrible, the first week of this new year portends for something even worse. Mutating viruses, infections, deaths, unemployment, racism, violence, children unable to attend school,  poverty, isolation, social distancing, disregard for safety measures, a lack of respect for science all brought to you by the land of the free, home of the brave.

Happy New Year!