In 1170 C.E., King Henry II of
England, annoyed by Thomas Becket
the Archbishop of Canterbury, (his friend turned nemesis) exclaimed
"Will no one rid me of this turbulent Priest?"
Four Barons took this as an order and murdered Becket at his Cathedral.
On January 6, 2021, President Trump conducted a "Save America" rally in Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, the electoral college was in session at the U.S. Capitol Building certifying Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for the offices of President and Vice President respectively.
In his speech, Trump implored the audience to action by saying,
"If you don't fight like hell, You are not going to have a Country anymore".
His supporters took this as a call to march on to the Capitol and break into the building and over power the Capitol Police causing several deaths and injuries as well as hundreds of arrests.
The Law makers had to stop their deliberations and run for cover.
The U.S. Capitol building was violated, the entire Nation was shocked and the whole world was in disbelief.
U. S. House of Representatives promptly impeached the President for the second time. This was after Vice President Pence refused to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the President.
(Many lawmakers were willing to take the 5th., rather than the 25th.!)
In the last four years, President Trump, with his catchy slogan "Make America Great Again" (MAGA),
created a counter culture of irreverence, racial animosity, disloyalty, disunity and downright belligerence.
Faced with crisis of the Pandemic, civil unrest and hotly contested Presidential elections, Trump fumbled the responsibility. As a President, he was always more interested in rousing his base than running the Country.
In times of crisis, great leaders inspire and awaken the inner strength of a nation.
History is full of examples like George Washington, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and many others.
Failed leaders destroy a nation and its will, pride and dignity.
Louis the XVI of France, Czar Nicholas II of Russia, Adolf Hitler of Germany
and now Donald Trump fall in this category.
What next?
The current Republican Senate leaders shy away from ratification of the impeachment.
The misery will be prolonged until the next Congress takes the oath.
That will be after Inauguration of the new President.
Even if two third majority of the new Senate (66 Senators) vote for ratification,
it will be too little too late.
Now let us turn to history.
King Henry II's life after Becket's murder was also miserable.
After Becket's death, England was in turmoil.
The conflict between the two factions, Normans and Saxons, intensified.
Henry's wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine and his sons Henry and Richard also turned against him.
Facing a storm of revolt in the country, King Henry II did penance by voluntarily subjecting himself to nearly 300 lashes of whipping by the monks in the Cathedral.
Things calmed down after that gesture.
We cannot expect Trump to do any penance.
We can foresee several law suites against him and his businesses.
We can predict the federal, state and local tax collectors coming down on him.
We can even envision the former President behind the bars.
As to his wife and children turning against him?
Well, it is a redeeming thought.
May be that will "Make America Shine Again".