Today is the 80th anniversary of the “Day that will live in infamy,” when Japan launched its attack on the US Navy’s base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Even though Pearl Harbor Day and January 6th, Insurrection Day as it probably should be called, are separated on the calendar by a month, there is a disquieting similarity between the two.

We are a month away from the first anniversary of the attempted overthrow of the lawful government of our country. The first similarity between the two dates is that in both cases we were attacked and unprepared for it. That one attack was from a foreign power is actually beside the point. Hitler and the Fascists immediately joined Japan and almost instantly we were at war on two fronts.

One of the key differences is that after Pearl Harbor the nation galvanized to its own defense. With January 6th, not so much. In fact, a significant segment of the population have supported the attackers. And many of those are in the houses of Congress or other branches of state and federal authority. The fact that support for this insurrection is a violation of the oath of office each of these individuals swore seems to be lost in the fog of their ambition and hatred.

Let’s examine that oath:

An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: “I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” This section does not affect other oaths required by law.

The Presidential oath of office is a bit different:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

The wheels of justice are grinding slowly forward for the hundreds of rioters who have been arrested so far and for the plotters being investigated. But these actions are only a small part of what needs to be done.

Pearl Harbor was the opening attack of a war. So was January 6th. That recognition is critical. It means that the enemy is not done and has not been defeated. In fact the enemy has been advancing on numerous fronts successfully and without effective counter. The intent of this enemy is the destruction of the American Government as a Democracy and the replacement of it with an Oligarchic Dictatorship. Over 30 states with Republican dominated legislatures have passed laws to restrict voting. Many of these same states are replacing election officials with party loyalists so that they essentially can’t lose even if they do.

All the accusations of voter fraud leveled by Trumpublicans are simply clear smoke signals of their own intent. Don’t forget that all documented instances of voter fraud were actually committed by Trump voters.

The basic and most dangerous fact connecting Pearl Harbor Day and Insurrection day is that while World War II is over, the fight against the mentality that brought it about isn’t. And right now the enemy is winning.

So let’s get to it America. Time to prosecute the ringleaders and put an end to the slow motion insurrection happening before our eyes.

Treason is defined as, “the crime of betraying one’s country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government.” Betraying the oath of office, especially in support of insurrection fits this definition perfectly.