Letter to the Editor: Trump knows that words have power

Yes, “fight like hell” has many meanings. The context is very important. In a team context, in a sports arena, it means do your most and don’t give up.

Now, let us put it in the context of Jan. 6, 2021, on the ellipse in front of the White House. There was a crowd that had been lied to about the result of the presidential election for months, lies about the election that angered Donald Trump’s base. Its meaning is entirely different.

Here are a few of the statements that he used to enrage and incite a crowd of his followers:

• “We didn’t lose.”

• “Our country has had enough. We will not take it anymore, and that’s what this is all about. And to use a favorite term that all of you people really came up with: We will stop the steal.”

• “If Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election.”

• “We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”

• “And you have to get your people to fight.”

Then, he told them: “So we’re going to, we’re going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. I love Pennsylvania Avenue. And we’re going to the Capitol.”

I believe that this speech, after months of lies about the election, caused hundreds, if not thousands, of President Trump’s angry, inflamed followers to storm the Capitol.

They did this to stop Congress from performing its constitutional duty to certify the election results.

Richard Schwager

Magnolia