by It was really necessary—for the historical record if nothing else—to show the brilliant 13-minute compilation that the House impeachment managers put together of the events of January 6. I couldn’t watch all of it and I still feel retraumatized.
Impeachment managers unveil dramatic footage of Capitol attack—Politico
State and local GOP committees attack any Republicans who dare turn on Trump—WaPo
Two Masks, Snug Fit Reduces COVID-19 Spread, U.S. Study Shows—US News & World Report
February 10, 2021
Collective trauma
by Riva Roberta Goldman, Los Angeles, California
Last night, I was experiencing signs of an anxiety attack, with restlessness, and difficulty concentrating on a detailed task that I was working on. I realized that the last time I had felt this way was on January 6, 2021, when a mob of what appears to be mostly White people broke into the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
I wasn’t anywhere near the insurrection at the Capitol. However, I watched it on TV, and I am not recovered from it. We experienced “collective trauma” due to the narcissistic words and actions of then President tRump. It was unprecedented, and cannot be swept under the rug by equally selfish Republican legislators.
Whatever your opinion about the riot at the Capitol, or the outcome of the second Impeachment trial, we all collectively experienced it. It was just one more horrible situation, piled on top of almost a year of horrible situations (the mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic, rioting in the midst of peaceful protests after the murder of George Floyd, the Stop the Steal accusations, etc.). The emotional impact of these events are cumulative, and many of us desperately need to see closure and accountability.
In the past, February 9 has always stood out as the anniversary of the first major earthquake that I experienced. And now, in my mind, it will also be the anniversary of my second Covid vaccine, and the start of the second Impeachment trial of former President tRump. Blessed be.
Ruth Neuwald Falcon 
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