The three most important days in American history since the Civil War have been: Dec 7, 1941. Sept. 11. And Jan. 6.
We don't use years for the last two. They aren't dates on a calendar; they are scar tissue. So many of us lived through those tragedies and still remember them in terrifying detail.
Five years ago at the U.S. Capitol, I was honored to have been asked by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi to gavel-in the day. And then I saw the place overrun by a mob determined to bash every barrier or person who stood in their way. When you hear sounds like that, your brain goes to your family, especially your children.
Five years later, the glass broken in the Capitol that day has been repaired. The marble steps have been cleaned. And Donald Trump has pardoned all the insurrectionists.
We Americans have a tendency to move on. To not look back.
But in this case, I won't do that.
This is a preview of Rep. Eric Swalwell's latest column. Read the full column here and check out highlights of our Jan. 6 coverage below.
