You never know when your leadership moment might arrive. The questions become, "What will I do in that moment? How will I react?"
One brave and quick-thinking young woman, a Senate aide, had the presence of mind during Wednesday's terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol to grab and secure the mahogany and leather boxes containing the certified electoral college votes. These instruments of democracy would have certainly been destroyed by marauders attacking the Capitol at the behest of the current occupant of the Oval Office.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) told media that the aide organized a team to rescue the boxes when the order was given to evacuate the chamber and relocate to a secure room. "Thank you to her and the entire team that rescued the voice of the American people," he said.
One hopes young people who serve as Senate and House aides don't sour on politics after this act of terrorism and the considerable evil that created it, though they would certainly be entitled to those feelings. We need more folks in public life like this unnamed Senate staffer and far fewer - in fact, none! - like those who encouraged such violence and betrayal.
