The storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, marked one of America's darkest days when rioters overwhelmed police and breached the building where Congress was confirming Electoral College votes. This unprecedented assault - the first since British forces in 1814 - resulted in five deaths and widespread property damage.

The event sent shockwaves globally, alarming U.S. allies and emboldening adversaries who questioned American democracy's stability.

Abraham Lincoln's 1838 speech to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield proves remarkably prescient. He warned that America's greatest threat would come from within, not from foreign powers, through "increasing disregard for law" and "wild and furious passions" replacing reasoned judgment.

Today's divisions stem from:

• Divergent political worldviews and values
• Partisan media ecosystems
• The rise of "post-truth" thinking where emotions override facts
• Declining trust in institutions
• Increasing acceptance of political violence

The RAND Corporation's "Truth Decay" report highlights how opinion and anecdote increasingly overshadow objective facts in public discourse. This rejection of truth reflects a deeper spiritual crisis, as scripture warns against those who "love and practice lies" (Revelation 22:15).

The path forward requires:

• Acknowledging national divisions
• Returning to fact-based discourse
• Rejecting political violence
• Restoring respect for democratic institutions
• National unity over partisan interests

Lincoln's warning that "a house divided against itself cannot stand" resonates today. Without addressing these fundamental divisions, America risks further decay of its democratic foundations.

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