For me, the talk emphasised the importance of political ideology and ideas in motivating radicalised political action. Parliamentary takeovers rarely succeed, yet the assault on the Capitol represented an inflection point in the political journey of the so-called “MAGA” movement. One of my key takeaways from the talk was how the aftermath of the event shaped the political atmosphere of America afterwards, and how instead of crippling the movement, the event radicalised its members towards further aspiration for political power – an aspiration that has arguably succeeded.
As a student of War Studies, my final take away is that within our political and social discourse, the fluidity of how events transmute themselves through memories and testimonies remains a critical issue within our understanding of political and historical ‘moments’. Neus’s talk and book emphasise both the value and limitations of oral history; her work provides us with a reminder of our roles as prophets into our own political past and present. On reflection, the events of the capitol attack are not as distant as they may seem, even if they feel far removed from our present moment under Trump’s second term, who, for many, is heading a far more radical and extreme administration. As students or laymen alike, we must grasp it and spin it into something articulate, lest we lose it in the maelstrom of history.