Sic Semper Tyrannis

The day it happens will begin like any other day. The sun will rise. The Earth will continue to spin on her axis. Time will march on. 

The day it happens there will be mourning. There will be appeals for civility. Some people will ask us to remember that he had a wife and children. They will ask us to respect the loss of a human life. They will even ask us to pray for his soul. 

The day it happens there will be celebration. People will flood the streets to express joy that his reign has come to an end. They will bring their babies and pets with them to share in the jubilation. Strangers will toast to the death of a tyrant with the familiarity of lovers. 

The day after it happens they will reframe his life and legacy. They will pretend his tyranny was strength. They will call his despotism patriotism. They will sell us a lie wrapped in the package of humanity. Then they will condemn him. They will pretend they never believed in his policies. They will feign ignorance for the suffering he caused. They will lie and obfuscate the truth. Their truth. They encouraged him. They loved him. They wanted him to be their savior. They worshipped the ground he walked on, and when he can no longer walk, they will pretend they never knew him at all. 

When tyrants fall—and they always do—their sycophants rarely stand by them. Their most zealous supporters in life either follow them to death or hide in the shadows and pray we don’t notice them. However, it is our duty to find them. It is what we owe to those who did not survive the tyranny to root out the zealots of the regime and ensure they pay for their crimes against humanity. We cannot pretend they were ignorant of the damage they caused, nor can we allow them to reintegrate into society without justice. 

Tyrants do not come to power on their own. There are always strategists who break down the institutions and systems, zealots who stoke the flames of anger and resentment in the people, and true believers who deify the tyrant. Yes, there are blind followers. Yes, there are people who were manipulated into believing the honeyed words of would-be dictators. But there are also those who see through the lies. There are always people who stand against the rise tide, dig their heels in the sand, and fight back. Tyranny never rises alone, but it also never rises unopposed.

When death comes for him—as it must for all people—may it bring with it the pain and suffering of those who have died, are dying, and will die at his hand. May death bring with it the anguish of the oppressed. May death bring with it the unbroken will of all that is just and righteous. 

Until that day, the sun will rise. The Earth will spin on her axis. Time will march on with the quiet assurance of sic semper tyrannis.