An attempted coup by a right-wing fascist masquerading as an unbiased leader was the final straw. It finally brought home to millions of Americans what so many of us outside had known for years. Donald Trump may or may not contest another election, but the damage he has caused to the very fabric of his country’s democracy will take decades to undo. He may be dismissed as a footnote in history, but his actions will be remembered for generations.

The attack by a mob of his supporters prompted passionate appeals from Democrats as well as Republicans, all calling for unity in a time of extreme dissension. It made me think of India, the way most things seem to do. Could we call ourselves a unified nation? To me, the painfully obvious answer was that we couldn’t.