As much as I enjoy being a reporter, I don’t envy those who have to cover events such as this Jan. 6 chaos in the nation’s capitol, as seen live on NBC News.

I am first a sports writer in this profession. I also cover the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education and sundry news stories, and I enjoy meeting people with interesting stories to tell in features.

I really detest politics, and when it comes to politics, I think the great Groucho Marx summed it up best: “Politicians make strange bedfellows, but they all share the same bunk.”

I am indeed proud to be an American, but after what I saw while watching NBC news on my computer last Wednesday, I realized that, despite having many friends who are Republicans, I would be embarrassed to be a member of the GOP now.

Many of the protesters wore masks, but I don’t think they feared COVID-19 as much as they feared their beloved president was nearing the end of his four years in office.

No, I’m not a Democrat, either. But I doubt there were many Democrats storming the U.S. Capitol, roaming through the Senate and House chambers, rifling through drawers in Congress members’ offices, putting feet up on the desks…  repugnant acts.

Congress members from both parties had to shelter in locations — obviously — not disclosed by NBC.

And, sadly, an “invading” woman was shot and killed by law enforcement. (I saw the video; she was climbing through a broken window in a hallway and not supposed to be there.) By Friday morning, I learned five people, including a D.C. cop, had ultimately been killed in the melee.

Is this what we do when we don’t like the result of something, in this case, the 2020 Presidential Election: Start a riot?

Sure, I have seen it in sports, such as soccer fans in South America and Europe leaving the bleachers and attacking opposing players or referees… and the recent conclusion of a college bowl game that led to both teams fighting on the field.

Obviously going into any game, someone’s going to win, and someone’s going to lose. (Of course, often in soccer, the outcome is a tie.) Our young people need to realize this for their future, and I know some youth sports leagues don’t bother keeping score, so, as Elaine Benes once said in a Seinfeld episode, “You’re all winners.”

Well, Elaine, we’re not.

Same with politics: One candidate wins, and the other loses. Deal with it.

As much heat as Joe Biden has taken — he’s too old, he’s headed into dementia, he’ll never last a full term — he had some great comments while all the mayhem was ensuing last week.

The presidential winner, whether the rioters like it or not, said it was a “God-awful day” and, “It’s chaos – it borders on sedition, and it must end now.”

The president-elect then said — and you can’t argue this — that with their words, presidents can inspire or incite.

Donald Trump, the outgoing president, was urged multiple times to say something to stop the madness, and when he eventually had something to say, his words were less than inspiring: He’d been the victim of a “landslide election stolen from us. … This was a fraudulent election … Go home and go home in peace.”

“It’s not protest; it’s insurrection,” Biden said. “The world is watching.” (We were.)

Hours later, the hundreds of protesters were dispersed and a 6 p.m. curfew for D.C. was installed.

Good idea.

I’ve said this publicly and I’ll say it again: When did a protest — or even a riot — solve anything?

I’m sure we’ll hear more from Mr. Trump in the next four years, with many expecting him to be on the GOP ticket in 2024.

Let’s wish the best for Mr. Biden and the USA.

I hope to be proud to be an American for the rest of my life. You should be, too.