In November 2016, I sat at my computer watching the returns in disbelief. I was so sure that Hillary Clinton was going to win. I couldn’t imagine that millions of Americans, after seeing all the terrible reports of what the new President-Elect had done in his past, would still vote for him. Yet, in clear red, white, and blue graphics, Donald J. Trump had done the unthinkable, he’d become the president of the United States.
At 3 am, I changed my Facebook profile picture to a black square.
8 years later, I am equally shocked. I was CERTAIN that Kamala Harris would win. We still had all the reports from 2016. We’d seen the circus a Trump presidency was. He’d failed to deliver on any of his promises except for tax cuts for the rich. He’d botched the COVID-19 response, resulting in the loss of a million American lives. He’d been impeached twice. He attempted to overturn the 2020 election and inspired an insurrection that drew a mob to the steps of American democracy. I thought it would be impossible, after all of that, for people to vote for Trump again.
Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible, until it’s done.”
In the Bible, I never understood why, when Pontius Pilate offered the people a choice to free Jesus or Barabbas, a known felon, they chose Barabbas (Matthew 27:21). No, Kamala Harris isn’t Jesus, but Donald Trump IS a convicted felon. On Tuesday, November 5, the people chose him. It’s done.
“They said, ‘Barabbas’.”
So, here we are on the eve of a second Trump administration. I am no less dismayed.
This time, however, I did not change my Facebook profile picture to a black square. Old Glory still flies in the front of my home. This time, I am going to chronicle my experiences. I am going to share my thoughts. I am going to bear witness to it all.
I encourage you to do the same.