Election Day, plus 2. My anger and frustration remained high at noon. At noon today, I mentally exclaimed, “Fuck it. I am done.”
For fourteen years, I have poured my heart and energy into becoming not just a better person, but a pillar in my community. I have participated in food drives, organized free health clinics, supported cancer groups, and assisted countless patients at local hospitals. I fought tirelessly for vaccines, masks, and essential healthcare. I advocated for mental health and Alzheimer’s care, for the right to a meal, the end of book bans, religious freedom, and support for the marginalized. I championed education and women’s rights.
Election Day, plus 2, I ask myself: For what?
As the New York Times described, this election resembled a conquest—a nation overtaken by invaders given permission. “America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump declared at his victory celebration. “I will govern by a simple motto: promises made, promises kept.”
Voters voiced their fears and frustrations—inflation, economic uncertainty, the future of democracy, immigration. Nearly 3 in 10 wanted a complete upheaval of governance, and many felt their financial stability slipping. Concerns about healthcare, housing, and basic living costs soared. Yet, nearly half of voters expressed deep fear that another Trump term would edge the country toward authoritarianism. Astonishingly, even among those who doubted his honesty or moral character, support persisted.
Trump’s resurgence was buoyed by Hispanic working-class voters who, more than the white majority, bore the brunt of economic turmoil. High inflation and soaring interest rates cut deep. A Reuters report highlighted family values, religious convictions, and pro-life stances as the linchpins of this support. Among Black voters, his share rose to 20% from 13% in 2020 and 8% in 2016—a shift propelled by frustration with the Democratic Party’s perceived failures. Trump’s own narrative of unfair treatment resonated with those long mistreated by the justice system.
Yet, Americans did not choose a Republican. Instead, they chose a con man. I had half-hoped that a lifetime of fast food would have ended him by now, but instead, Trump lives to sell anything—buttons, watches, water, even hope cloaked in deceit. One GOP pundit claimed that Trump’s victory was a lesson in listening to the marginalized, primarily poor whites. And who has historically been more ignored than Black men and women?
Samuel Negron, a Pennsylvania state constable, reflected the sentiment of his Latino community: “We liked the way things were four years ago.” Should Project 2025 come to pass, regret may follow with the lament: “We liked the way things were a year ago.” Bryson Goodbeir, a 32-year-old demolition worker, echoed similar disillusionment: “Trump is trying to protect us.” But I can guarantee—predict, rather—that neither group will find their expectations met.
Yes, Biden and Harris were not without fault. Biden should not have run. His lethargic first debate foreshadowed his fate, and you cannot rebuild momentum and trust in 100 days. Yet, I acknowledge their effort.
And now, here I am, full circle. At this stage in my life, I am done serving. I likely won’t be here in four years. The world will keep spinning, indifferent to my frustration, to my years of service, to the ideals I fought for. Americans traded the principles for which so many bled and died for a flirtation with fascism (or facism itself).
I am tired of fighting for those who refuse to see the truth, who skip voting, who fail to envision a future beyond immediate gains. I’m done. I will not turn against anyone who voted for Trump—but I will not fight to save them either.
“Cruciatus in crucem. Eas in crucem.”