Pondering the Predictable End of Peaceful Politics

I laughed when I learned, back in 2015, that Donald Trump was running for President of the United States. I couldn’t imagine anyone taking him seriously. I was wrong.

Then I was shocked.

I was shocked to learn that so many of my friends and family members had bought into the Trump nonsense.

I was shocked when those friends and relatives became angry at me for criticizing Trump as being utterly unfit for the office of President of the United States.

I was shocked when a few prominent evangelical leaders endorsed Trump’s candidacy.

I was shocked when Trump won several primaries in “Bible Belt” states, and then more evangelical leaders endorsed him.

I was shocked when Trump's supporters continued their support of him after he cruelly mocked a disabled reporter.

I was shocked when news broke of the Access Hollywood tapes—and the whole world was able to hear Trump’s disgusting, sexist bragging—and his followers again made excuses and continued their support.

I was shocked when news broke of Trump's extramarital escapades with a porn star—and his attempts to keep it all secret from voters—and still his followers remained faithful to him.

I was shocked when Trump defended neo-Nazis and KKK members following their racist chants at the Charlottesville riots, and still his followers defended him.

I was shocked when Trump sided with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin over his own U.S. intelligence agencies, and still his followers clung to him.

I was shocked when Trump’s administration separated immigrant children from their parents and placed many of them in cages, and still his followers were unmoved.

I was shocked when news broke that Trump had tried to get the defense department to order U.S. troops to shoot illegal immigrants as they cross the border, and still his followers adored him.

I was shocked when Trump encouraged his supporters to go to the U.S. Capitol Building and “fight like hell” to stop the counting of the Electoral College votes on January 6, 2021—and his supporters’ respect for him grew.

I was shocked when news broke that Trump sat happily watching the riots for hours while a few died, and many were injured—and while rioters sought to kill his vice president—and his followers venerated him.

Nothing shocks me now.

So, I won’t be shocked when, following his election loss this November, he tells his followers to stop standing back and standing by and go to war.

And I won’t be shocked when they obey him.