2020 was the winter of our discontent in America. We all watched the economy collapse while over 350,000 Americans died from Covid-19. Many of us were deeply disturbed by the broad daylight murder of George Floyd. Protests erupted across the country demanding action for racial justice. In this toxic mix of sociopolitical unrest, Donald Trump denied that he had lost a free and fair election and constantly spread lies about the election outcome. But like many other people, I was so relieved that the chief divider had lost his re-election.

A few days before Christmas 2020, I came across a handwritten sign with a simple message: “But a good man defeated a con man.” I knew in my heart that Joe Biden would be a president for all Americans. His decades of public service demonstrated his love for American values ​​and institutions. I am forever grateful that Biden ended the long national nightmare of Trump.

Trump, on the other hand, is a con man who abused his office for personal gain and divided us with inflammatory rhetoric. He spread vicious lies about his enemies while ruining America’s reputation abroad. He never cared about America, he only cared about himself. He didn’t want to bring us together. Trump took advantage of the winter of our discontent to make us even angrier and more fearful of the future.

In 2024, America faces a series of existential questions: Will we return to the winter of discontent? Will we choose division, fear, and hate? Many Americans have forgotten that winter of discontent, but history will always remember it. We must once again reject the deceiver so that a good woman can prevail.

Jacob Newman, Millcreek

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