Many years ago, a college student mistakenly got on a plane thinking he was heading home to Oakland, CA, when in fact the plane was bound for Aukland. As in New Zealand. More than 6500 miles further west than he hoped to go. (The fact that not a single gate attendant stopped him is a totally relevant meta-point here.)
This mishap is an apt metaphor for where we find ourselves today—provided you permit me to change the mode of transportation. More than four years ago, almost 63 million of you boarded Trump’s train. Perhaps you voted for Trump because you felt alienated by the government and since Donald wasn’t a career politician, you believed he would best represent you and your needs. You might have been entertaining a low-grade fear about where your beloved country was headed and therefore resonated with his rhetoric of returning the USA to its glory days of old.
As the years went by, perhaps you raised an eyebrow—or two—at his choices or questioned some of his alliances (e.g., with Putin and Kim Jong Un). Perhaps the louder the criticism of Trump, the more you felt misunderstood and the stronger your affiliation became. In certain areas of the country, this probably cost you some social capital and perhaps even ruptured a few relationships.
After last week’s fiasco in Washington, DC, I hope that many of you have realized that maybe this train is heading someplace you ultimately don’t want to go.
It’s not too late. You can still get off the train.
To do so will be uncomfortable and challenging. You need to accept that you have been lied to. By right wing media sources, by many politicians and pundits, and by the president himself. There is simply no credible evidence that the election was stolen. It’s time to acknowledge that you have been deceived and come back to reality. Last Wednesday night, Senator Mitt Romney said, “The best way we can show respect for the voters who are upset is by telling them the truth. That is the burden, and the duty, of leadership.”
There’s a scene in C. S. Lewis’ The Silver Chair that describes speaking truth to what’s been going on in our country. Two children are on a quest to find a lost prince who has been held captive by the Queen of the Underworld. A Marsh-wiggle named Puddleglum serves as their guide and becomes the story’s unlikely hero. Near the end of the book, Jill, Scrubb, and Puddleglum find the prince but before they can escape, the Queen discovers them.
She casts a spell on them by throwing a sweet smelling potion into the fire and singing. Her smooth voice nearly convinces them that their former lives, including the sun that rises and their beloved Aslan (a god figure), are only figments of their imaginations.
The one character who has been in reality all along rises up. Here’s a short excerpt describing the climatic scene:
Puddleglum, gathering all his strength, walked over to the fire. Then he did a very brave thing. He knew it wouldn’t hurt quite as much as it would hurt a human… but he knew it would hurt him badly enough; and so it did. With his bare foot, he stamped on the fire, grinding a large part of it into ashes on the flat hearth. And three things happened at once.
First, the sweet, heavy smell grew much less sweet. For … what remained of the fire smelled very largely of burnt Marsh-wiggle, which is not an enchanting smell at all. This instantly made everyone’s brains far clearer.
Second, the Witch, in a loud, terrible voice … called out, “What are you doing? Dare touch that fire again, you mud-filth, and I’ll turn your blood to fire inside your veins.”
Thirdly, the pain made Puddleglum’s head perfectly clear and he knew exactly what he really thought. There is nothing like a good shock of pain for dissolving certain kinds of magic.
Puddleglum then goes on to confront her lies with the truth and rallies his comrades to defeat the Queen of the Underworld.
Last week should have been a Puddleglum’s-flesh-burning-truth-speaking moment for anyone riding on Trump’s train. Even Senator Mitch McConnell finally came to his senses after the failed coup. Though many of you might decry what happened—and what could have happened—if you continue to support this administration and perpetuate the lie regarding the election, you are still bewitched and still living in unreality.
We are all prone to being deceived. When we feel disenfranchised or worried about our future, it’s human nature to gravitate to something or someone who promises to take care of us and provide for our needs. Clearly, Donald Trump’s promise appealed to many of you. He told you he felt your pain and you believed him. He validated your misgivings about the godless, left-wing liberals who want to mute you, institute socialism, and deconstruct the America you know and love.
It’s incredibly humbling to admit when we’ve made a mistake, especially if that mistake has been made publicly. No one likes to feel foolish and furthermore, no one likes to apologize. I’m speaking to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ here; you need to humble yourselves and admit that you got on the wrong train. And as soon as possible, get off.
One final thought. Those of us who were never bewitched by Trump must not make it more difficult for them to disembark. We may never get the apology that we long for but we must refrain from shaming and belittling our brothers and sisters. (I’m not implying that they should not be held accountable. Particularly anyone who took part in last week’s insurrection. I’m simply advocating that those of us who did not support Trump should willingly help those who are ready to come back into reality.)
It’s a long way from Aukland to Oakland. The airline that the bewildered college student flew on graciously sent him back home, free of charge. Our country has a similarly long journey ahead of it. And it won’t be without substantial cost.
(PS. I want to be clear to anyone who’s not familiar with my writing there’s no sarcasm in this post. I am being genuine.)
If you are still suspect that Biden and the liberals stole the election, please read these posts:
The Roman Road from Insurrection, by Russell Moore
At the Pew Research Center, Election Fraud.
From the BBC on voter fraud.
Photo by Derek Story on Unsplash