When I returned from my Thanksgiving holiday travels, I scheduled a pickup from my usual ride share service. My tall, young, athletic-looking driver was polite and affable, and we exchanged the usual pleasantries on the way out of the airport.
I mentioned how the rise in gasoline prices must be affecting his costs. With that one comment, he launched into an animated description of how much better things were in the country before Biden became president. Since I, too, live in the real world, I could only agree. As he expounded on his theme, the startling truth came out: my driver was an on-fire Donald Trump supporter and had voted for him twice, in both the 2016 and 2020 elections.
Oh, did I mention that this particular driver was African-American? How careless of me. Yes, since race is the priority topic these days, it must somehow be very important that he was Black (although not to me). I'm your basic Caucasian boomer-age grandmother--could you get two more opposite demographic examples? Yet we were in perfect agreement on such topics as the 2020 election, the Covid mandates, the wreck of our economy, the assault on small businesses, and the superiority of Trump's presidency over the slow-rolling catastrophe we are currently mired in. Who would have thought that, in today's divisive climate, two such different ethnic and cultural personalities could agree so completely?
Well, I believe Americans would have thought so. Not the elites in power, not the ruling class that lords it over us, not the legacy media that lies to us daily with smug confidence that we are too stupid to realize the destruction that is deconstructing the United States. Real, everyday, hardworking Americans of all races, religions, backgrounds, and creeds who are living out our national nightmare on a daily basis will not be surprised that minority voters supported Donald Trump. America is the land of e pluribus unum--the many become one. Chance encounters and conversations like the one I enjoyed on the way home after Thanksgiving are what confirm our national unity--our oneness. Despite the constant harangues from our supposed betters about division, we understand that we are all Americans.
The half-hour trip home flew by as I listened, answered, and affirmed the thoughtful pronouncements of my driver. It was an invigorating discussion. The experience was what these days I call a green shoot of hope; it was a reminder that I am not alone in my longing for the unity and greatness of America to return. It was also a reminder that Americans, as a whole, are a strong and good people. As the joyful season of Christmas unfolds, I refuse to believe we will allow the darkness to overcome us.
