EDITOR’S NOTE: Michael Johnston is a 1972 graduate of Wayland High School. He is a retired history teacher from Kenowa Hill High School. He also is a Ben Franklin re-enactor.

To the editor:

Last night I said to my wife we are not going to watch the election results. We didn’t!

Just got up, I’d hoped I was wrong because I could not bring myself to do the same prediction I did in 2016. Came back from Europe where I discovered how the Europeans felt about the now elected ex-president. Played catch up. Saw stuff. Would not, could not, bring myself to say what I saw, like I predicted in 2016, not again!

As a historian this is devastating news for the Republic. The long range ramifications will be parsed now. The Electoral College failed U.S., first time in U.S. history! He who I will not dignify with a name is unlike anyone in U.S. history.

As a Ben Franklin re-enactor I will tell him directly! “I gave you a Republic if you can keep it,” he predicted. It is now in grave danger. We historians and most experts will be analyzing this election of a mad man who seized the presidency using fear and rage of “the others” to divide U.S. A former president, worse than Benedict Arnold, showed by his actions and words he was the most opposed to American traditions and values in U.S. history.

This election failed the U.S. How? I will not mince words. This is devastating news for the U.S. and the Republic in so many ways. Best foot forward, the U.S. was not ready to elect a woman again. 1.) Kamala Harris was not yet well known to most Americans, too little time. 2.) Covid had a more devastating effect on the American psyche than acknowledged. Mental illness is rampant and undiagnosed. 3.). Misogyny is still alive in this country. Women did not get the vote until 1920, but mostly I blame my profession as a high school history teacher. Too many used boring, dull text books, like religion to teach our past, our American values rather than use debates, trials, simulations to instill a passion for inquiry in youth and a thirst, hunger for real learning, real life lessons.

I saw it in those 16 schools I attended in seven states growing up. I AM DEVASTATED! We must now become more determined to fight the forces of anti-American democracy. More are now going to be oozing out from under the rocks. The next two years will test us like never before!!! In an article I read just before the election, Russian autocrat Putin told the interviewer he favored Trump! Pray for Ukraine and NATO.