As an 11th-grade student studying American history, I’m stunned by what I’m witnessing in the 2024 election. How can millions of American adults seriously consider voting for Donald Trump, the same person who attempted to overturn the 2020 election and encouraged a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol? Shouldn’t that be a massive red flag?

In class, we learned about the values of democracy and the immense sacrifices made to protect it. That’s why it’s shocking to see otherwise reasonable adults support a man who repeatedly praises the world’s dictators. We also studied the importance of the U.S. Constitution. That’s why my head spins when some adults support someone like Trump, who has said that he would “terminate” parts of the Constitution to stay in power.

Sometimes it feels like I’m watching some strange science fiction movie where the adults have been taken over by aliens – and have been convinced that right is wrong, up is down, and someone who opposes democratic principles and who called for an attack on the U.S. Capitol should be elected president.

Let’s hope that the adult world comes to its senses before Election Day and realizes that Donald Trump is no George Washington – and instead is a grave threat to our democracy.

GIBSON O’MEALY

Lewisburg

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom