I wandered through the dark forest with a feeling of sadness and dread. Ancient spirits floated among the branches. I was lost. Unmoored.
I made this image on November 6, 2024. The day after the election. Stunned by the results. Wandering aimlessly through the ironwood forest at the Kalaupapa Lookout on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. A silent monument to another time when we took something that didn’t belong to us, in order to hide what we didn’t want to see, because we feared what we didn’t understand.
Eventually, I stumbled upon this scene, which seemed to encapsulate what I was feeling. The limbs of one tree spread eagled in resistance, even as they were locked within the arms of another. Courage in the face of futility. Belief in the ability to survive the storm.
When we first descended into this dark place, I gave my fellow citizens the benefit of the doubt. They had been lied to and manipulated, and didn’t know what they were signing up for. Because, of course, if they knew the truth they would never have supported the charlatan’s call for change.
This time is different. No one can claim to have misunderstood the truth. It was plain as day, out there for all to see. At best, they didn’t care. Maybe they thought the ends justify the means. At worst, they chose to believe despite all the evidence to the contrary. Either way, they got what they wanted. And what they deserve.
Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.