This November, it’s been one year since Donald Trump became president. In the aftermath of that long and exhausting election night, there were plenty of people who tried to grin and bear it, dispensing advice to just “give him a chance.”

These optimists were not necessarily supporters of Trump, but in a world that had chosen to elevate white supremacy and violence against women, they could do nothing but hope that there was a punch line around the corner. Even they probably had trouble believing their words.

Still, I think it’s worth reminding them that a year ago they looked at the dejected faces of women, people of color, LGBT+ people, and all the decent human beings of this country, Democrat and Republican alike, and said it was probably going to blow over.

After everything that has happened since-- every vitriolic tweet, every insult flung at hard-working and innocent Americans, every example of racism and xenophobia disguised as nationalism and patriotism-- I want these people to realize that everyone directly affected by the election of a bigot knew it was coming.

We tried to tell you. And you brushed us off as being overdramatic, as if we were children crying over a lost game. Like this was a game to anyone but you, the people who had the privilege to shrug it off.

What do you think now, a year later? Is it still worth giving him a chance?

Unfortunately, too many people are responding, whether consciously or not, to that question in the affirmative. Each time Trump sinks to what seems to be previously unthinkable depths, breaking his own previous record for disgusting behavior, there are people who simply adjust to the new standard and move on.

There is a point where optimism becomes toxic. He is not going to change. He is not going to get better.

We are living in a world where the Environmental Protection Agency is eliminating grants to projects containing the words “climate change,” where white nationalists feel safe enough to march in the open, where the President of the United States casually jokes about his vice president wanting to execute gay people, and where over a dozen women know the man who sexually assaulted them not only made it to the White House but is calling them liars from his stoop.

We knew this was coming. Even you knew this was coming. You just didn’t want to admit it. Your faith in the infallible American Dream made you a silent accomplice.

Trump was the spark. And hateful, ignorant people are more than happy to fan the flames. If you’re standing by, quibbling over whether those flames are tall enough to merit concern, you’re letting them rage, too. Grab some water. It doesn’t have to be a hose or even a bucket, but in a world on fire, be brave enough to fill up a glass. If enough of us do, I promise it will make a difference.

Choose to be kind. Choose to empathize. Choose to listen instead of deflecting.

Let’s make America good again.