An open letter to my conservative friends and family.
Hey, folks!
I'm not going to angrily tell you to unfriend me if you voted for the Republican ticket a few days ago. You've already gotten that from many others eight years ago, and again now. But I do want to tell you how I feel, and I have questions.
To me, it is about the people. I'm absolutely devastated. Trump's presidency will harm people, as his last one did. No, not you, nor me, either. I am safe. I am a white, financially secure, comfortable with my gender, heterosexual, post-menopausal U.S. citizen who resides in California. I am exceedingly privileged to consider myself safe.
But there are millions upon millions of others who are not like me and you. And they will be harmed. Physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially.
The most vulnerable and marginalized among us will be threatened even more. This includes my LGBTQ friends and family – and yours; women off all walks, but especially childbearing-age girls and women; people of color; immigrants, both undocumented and legal; people in poverty; and those seeking shelter from a storm, any kind of storm, from anywhere.
Members of my family – and yours – are scared right now.
I understand your concerns. The border is problematic, and inflation has been bad these last years. Those problems will be solved. If you've been alive longer than 20 years, you know that the economy is cyclical. The economy will get better, no matter who is president. And then it will get worse, no matter who is president.
But rights of, by, and for The People? Those are precious, easily broken, and difficult to repair.
I'm frankly surprised that many of you who I respect voted for such a hate-filled person, who has professed so much "love" for the country that he wants to see it dismantled. Our country is not a hellscape as he has professed. Though there has always been hope for better. I strive for a more perfect union, do you?
So, my questions to you.
Did you read or pay attention to Project 2025 or Agenda 47, Trump's policy plans? If not, would you be willing to read and understand them, now that they will be implemented? If so, the links are below.
Did you know that just one of the plans outlined is to dismantle the Department of Education? What is going to happen to your neighbor child who has special needs? That child is not a meme. That child will no longer have rights to an equal education.
Do you know that women all over are rushing to get their tubes tied in the next two months? Did you know that others are stocking up on Plan B to keep on hand for themselves or their young daughters, just in case they are raped? It has a shelf life of four years. Maybe you should stock up, too.
Have you heard that in the last couple days, men are yelling, "Your body, my choice!" at girls and women across the country? Does that information move you in any way?
It breaks my heart that our neighbors', friends', and family members' rights being eroded has been justified because eggs cost more than they did a couple years ago.
My last question, what were the reasons that you voted for Trump? The true deep down reasons? Explain it to me like I'm five. I am interested.
Lastly, I want to point you to my letter of November 13, 2016:
An open letter to those who support Trump.
This isn’t about politics. Of course the country was built on differing views. Of course the pendulum swings back and forth. Many Republican ideas and ideals are worthy. Many Republican leaders are to be admired. I think we all agree that differing views and strong debate is healthy for our country, and should be embraced.
This election isn’t about that.
I, like most of us on the Left, don’t think that all of you on the Right are racist, homophobic, or misogynist as individuals. I don’t think you are a racist because you didn’t vote for Obama, nor do I think you are misogynist because you didn’t vote for Hillary.
It’s simple: Your candidate ran on a platform of Hate. You endorsed the hate by voting for him. You have the responsibility for bringing into power the most dangerous man ever placed in the White House. Many Republican leaders agree with me and rebuked him, including Bush 41.
I protest not because of a “disappointment.” We’ve been disappointed before. The Presidency was also taken from Gore, who won the popular vote. We were disappointed then, but we persevered. We went on, encouraging our progressive leaders to continue to fight for our ideals. At that time, we didn’t feel the need to protest in the streets. That was disappointment.
This is devastation.
I and my fellow Liberals are truly and rightfully afraid for what will happen to our country. More than ever in our lifetimes, we are deeply afraid. I was concerned under Reagan and under the Bushes. But I was not fearful. Fearful for my friends’ and neighbors’ health and well-being. Yes, you’re right, the country will go on. We have for 240 years. As long as the President keeps his hands off the Red Button, it’ll go on for another 240. Around Facebook I’ve been told, “There, there, Karen, your life will not change much.” Yes, as a post-child-bearing, wealthy, white woman in a safe bubble in a wealthy town in Liberal California — yes! You are probably right. But my life does not stop at that bubble. My heart aches for people who are not me. As this affects them, it affects me. They are my family, my friends, my neighbors, my patients, and strangers, too, and I worry for them all. They are LGBQ, immigrants, Muslims, African Americans, Latin@s, all people of color, women. I can never know their struggles completely, but I hurt for their struggles. And I want to help.
So, please don’t tell us to “stop whining.” You say that your angst was similar for the last eight years. If that is true, then you know not to trivialize another’s grief by saying “grow up,” “you should be ashamed,” and “stop whining.” If you expressed your grief to me, I can guarantee you didn’t hear those kinds of things from me. I respectfully submit, however, that this grief is not the same as yours. This goes far beyond. Still, If I’m wrong and your anger was as deep as ours, then you understand our strong need to protest, to motivate, and to work for change — and you will respect that.
If you reject the labels of racist, homophobic, misogynist, then speak up against those who are. Speak up when you hear or see bigoted words and behaviors. And ask your President-elect to do the same thing.
We don’t endorse the violence that has arisen from the protests. Of course we repudiate it, just as much as you repudiate the violence and hate from the repugnant ones in your party, such as White Supremacists, abortion clinic bombers, or the Westboro folks. We are not those people who riot, who start fires and who break windows. If you think we are, then you don’t know us very well.
I shall continue to be a part of the majority of Americans who are empathetic, inclusive, and progressive. I care deeply and I will not “stop whining.” I invite you to join us to motivate for what we all want: the safest, strongest, most just country we can be.
Links:
Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership: the Conservative Promise"
And if that is daunting, a more approachable comic book version.
Project 47: Trump's platform
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