Mr. Trump,
Hello. I have been thinking about you for some time now. I have seen your face splashed on all kinds of media – television, journal articles, memes, blog posts, newspapers. I have seen nonpoliticians reach out to you – the Humans of New York creator’s open letter, Max Lucado’s blog post, and even from my peers. I am not a journalist. I am not a paid writer. I am a 20-year-old college student who believes in the skewed magic of politics. As a human being, I am distraught that you are the frontrunner for the Republican party.
I’ve heard it said that you are creating a new abundance of racism and hatred, but I believe you are simply exposing what has been in the hearts of American people for some time now – what has been topics of discussion around families' dinner tables. You have granted it permission to reveal itself, to live in the open. As everyone connects with someone through their own personal emotions, you have validated their anger. You have identified with them through hatred. Your propaganda has united people with the mindset that for us to win, others have to lose.
This is not about your policies, but your decorum. I don’t know you, but I’ve seen you. I’ve watched you ridicule intrinsic components of womanhood. I’ve listened as you’ve enabled people to partake in violence. I’ve read your tweets calling people a “loser” and “stupid.” These were not behind-the-scenes, caught-in-the-act remarks. They were deliberately tweeted, documented, televised, published, spoken by you. As the university I attend recently held student body elections, would any of us be more inclined to vote for a candidate, one of our peers, that hurled such insensitivity at competitors? Would we rally behind them? Would we say that we support them because they’re “not afraid to speak their mind?" Would this be acceptable in a middle school election?
Mr. Trump, we are watching you. We are looking to you for solutions and ideas and opinions. World leaders are looking to you. People around the world are looking to you. My sister told me the other day that she likes you because you have your own money; you don’t have anyone in your back pocket telling you what to say.
I was crushed. What does this say about our country? Our leaders? You? You have the capabilities and funds to select your own platforms, your own agenda – and this is what you choose? To exploit the vulnerable? To reveal the hatred in your heart with no remorse or shame? Maybe it is naïve to believe that an effective leader can be strong and compassionate at the same time.
Whatever happens in this election, please know that it does not change our purpose. We will still love, embrace, shelter, defend, care. We are the ordinary people, Mr. Trump. We are your potential constituents. Our purpose will not be breached by cruel leadership. It will not be silenced by imploring fear. It lives and respires through ordinary people living in brave, ordinary ways. It lives when we choose to stand in opposition. When we choose bravery over comfort. If we arrive at a time in which minorities are vilified – blacks, women, refugees, Muslims, immigrants – we will stand with them. We will put on our work boots and love them, even if you are not, even if you tell us not to.
This has always been our mission. I hope you will join us.
Sincerely,
An ordinary person
