Dear President-elect Trump,
In case you are not aware, here are some of the questions I've fielded over the past year and a half:
"So you support racism and sexism in America?"
"You think a wall is going to fix our problems?"
"Don't you have friends that are sons and daughters of immigrants? You want their parents deported?"
"Religious tolerance is nothing to you?"
"Wait, but you're a girl. How can you support Donald Trump after what he said in that Access Hollywood video?"
So, Mr. Trump, my question to you is this: what have you done to the reputation of my party?
Furthermore, what kind of America do we now live in, where there is shame in admitting my political allegiance? Why do I have to be afraid to say to my friends, "Yes, I'm a registered Republican"?
It may sound like I'm blaming this all on you, but I'm not. I recognize that some of the faults lie within the bipartisan system of democracy in America, and in how truly divided our country has become. But you can't deny your part in this madness, Mr. Trump.
What you have said about women, about immigrants, and about minorities is simply dispicable, and I can in no way condone your behavior. "Locker-room talk" or not, it is simply not okay. You have disgraced your wife, daughter, granddaughters, and every other female figure in your life. You have offended masses of hard-working American citizens because of their ethnicity and/or culture. You have terrified children of every color other than white in the United States, and you have verbally assaulted every member of the Islamic religion. You are entitled to your opinion, Mr, Trump, but there is no Constitutional amendment that gives you the right to degrade others.
Now , Mr. Trump, I know that many of your campaign promises were simply things said to gain attention and to win a few votes, but some of you words cannot simply be handed over to 'campaign promises'. You've hurt many people, and it is important that you realize the wounds of division that your words have contributed to. You've stuck a knife into the already bleeding gashes in America, and you've pushed down and dragged that knife through Her flesh.
And now, you've won. You've overcome all the hatred your words and actions created on your behalf, and you are now poised to hold the highest office in the land. And you've got a whole lot of cleaning up to do.
Mr. Trump, I am a republican, and so I am going to place my political faith in you. I believe that your winning of this election proves that you have earned it, but please do not mistake this extension of the olive branch as anything other than a gesture of political trust. I do not now, nor will I ever, support the offensive claims and comments you have made. I believe you to be lacking in morals, ethics, and values, and I can only pray that holding the office of President will help you to improve in these departments. So yes, I am proud that America has chosen to take steps towards positive change under a new political viewpoint. But I refuse to ever be associated with the wretched things you have said, with your awful temperament, or with any of your personal morals. You are, Mr. Trump, as disgraceful in those departments as it can get.
And so to conclude this letter to you, Mr. Trump, I'd like to provide you with my answers to the questions which have been posed to me.
No, I do not support racism or sexism in America. Instead, I support equality for all citizens through a re-examination of traditional American values.
No, I do not believe a wall will fix our problems. Instead, I believe tighter policing of illegal immigrants will encourage more immigrants to come into this country through legal means.
Yes, I have friends who are children of immigrants. No, I do not what their parents deported. Instead, I think all immigrants should be encouraged to obtain legal citizenship, and that such a test of citizenship should be updated to reflect the current state of affairs in America.
Religious tolerance is a very important American ideal, and the fears of specific religions need to be addressed in a safe and respectful way.
I am, indeed, a female, and along with that a registered member of the Republican Party. I support the right to earn your own keep, the right to life, jobs for Americans, the improvement of our country's economy through American manufacturing, and the right to be fairly taxed. But I do not support you, Donald Trump.
