Friends, family, co-workers, colleagues, and others,
I am writing this open letter to express my thoughts and feelings about the 2016 Presidential Election with hopes that you will seriously consider what I am saying.
This is by far the most important election we will participate in, in a very long time. We have a choice; a very clear choice. We can either choose someone who constantly invokes hate and discrimination, who has no foreign policy experience, who proposes absurd, unrealistic plans, who doesn't even know what he, himself, stands for or believes in OR we can choose someone who is a proven and tested leader, who stands for equality, justice, and fairness and repudiates racism and prejudice. I choose the latter. I choose Hillary Clinton and I will be voting for her in November. I encourage you all to do the same.
By no means am I thrilled to be voting for a Democrat. I've been a Republican ever since I became interested in politics back in middle school. I grew to love the Republican Party and what it stood for- limited government, free enterprise, liberty, a strong military, to name a few. This election, however, the Republican Party and millions of Americans have disappointed me. The Republican Party that represents the principles I mentioned above and the influential people that shaped the party, including Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, has been abandoned. Now, Trump supporters have painted the Republican Party as the party of divisive and hateful views and policies. Policies like banning an entire religion from entering our country, deporting thirteen million immigrants, and building a wall at the United States-Mexican border (and having Mexico pay for it). These policies are, not only, unrepresentative of the Republican Party of Lincoln and Reagan, they will never pass in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
I have made the decision to vote for a Democrat this November in my very first Presidential election because I love my country more than I love my party. The future of the United States and the prosperity of ALL people are more important to me than voting for a candidate with an “R” next to his name. I am worried that, if Donald Trump becomes President, our country will, once again, become the country of hate and discrimination, much like the United States of the 1950s and 60s. I am worried for my children and grandchildren. I am worried that they will grow up in a country thinking racism, sexism, homophobia, and islamophobia are all okay, because they’re not- especially, not in the United States of America. We are a country of love, compassion, and acceptance, not a country of hate, anger, and discrimination. We are all human beings- gay or straight, black or white, rich or poor, man or woman- and its time we start treating each other with love and respect.
Not only is he hateful and divisive, Donald Trump has no real or specific solutions for solving the various issues the United States faces. He has no plan to cut spending, no plan to save Social Security and Medicare, no specific plan to create jobs, no plan for education reform, no plan to fight ISIS, and no plan to fix crumbling infrastructure- and that’s just a few examples. On social issues, such as LGBT rights and women’s rights, Mr. Trump says one thing on Monday, then changes his mind and says another thing on Wednesday, then “walks back” what he said on Wednesday and changes his position, once again, on Friday. We saw this, firsthand, when he made a comment suggesting that women who get abortions should be punished. According to the Washington Post, Mr. Trump changed his position 5 times in just 3 days. This is not a characteristic we want in our President.
If you don’t believe me when I say Donald Trump has racist, sexist, homophobic, and islamophobic tendencies, I encourage you to simply Google the things he has said in the past, the things he has “tweeted” and “re-tweeted.” I can assure you, you will make some shocking discoveries. It’s all right there, right on the Internet, open to the public. If you look at what Mr. Trump has said and how he has treated people in the past and have no problem with his words or actions, then all I can do is respectfully disagree with your opinion and accept that I cannot change your mind. If you choose to turn a blind eye to Mr. Trump’s vile words and actions, however, you will be doing a great disservice to yourself, your children, and your fellow citizens.
The United States cannot afford a Donald Trump presidency, nor do the American people deserve a Donald Trump presidency. I am asking for you to consider just two things. One is that you do some extensive research before making a decision on whom to vote for in November. The other is to think of all the individuals who have suffered greatly throughout the history of the United States from inequality, injustice, and discrimination. Think of the African-Americans who just want to be equal to their white counterparts, who just want to live their lives without being subjected to racism and prejudice. Think of the women who simply want to have control over their own bodies and have equal opportunities in the workplace. Think of the LGBT individuals who just want to marry the person they love and use the bathroom that corresponds with the gender he or she identifies with. Think of the Muslim that just wants to express his or her religious beliefs and traditions without getting weird looks or being called a terrorist.
We as loving, accepting Americans have a duty to promote and defend equality, prosperity, and freedom for everyone, not just a specific few. We can make our country and the world a better place simply by loving and accepting each other more and working together towards common goals. I strongly believe it is possible to become a more peaceful and prosperous country. I have faith, not only in Hillary Clinton, but also in the loving and accepting Americans all across the United States.
