Dear President Trump, Perhaps there is some hope after all. Right now it seems to be just a tiny chink in the wall of rhetoric about immigrants without legal status, perhaps a tiny bit of doubt about the uncompromisingly harsh stance that has characterized your administration thus far. If you were to follow through and … Continue reading “Belief + Doubt = Sanity”
Month: March 2017
Russian shadows
Dear President Trump, I've said much the same thing before but it bears repeating; I'm tired of lurching from one crazy disastrous thing to the next that you and your administration are doing or saying each morning and then again each evening. There was a bit of a reprieve on Tuesday when it seemed like … Continue reading Russian shadows
Messages in bottles
Dear President Trump, I've never sent a message in a bottle and I'm guessing you haven't either. That's what these messages to you feel like though, something that is written because it has to be written and is sent on its way because it has to be released even though it likely won't ever reach … Continue reading Messages in bottles
Half-empty glass full of micro-aggressions
Dear President Trump, So I gave you the "glass is half full" part yesterday, which is that many of us in the country have started soul searching, talking with one another, trying to find some healthy ways forward. I am really very happy about all this. There is, however, a much darker "glass is (more … Continue reading Half-empty glass full of micro-aggressions
Listening for Lent
Dear President Trump, You may be aware that today is the first day of Lent, a time for reflection and taking stock so that one's attitudes and behaviors are better lined up with Jesus' messages and examples. The last several years I've worked on giving up righteous indignation for Lent but I decided that would … Continue reading Listening for Lent
Negative attention is attention
(reconstructed since I accidentally sent it without copying it) Dear President Trump, You may be familiar with the standard parenting reminder that even negative attention is attention and attention reinforces behavior. I bring this up because you are getting a lot of attention for negative behavior and I am adding to it. Yet, like the … Continue reading Negative attention is attention
Address real, not invented, problems
Dear President Trump, Did Dr. Carson just pull the short straw and had to be the first cabinet member to say something really insanely stupid publicly to provide you some shielding? Who's up next? It may or may not really be all that calculated (not being one for conspiracy theories, myself), but gosh, it sure … Continue reading Address real, not invented, problems
Less safe with travel bans
Good Morning President Trump, If I didn't have responsibilities to other women, primarily women veterans with histories of military sexual trauma and homelessness, I wouldn't be going to work today and would be joining the day-long walk out. But I take my responsibilities to those who depend on me seriously so I am showing up … Continue reading Less safe with travel bans
Fierce compassion
Dear President Trump, One of my heroes is a Buddhist monk named Thich Nhat Hahn. Actually, he is probably a hero to millions of people and I am happy to be counted among them. I return to his teachings often and especially to his idea that compassion may be fierce. Normally we think of compassion … Continue reading Fierce compassion
“Help with a Federal Agency”
Dear President Trump, It's interesting how the "Message Type" choices have shifted in the month or so that I've been contacting you every day. Initially the options were something like "Reflections for the President," "Reflections for the Vice President," "Reflections for the First Lady." Then they were changed to "Contact the...." instead of "Reflections for...." … Continue reading “Help with a Federal Agency”
Daily Trump Letters 