Dear President Trump, I’ve started reading Bryan Stevenson’s “Just Mercy.” Our church is reading it together for Lent. I hadn’t even gotten to the first chapter yet when I came across a quote to share with you. It’s eerily in keeping with what I was writing you about the other day regarding the relationship between … Continue reading Worst ever president, but still on the list
I call B.S. on attempts to undermine the protagonists
Dear President Trump, In keeping with my interest in finding intersections between social justice issues, I found the recent WP piece by historian Michael Miller fascinating. In it he recounts how the African American students who comprised the “Little Rock Nine” over 60 years ago were accused of being paid “crisis actors” when they enrolled … Continue reading I call B.S. on attempts to undermine the protagonists
Compassion and integrity
Dear President Trump, Lately when finishing my private LKM prayers I’ve been sending out additional intentions for us all to behave kindly and respectfully. This morning, though, I landed on compassion and integrity and for some reason the deep connection between the two was apparent to me in a way I’d not grasped before. I … Continue reading Compassion and integrity
Shame on you
Dear President Trump, A friend who has been reading my letters to you told me today she’s noticed the more recent ones feel different from the early ones, though she can’t put her finger on why. I know early on I kept the form of the closing LKM prayer steady and focused on you and … Continue reading Shame on you
“in the presence of my foes”
Dear President Trump, A line from Bobby McFerrin’s “Psalm 23” has been stuck in my head since yesterday; “She sets a table before me in the presence of my foes.” It’s like my brain has been worrying it the way my tongue would worry a loose tooth, not quite sure what to make of it … Continue reading “in the presence of my foes”
“Enough is enough” across the board
Dear President Trump, This morning when I was doing tonglen for you I imagined you were standing still while I walked around you focusing on your heart, the side of your neck, the middle of your back, your clenched fist, and around again to your heart. I practiced breathing in your fear and sending you … Continue reading “Enough is enough” across the board
Off the rails
Dear President Trump, In honor of Presidents’ Day, and because I think you need it quite badly, I’ve been doing tonglen for you off and on pretty much all day. You seem to be going off the rails and I’m not the only one to notice. There have been a lot of worried editorials the … Continue reading Off the rails
Psalm 23, again and still
Dear President Trump, A few weeks ago we had a memorial service at church for one of our dear long-time members. This woman was 94 and I’m happy to say the sanctuary was brimming with people. Near the end of the service a recording came on that sounded for all the world like it was … Continue reading Psalm 23, again and still
One heck of a reframe…
Dear President Trump, In the last week I’ve received three “Response to Your Message” emails from you, in addition to the daily auto-reply. There have been a total of six of such emails since January 6th. The first couple included an appropriate salutation, but the rest just launch right in with your “response.” I’m betting … Continue reading One heck of a reframe…
Don’t just mouth platitudes
Dear President Trump, When I saw David Nakamura’s WP article yesterday quoting you as having said “answer hate with love, answer cruelty with kindness” in your address about the mass shooting in Florida on Valentine’s Day I wondered whether my messages are somehow getting partially through to you. And I also felt sick to my … Continue reading Don’t just mouth platitudes
Daily Trump Letters 