(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
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
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
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
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
“Belief + Doubt = Sanity”
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”
What would your mother think?
Dear President Trump, I have been wondering about your mother. We've heard a great deal about your father, his business ventures, and his influences on you. But I don't recall having heard anything about your mother. I wonder what you learned from her, how she would feel about how you are conducting yourself, where you … Continue reading What would your mother think?
Real problem solving
Good morning President Trump, Your priorities and methods continue to trouble me deeply. Every time I read the newspaper I find yet another set of decisions and attacks on democracy coming from you and your administration that leave me sad and scared. It certainly seems you all are betting on a cynical divide and conquer … Continue reading Real problem solving
Hate divides us from ourselves
Dear President Trump, It may seem as though the idea that love will prevail is naive and kind of silly. Violence and hate get so much attention that they seem to surround us and threaten to overwhelm us. It's as though we are being brainwashed to think that violence and hate are unstoppable, as though … Continue reading Hate divides us from ourselves
Hate hates critical thinking
Dear President Trump, One of the things that hate seems to hate is critical thought. Because of this, hate hates curiosity and it hates logic. Hate hates empathy and compassion. Hate tries to squelch all of these core human practices that knit people together and help people figure out how to deal with the messy … Continue reading Hate hates critical thinking
Daily Trump Letters 