Dear President Trump, So I just want to be clear; it’s not that I think all white men are rootless or that your souls are all dead. In saying that I think white patriarchy is dead I’m not referring to any specific individuals, but rather to an oppressive system. Most people likely get this, but … Continue reading Deconstructing white patriarchy
Human Rights
Distress tolerance
Dear President Trump, On my run this morning I was thinking about the incredible self-control and patience that people who have to put up with loads of crap day in and day out must have to have to survive. Then, along these same lines, I read a WP piece about being gay and living in … Continue reading Distress tolerance
Stop defending the indefensible
Dear President Trump, You are certainly getting a crash course on the myriad ways that patriarchy and misogyny play out in the lives of women and men, and sadly, infuriatingly, you are failing miserably. At every turn you have given the exact wrong answers, like you looked at the multiple choice options and said to … Continue reading Stop defending the indefensible
Lurching towards a more perfect union
Dear President Trump, Over and over yesterday at the NMAAH I was confronted with the stark reality that at the founding of our nation, women didn't count at all. We weren't considered citizens, we weren't 3/5s, we had no public (and little private) voice or power. Absolutely, many white women lived comfortably and benefited from … Continue reading Lurching towards a more perfect union
The pendulum is slamming back
Dear President Trump, Have you been to the National Museum of African American History? I'm guessing you haven't been so when you do go, I suggest you set aside most of a day and not plan much for later because you will be exhausted if you take in even a 20th of what is there. … Continue reading The pendulum is slamming back
“Even when we’re tired”
Dear President Trump, In church this morning our pastors made a concerted effort to remind us to look for joy even when, or especially when, we are feeling overwhelmed with grief and strife. The service was well done, the examples provided were solid, and the music and messages were uplifting but it was kind of … Continue reading “Even when we’re tired”
Take a knee
Dear President Trump, I was very happy to see Eric Reid's Op Ed in the NYT this morning explaining how thoughtful he and Colin Kaepernick were in their decision to take Mr. Kaepernick's protest during the playing of the national anthem in a more visible direction. He described how they felt kneeling during the song … Continue reading Take a knee
Healthy doses of doubt
Dear President Trump, Nothing in particular has gone wrong, but most of the day I've felt on the verge of tears. I'm guessing you don't have these sorts of days, but who knows? Maybe when you are alone or just spending time with Melania you can let your guard down and let yourself feel unsure … Continue reading Healthy doses of doubt
Beautiful doesn’t belong
Dear President Trump, I want to revisit Julius Goat's frame for ascertaining whether we are hewing to justice. Here it is again: "Every human being is a unique and irreplaceable work of art carrying unsurpassable worth." There are billions of reasons to remind you of this framing but the reason I want to focus on … Continue reading Beautiful doesn’t belong
Hobbled by human rights?
Dear President Trump, I feel like I'm lurching from one awful deed or threatened deed to the next. When I heard last night that Tillerson is now saying the US is not going to factor in human rights violations when we consider which countries to have diplomatic relations with, it felt like a sucker punch … Continue reading Hobbled by human rights?
Daily Trump Letters 