Dear President Trump, Happy Transgender Awareness Month! All VA employees got an email about it last week, which to me signals that you can try to erase transgender people, but it’s not going to work. It’s not going to work at the VA and it’s not going to work at the coffee shop down the … Continue reading Tayari Jones and the myth of the moral middle
Human Rights
Day 600 and in-spite-of-you-positives
Dear President Trump, Last night Laura remarked that I must be getting close to the 600 day mark in our one-sided correspondence so I checked and we were at 599, which means today is indeed the 600th consecutive day of writing to you. It seems like this should feel like an accomplishment of sorts, but … Continue reading Day 600 and in-spite-of-you-positives
Do you remember their names?
Dear President Trump, The woman with the long dark hair behind you on the left hand side of the screen looked ill as you revved up to blast Dr. Ford at your Mississippi rally last night. She seemed to be looking for the exit or maybe for anyone else who felt repulsed. She managed a … Continue reading Do you remember their names?
Please keep it up
Dear President Trump, I respectfully request that you continue to insult and belittle women at every opportunity. Really, I think you should keep it up. You are doing an incredible job demonstrating that you and your administration don’t give a damn about girls and women. Although you may collect a few more votes from likeminded … Continue reading Please keep it up
Words really do matter
Dear President Trump, Yesterday we drove from Santa Barbara to Sacramento and stayed at a friend’s house and then set out for home early this morning. I’m pretty much toast from saying goodbye to our daughter and the 18+ hours of driving in two days, so this may be short. There are two things, though, … Continue reading Words really do matter
Tipping the universe
Dear President Trump, From the get go I’ve known, along with the rest of the country, that Christine Blasey Ford is a research psychologist who studies trauma and resilience. However, it was only this morning that I realized I’ve read and used and cited numerous publications she contributed to in my own work. I can’t … Continue reading Tipping the universe
Legislation can help us be better to one another
Dear President Trump, Today was filled with chores, visits, flowers, and tears. Laura has been doing a lot of the proverbial heavy lifting; figuring things out, getting calls made and faxes sent, carting things to Goodwill. She also found the perfect place to donate our brother-in-law’s (BIL) bike. She’s been fearless and tireless with the … Continue reading Legislation can help us be better to one another
Make it so
Dear President Trump, Yesterday I went to a writing class for people who want to become better allies both through their writing and in real time encounters. I left quite humbled and feeling as though I have a lot of remedial work to do. One of the exercises involved writing a manifesto framed by the … Continue reading Make it so
Cruel and usual
Dear President Trump, I’ve decided writing to you and sending us all loving-kindness meditations has become too important to me to let go of yet. Besides, it’s highly likely I would become impossible to be around if I didn’t have these letters as an outlet for my frustration, dismay, and anxiety over what’s going on … Continue reading Cruel and usual
“What keeps you awake at night?”
Dear President Trump, This morning I went by the Christian Cavalry Church near us. They have a huge sign at the edge of their parking lot; it’s black with bold pastel rainbow letters that say “Sweet Dreams” and smaller white letters that ask “What keeps you awake at night?” I immediately started generating my list; … Continue reading “What keeps you awake at night?”