Dear President Trump, Yesterday I mentioned my penchant for getting persnickety about people’s word choices and I need to add here that I’m also fond of picking apart other's arguments. I do this with everyone, but definitely find myself doing it more with people of color and with other white women. Essentially, I’m more critical … Continue reading “Internalized Racial Superiority;” the other IRS
Kindness
A long letter about “undoing” rather than “dismantling” racism
Dear President Trump, I was so wrong – we aren’t catching a break at all. Even while on vacation you are quite capable of keeping the horror reels coming. I know your destructive little minions have been working long and hard on both the new rules about the types of social services immigrants will be … Continue reading A long letter about “undoing” rather than “dismantling” racism
I hope Toni Morrison had a good death
Dear President Trump, Lately, when I learn of very old people’s deaths I have a muddle of thoughts and feelings in response; happiness for them that they’ve been released from our current mayhem right alongside sadness and frustration that they didn’t get to see us come through to the other side. I don’t know what … Continue reading I hope Toni Morrison had a good death
More signs
Dear President Trump, Recently a favorite restaurant of ours closed its doors. It was one of a small handful of “special night out” spots we liked to go to when we felt like venturing away from our part of town and spending a little more money than usual. We could count on there being a … Continue reading More signs
Blessing choice
Dear President Trump, Some days I know exactly what I want to write to you about because something’s been nagging at me or I think I have an especially good angle on an issue that I’ve not seen expressed. Those letters are usually the easiest to write even though the personal stakes tend to be … Continue reading Blessing choice
A good news break
Dear President Trump, As I left work today I was mentally fishing around for a topic for today’s letter and decided to look out for acts of kindness on my way home to tell you about. Usually there are at least a few instances where someone is clearly patient and/or generous with another driver so … Continue reading A good news break
“It’s about being a maker”
Dear President Trump, Last week when I was in Minneapolis for the annual alcoholism conference I attend there was some downtime Tuesday mid-day so I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to see a special exhibit called “Hearts of our People: Native Women Artists.” The show is going to Nashville next, but it will … Continue reading “It’s about being a maker”
The universe seems to have stepped in with extra “be nice” reminders
Dear President Trump, Many moons ago I told you that I programmed my phone so that it plays chimes three times a day that roughly approximate the Muslim prayer times (except for the first thing in the morning and the last one at night since I do my loving-kindness prayers for us all at those … Continue reading The universe seems to have stepped in with extra “be nice” reminders
“Political” isn’t a dirty word
Dear President Trump, I've thought some more about both the “stop to think” and “Kindness is Magic” messages I wrote to you about yesterday and want to add a couple more things about them. First, I realized this morning that the encouragement to “stop to think” is probably mostly about being intentional about thinking, it’s … Continue reading “Political” isn’t a dirty word
“Kindness is Magic”
Dear President Trump, You know by now that I’m a walker (or rather your threat-checker team knows this about me). I especially like to walk in cities that I’m visiting and over my three days in Minneapolis I probably logged about 8 miles of walking, not counting the regular to-ing and fro-ing around the conference. … Continue reading “Kindness is Magic”