A Letter to my Family, Friends, and Colleagues who Support this Monster

I spend much of my days figuring out why I have extreme reactions to environmental stimuli and why I’m so angry at this country and why I harbor this hatred of the 77 million Trump voters. Surely people are inherently good, but I’m losing faith in humanity to do the right thing.  I often question myself in thinking that I’m in the wrong and my insecurities stem from my extreme views. Some of these extreme views include healthcare, security, and housing as an inalienable right, a right to gainful employment, a right to self-determination, and that you should treat others with respect and punch up, not down. I believe in the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. Family, friends, and colleagues have asked me to tone down these views and to censor myself, but I refuse. It’s not me that’s extreme. It’s you.

I’m angry because you told me I was overreacting when I expressed worry about losing my job as a federal worker.

I’m angry because you didn’t trust me when I asked you to wear a mask for the safety of yourself and your family. 

I’m angry because you chose not to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

I’m angry because you call yourself a Christian and then laugh at the suffering in this world.

I’m angry because you cheer on reckless deportations and family separation.

I’m angry because you chose to vote for a convicted rapist and conman. 

I’m angry because you support the people who want to ban books.

I’m angry because you told me I’d be fine commuting to work every day.

I’m angry because you voted against funding libraries.

I’m angry because you voted to hurt the poor.

I’m angry because you stopped listening to me.

I’m hateful because you laughed me off as extreme when I told you I had a plan to flee the country. 

I’m hateful because you empower those that allow women to die preventable deaths.

I’m hateful because you ignore the evidence of global warming. 

I’m hateful because you voted to abandon our allies and support despots around the globe. 

I’m hateful because you support extremist bigots.

I’m hateful because you have expressed concern about me losing my job and not recognizing that voting has real consequences.

I’m hateful that you asked me why I took out all those student loans as if there was another way.

I’m hateful because you support dictatorship over democracy.

I’m hateful because you oppose due process.

I’m hateful because you think you’re smarter than I am.

I’m furious because you ignored me when I told you about McCarthyism. 

I’m furious because you don’t understand that you’re in a cult. 

I’m furious because you have no ambition to better yourself.

I’m furious because you support conspiracy theorists over scientists.

I’m furious because you support inhumane detention.

I’m furious because you don’t see the parallels between the Nazi party and the Republican party.

I’m furious because you’ve created a dangerous world for my Muslim friends.

I’m furious because you hate LGBTQ+ people for simply existing. 

I’m furious because I’m exhausted from trying to educate you.

I’m furious because you cackled at the thought of USAID employees being fired.

I’m furious because you voted for a fascist oligarchy because “eggs were too expensive” and “gas prices were too high”. 

I’m furious because you call yourself a Christian, but you have strayed so far away from Jesus’ teachings. 

This anger, hatred, and furiosity comes from my deep empathy. I believe that a better world is inevitable, but you refuse to put in the work. It’s up to you to improve our relationship that you’ve damaged. It’s up to you to take responsibility for your mistakes and better yourself. It’s your choice. Your attempts to censor my fundamental beliefs that the world can become a better place have not worked. Your attempts have only awakened my righteous anger and strengthened my convictions. I will never stop speaking up and fighting for the downtrodden.