To my Republican and Trump-supporting friends:
We live in tumultuous times. Not since the 1960s has our political system been strained so close to the breaking point, have our emotions run so high, has our nation so deeply questioned its most basic values and most sacred beliefs. But there is one thing I want to say to you:
I love you.
If you are my friend, you are probably sick to death of hearing me spout about what a proud native New Yorker I am. You know that I grew up and lived in New York City for 30 years. Every one of those years I lived within a few miles of Donald Trump. Every day for at least 20 of those years I saw his name on buildings and read about him in the local papers. While the rest of the country may have barely heard of him or known much about him before the election, New Yorkers are very familiar with him and his history. None of his behavior is a surprise to us. It's nothing more than an extension of exactly who he has always been. Those who thought he would rise to the occasion and grow into the position of president have never seen him in action as New Yorkers have. The presidency is not rehab. It is the gravest job on the planet, and it was given to someone who cannot do it, who never was able to do it, and who never will be able to do it. Period. Full stop.
If you are my friend, you know that I am a proud Democrat and a liberal. I support labor unions, government-provided healthcare and higher education for all, abortion rights, voter rights, veterans' rights, estate tax, a living minimum wage, equal pay for men and women, abolition of the Electoral College, and protection of the environment from industrial damage. If you stab me in the chest, my heart will bleed blue.
If you are my friend, you know that my father was a passionate Democrat who went to his grave fighting for the things he believed in. You know that I will do the same. You know that, like my father, when I open my mouth about politics, I will never shut up until a) you get tired and go home, or b) we find even a molecule of common ground.
If you are my friend, you also know that you and I have spent much time together laughing, crying, comforting each other, seeing each other through tough times. We have celebrated together, learned together, worked together, and grown together. Our friendship is one of the most precious things in life to me and, I hope, to you.
There are those who say, “If you voted for Donald Trump, I automatically know these things about you,” such as, you are a racist, you agree with authoritarian rule, you are a misogynist, and on and on.
If you are my friend, I automatically know these things about you:
-
You care about me. You have stuck by me through the darkest days of my life. You have my back.
-
You are a decent person. You work hard, you value your family, you try to do what's right.
-
You are not stupid.
-
You have strong opinions about many things, politics included. You have shared your opinions with me, you have listened to my opinions, and you have not let our differences define our friendship.
-
You are not a Nazi, a racist, or a white supremacist.
-
You want what's right and good for yourself, your community, this country, and the world.
You are my friend. You were my friend before Trump assumed the office of president, and you will be my friend after he is gone. I will not allow this mere individual to come between me and the people I have always held close to my heart.
If you want to discuss politics with me, let's get together and talk face to face instead of having flame wars online. Let's find points about which we agree and explore ways we can arrive at solutions rather than label and stereotype each other. Let's keep our discourse civil. Let's not give in to the seduction of hate.
If you are my friend, most of all, know this:
I love you.
We will get through this.
Peace out.