To whom it may concern

You were up in arms about Kaepernick kneeling because it was “dishonorable” and “disrespectful” to Americans.

You focused on how violent and “dangerous” people in those communities were, rather than focusing on the brutal murdering of a man caught on video.

You justified a vote towards supporting a deceitful man and a group who very clearly show no empathy towards others—and you did so in the name of the “economy”. For America.

You did all that not for America. You did so because you didn’t see a black man exercising his right of speech as a true American. You did so because you couldn’t possibly let a black woman be the first woman president.

You did so because your gut tells you something is terribly wrong with our world today. That there is an evil and poison that is festering throughout. But you refuse to see that it could be coming from someone like yourself. You turn a blind eye and choose not to see what has been growing right in front of you. Instead, you claim to protect our children. Meanwhile, refusing to acknowledge how dangerous it is to be raising your children in a world where men are the biggest threat to domestic violence. To rape. To child molestation. Meanwhile you convince yourself that that side handed comment he made was “harmless” and that he “didn’t mean it.” All while your children and those around them are watching. Meanwhile you’re teaching our children and future generations that when a man raises his voice and uses his fists, that’s just him expressing frustration and that it must have been something the other person did to anger him. But when a woman raises her voice, that’s classless. Vulgar. Unlady-like. Meanwhile you’re choosing to accept that if you have a daughter, you “of course would never allow anyone to talk to her that way”, yet you refuse to admit that your silence already says more than enough.

The judgment. The hate. The divisiveness. Where do you think that was borne? But it’s easier to not face that reality. Because facing it would mean that you are complicit. If not by choice, at least by association. So you choose to go about your merry life, claiming that you love thy neighbor and preach the words of God, meanwhile you’re carrying this heavy feeling of guilt. Wondering what it is. So you explain that burning feeling away by blaming the immigrants. By swallowing this story fed to you that they aren’t as hard working as you. They aren’t as deserving as you. They aren’t as American as you.

And for all the times you claim you “don’t see color” or you don’t “judge others”, everybody in your life can see through the charade. They can see that all that you CAN and DO see is the black, queer, and trans folks—and how different they are from you. And how you don’t see them as deserving of the same rights to you as an American. That you’re okay with them being left behind when push comes to shove. Because they live in the margins. They live in the minority. All you could see was their inferiority. So as the next few years unfold, we will all continue to see the consequences of your actions and choice unfold.

And though I have no children myself, when the future generations read about this in our American history books, I can proudly say that I was living on the right side of history. That I stood up for decency. That I spoke up for kindness. That I led myself and others with empathy. Can you say the same?