A Love Letter to Trump Supporters from a Clinton Fan
Dear Trump Supporters,
I love you. I always have. I always will.
You and I are family, we go to church together, serve in Rotary together and share space in social media. We are going through this life quite literally together.
Over the next few months we’ve got to talk about some important things. You and I share a common belief that this upcoming election matters, that the issues facing our country are important and worthy of discussion. We agree that America is an exceptional country comprising wonderful places and even better people. In fact, there is much more that we agree on than we will disagree about and what we agree on is even more important than those things we disagree on.
But we can’t ignore those things we’ll disagree about. Past elections have seemed to carry little more import than to choose between marginal tax rates of 36 percent or 39 percent for the highest income Americans. This election raises issues that are more fundamental—much more.
When Donald Trump talks about a wall, the discussion isn’t just about a pragmatic solution to a real problem of illegal immigration, but it is also about the way in which the majority of Americans should think of our neighbors to the south and how we should treat Latino Americans.
When Donald Trump talks about banning Muslims, similarly, the discussion isn’t simply about arcane immigration rules for refugees, but also about how we see religious freedom in America. This discussion takes on constitutional significance that could redefine what it is to be an American.
When Donald Trump talks about carpet bombing ISIS and bringing back water boarding, the topic isn’t really just about how to have an effective national defense, but also about how we define America’s place in the world and how we define basic human rights.
In November, we have an important decision to make, perhaps the most important election of our lifetimes. We not only need to talk about the issues, but some we’ll need to debate. I wish I could promise that I will never say anything that will offend or infuriate you. I will try not to, but I probably will anyway—not because I hope to offend, but because I hope to convince you—or at least some of you—to see things my way. I expect you’ll do the same to me and other Hillary supporters.
Here’s the thing: come Thanksgiving, with the election in the rear view mirror, we’ll be celebrating around the same dinner table. We’ll see each other at church and at Rotary. We’ll bump into each other on the street in the neighborhood and in the grocery store. Whatever relationship we have now, I hope it will be stronger and closer then than it is now.
No matter how much we may disagree about this election, we can be friends. No, we are friends. We are family. Let’s try to remember that, because I love you.
Sincerely,
Devin D. Thorpe
A Hillary Voter
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Devin is a journalist, author and speaker who calls himself a champion of social good. With a goal to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems by 2045, he focuses on telling the stories of those who are leading the way! Learn more at DevinThorpe.com!
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