Dear Mr. Trump,

Yesterday a man, Brandon Stanton, whom I admire posted a letter to you. He reminded me that taking a stand against you and your ideologies of racism, sexism, and violence is not a political one, but a moral one. In so doing, he reminded me of the power of my own voice.

It’s easy to get discouraged when I see people continue to vote for you. It’s easy to feel like my voice doesn’t matter in the face of your lies, violence, and perceived power. I’ve observed your campaign and I think that is precisely the way you want people to feel.

You want people to feel small. You want them to be afraid. That’s what bullies do. And you, Mr. Trump, are acting like a bully.

You flaunt your “power” so that others cower or join. You call women names like “bimbo.” You encourage violence among your supporters. You retweet racist lies. You will do and say anything for your own selfish gain.

But here is the thing about bullies, they all have the same fatal flaw: they underestimate the power and value of a person.

Yes, Mr. Trump, you have much, much more money than I do. Your twitter posts get more thousands upon thousands more retweets. Your outlandish quotes have a way of carrying your voice around the world. And some would ascertain these things to power.

But I have one major thing you lack: courage.

You see, I’ve found that boastful people are actually terrified. They say things to make them seem strong, because they think that power can save them from their own fears, from themselves. Mr. Trump, I actually think that you are quite fearful; fearful of people different from yourself, fearful that if people were truly treated with respect and equality that you would lose your wealth or your power. I think you are so insecure that the only way you can face another day is to put people under you so that you may stand on their backs.

But I do not hate you, Mr. Trump. I pray for you.

I pray that you find some way to accept yourself as you really are, instead of pretending to be someone else. I pray that you realize the error of your ways before your sins take you down. I pray that you remember what history has taught us about men who used racism and violence to claim power. I pray that you remember those less fortunate than you, and that you remember, at long last, what you were put on this planet to do: Love.

Should you continue to reject love and embrace hate, I’m afraid that you will find yourself the way of Hitler. Alone. Small. Powerless. And these things, I believe, is what you are so terrified of. This is why I pray for you.

But my prayers go farther than that. I pray for our nation. America has her flaws, yet I agree with you Mr. Trump, she is great. But her greatness does not lie in her wealth, her weapons, or the walls she can build to keep others out. No, America’s greatness is found in her goodness; in the goodness of her people.

America is great only so long as she is loving, joyful, peaceful, kind, and gentle. She is only made great by the people inside her that embody these traits. If you truly want to “Make America Great Again” Mr. Trump, then you must encourage these traits, not disavow them.

These are not traits that you view as powerful, but I assure they are. Hate cannot win. It will always self-destruct. It will always destroy. I would hedge my bets on love, because it is the only thing that wins.

The hate you have for others, will only fuel any hate they might have back towards you. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Mr. Trump, I may indeed be poor in your eyes: small, seemingly powerless, a woman, and from your words these are things that you choose to stand against. But I have love and I am fearless in it.

In the end, you will find that is people precisely like me, “small” people who have found love and are using it fearlessly, who will reclaim power from you. Because, Mr. Trump, love wins.

Sincerely,

Meghan Tschanz

 

 

One Response

  1. A great post, Meghan. I forwarded it to my good friend, Irene, and she responded to compliment me on my great granddaughters! I had also sent her Emily’s opinion of Trump.