Perhaps it was the change in management, or it could just be my newfound interest in politics (as it impacts my and others' abilities to do things.) Either way, I thought it might be fun/nice(?) to actually take the time to write to my country's highest elected official and let him know what I was thinking about. It will give me a chance to set down some grievances, offer some ideas, and, in general, support causes, people, and ideas that I feel are important here in America. I don't expect he will ever read these letters, but perhaps by writing them, I can better reflect on the kinds of people and changes I want to spend my time and money advocating for in both local and national government. And hopefully it will reflect an opinion that is, at its core, genuine--my own. So with that in mind, I write today my first Sunday Letter to the President of the United States.
Dear Mr. President,
I don't know the best way to address you, or even the right way, but I figure "dear" is a pretty good start for just about anyone, since I would probably start most of my letters to others in that manner; though, truth be told, I am a great deal more informal than this usually. Still, you are a world leader; so, it seems appropriate that I address you in as formal a manner as I can muster while still sounding like myself.
You've had a busy week--way more busy than I. You've signed "I don't know how many" executive orders, and many of them seem to be good things--at least from what I've gathered so far. You're trying to do the right thing for people, and I can't fault you for that. I wish I were smarter, or knew better all the intricacies of the things which you are often rescinding in these orders, but as most of them are removing policies that Trump enacted, I am happy to see it so.
Rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Climate Agreement speak to the needs of our country, but it also speaks to the idea that we understand the threats we are facing are not ones we can, or should, fight alone. COVID-19 has ravaged the world, and our past choices and policies have contributed to the current problems we are facing when it comes to climate change. These things affect people not just here in America, though, and I am glad to see we are rejoining a global stage. I know there are many who feel that globalization has harmed us more than it has helped us, but I can't in good conscience say that I only care about American suffering. Suffering and hardship are universal, and so we should strive to lessen them everywhere we are able.
I know working with others can be a challenge; after all, we can't even get along here in our own country. So how can we expect to be able to work with those of other countries? Still, I believe that it is important to at least try. I am glad to see by your actions and choices that you feel much the same.
I've been reading Bolton's book about his time in the Trump White House, and it's given me a lot to think about with regard to foreign relations. I can definitely say that there are a lot of things I don't agree with John Bolton on, but reading through his frustrations and his anger--and his eventual resignation (both emotionally and literally,) I would like to say that I hope you'll do your best to make the world a better place. I am left to wonder how effective sanctions really are--since it seems like we've been doing them forever. Are they what caused the USSR to collapse in the late 80's? Or was it something else? Do they disproportionately harm the people of countries we sanction, rather than their leaders? Also, why do we have to have nuclear weapons? Is it just because countries that claim to be our enemies have them? If so, ...to me, it seems a kind of dumb reason to have them. I can't fathom that they would ever be used--not after what we saw back in WWII; so, why is the threat imposed by them so real that we base so much of our time, money, and effort on them?
Maybe I sound naive, Mr. President, but I've been reading some of the stories and ideas of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, and I really do think that it's time we look away from nuclear bombs as weapons of warfare and intimidation. I would love to see our country being one of the first to completely wipe the slate clean with regard to the use and maintenance of them; though, I expect most would advise having them as a retaliatory measure. I do think we ought to be forthright in saying we will not use them as a first-strike option, though.
And I don't have any options for you when it comes to Iran, or most other bad actor states that treat their people badly or want to become a nuclear power. Perhaps if being seen as a nuclear state weren't seen as important to becoming a world power fewer countries would desire it as much.
Anyway, when it comes to foreign affairs, I'm afraid you have your hands full, and when I have a thought on it in the future, I'll let you know here.
I am looking forward to the day when you can turn your focus from the pandemic to climate change, though. I know, for a while, we're going to need to streamline our efforts to ensure that people can (and hopefully do,) get vaccinated, but after that, we've got a lot of work to do moving forward. Our infrastructure, as you know, is falling apart, and we absolutely must address that. But to do so without ensuring that the efforts we make are sustainable would be a waste. There are so many people out there striving to create sustainable architecture, and many groups that meet to discuss those efforts. I hope whoever you put in charge of your Climate Task Force, they will seek outside voices rather than industry insiders and self-interested parties.
There was, for instance, a new discovery to make both solar storage better, but also solar cells last longer. Degradation is going to happen, but the longer we can make something last, the better--even if the upfront cost is more. (That is something I am learning as I grow older; often, the more you are willing to pay for something, the better the quality will be. This isn't universally true, but I have often found it to be a better indicator than other things. Still, stories of government waste based on the idea that more expensive is better make me wonder if it isn't better to test things out sometimes--or at least get advice from more than one person.) Anyway, the point being, there are some amazing discoveries being made every day, and our government should be looking for them, helping to create them, and then using them to create better, more resilient infrastructure for the future.
That said, there are two causes that are close to my heart, Mr. President, and I hope you will do what you can to create more opportunities for them going forward. The first is space exploration; I think, had I not been born legally blind, I might have wanted to become an astronaut. That said, I'm not that great at math; so, who can say! The second is the arts, which is a community full of creative, caring, and passionate people who tend, on the whole, to view the world from more than their own perspectives. In my mind, both of these causes are forces for change and good in the world.
Perhaps it's just advertising, but I have always believed that our work to explore space has also benefitted us in many other facets of life--from solar panels to GPS. Our view of the world has become clearer because of our interests beyond it. And when hate and division seek to cause distress in our lives, the arts can often bring us back together. Not only that, but they are willing to work with you to help promote goodness in the world. Please seek to work with these groups and find ways to support them in your time going forward. I believe the benefits will far outweigh whatever costs they might exact.
Lastly, I want to mention some of the good things that your predecessor has done for me personally. His creation of the Space Force, while seemingly laughable, is an important step forward for our country. While it militarizes space, this is something that has often already been the case. And while I would wish that space were free from nation-state aggression and competition, that is not how things work right now. So, in my mind, it is a good; it expresses our interest to move forward into space while ensuring that our endeavors are not infringed upon. And while the military aspect disappoints me, I have a hope that, like we have often been here on Earth, we can be a force for good in space, too. In either case, the new frontier is before us in space, and whether it is the Wild West, the colonial rush for lands and profits, or a truly enlightened desire for knowledge and new worlds to inhabit and explore--we will need to consider our vision of space going forward. You will be one of the first presidents to truly begin the creation of such.
The other thing I suppose I ought to thank Mr. Trump for is that he taught me that complacency leads to suffering. I don't know if our corporate media will be as invested in your choices as they were in Trump's, but I know that I will be. Because Trump made me realize that you speak for our country as President, and if I don't participate and voice my thoughts and opinions, how can I truly say that I am an American? We've pretended that things were fine for too long; we saw the surface of the water was still and believed that this meant that everything was okay. But it's not, and that is not a lesson I will soon forget.
On that note, I suppose I'd better let you get back to work. You have a tough road ahead of you, Mr. President, but hopefully you've surrounded yourself with good people who share your vision of our country. I have hope that you will be a force for good in the world as our President, and I will do my part, too.
I want to talk with you next time about dark money in campaigns and this absurd notion that corporations are people. I want to have a discussion about making Puerto Rico a state. I want to consider the idea of removing the Electoral College, and perhaps ask the states to consider amendments to the Constitution. We should probably have a talk about guns at some point, and healthcare (and insurance companies,) too. Your current work with regard to poverty and hunger fills me with hope, and while I know there are so many wrongs that need to be righted in the world, I realize you are only one person. But I, for one, am glad that you are trying. Please don't give up.
But those things can wait as I see you have an agenda right now; I just don't want you to forget about all that other stuff. Did I mention how happy I am about your stance regarding the LGBTQ+ communities? We are all human beings deserving of respect and the chance to do good in this world. I am so glad you see that.
Before I go, please don't forget the racial injustice that has become an institution of its own in this country. It needs addressing, and I know you're working on it. Just make sure you talk to the people about it, too. And let's fix it, Mr. President. Let's make it so that people are judged by their character and not by the color of their skin.
Okay! All right! I'm really going now, I promise. We'll have more Sundays to chat, I hope, and I'll be looking forward to the next one. Until then, stay safe and don't let your hope get bogged down by the fears, hatred, and demons of others.
Until next time, Mr. President, I remain,
a hopeful citizen,
Jennifer
P. S. Your Cabinet is super inclusive, but I don't see any neuro-diverse or disabled people on it. Any chance this can happen? If it's already a thing, please let me know so I can make sure to point it out to others! Also, I have imagined that were I ever president, I'd love to have Sunday night dinners where I invite people to just come and chat with me about things like we have here. But not just congress people or lawyers or world leaders, but poets, and artists, musicians, and teachers. Philosophers and great thinkers, scientists and farmers--common people from every walk of life and religion so that I could hear their thoughts--their hopes and their fears, and maybe see if I could try making the world a little better for them and people like them. Anyway, just something to consider. It sure would be nice to read about those dinners while eating my own some day.
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