By Mr. President,
You have now held the highest office in the land for 48 hours. In that time, the world has waited with bated breath to see what initial actions you would take as president of the United States of America. Your inauguration speech gave us no comfort, for it was delivered in the same vein as your previous public speeches. Your words were not the words of someone who has inherited the presidency, and so we shook our heads in dread.
But yesterday, thousands of women marched, both inside and outside the country, to show their strength and to prove that they are here to stay. They marched and gave us hope, and our fear momentarily took a backseat.
We are afraid because you have strategically surrounded yourself with closed-minded politicians who are sure to drive our country into the ground.
Mr. President, can you blame us for being disheartened? Your campaign was one of fear-mongering and base threats; you relied on degrading language to take down your opponents and insulted those who did not pledge to stand with you. Your tactics were those of a man accustomed to getting what he wants. During the debates, it was as though you had stepped into a boxing ring wanting to fight to the death. Nothing about your methodology suggested anything remotely presidential, and yet here we are.
Mr. President, we—the citizens of this great nation—are afraid. We are afraid because we saw the catastrophic way in which you pushed yourself to the top, and we fear what is to come now that you have so much power at your fingertips. We are afraid because you have strategically surrounded yourself with closed-minded politicians who are sure to drive our country into the ground. To what end did you choose them, these pawns who will no doubt play into the game you have prepared?
Your America, the one you vehemently insist on making great again, is one where racism and violence are the norm.
Mr. President, we are afraid because the America you see and believe in is not one that exists. Your America, the one you vehemently insist on making great again, is one where racism and violence are the norm. Your America is a dystopia where freedom is a thing of the past and prejudice is prevalent. The America you envision, Mr. President, is an America defined by a lack of color, for your America is a White America with no room for anyone else.
Mr. President, we are afraid your vision will become our nightmare. In the next four years, we ask that you rely on more than your advisors and right-hand men to make decisions that will affect our country. We ask that you instead turn to human dignity and understanding before you make your choices. We ask that you consider us all, for we are the ones who make America great. Though we may be minorities in number, our impact on this nation is no small feat. Remember us when you dream of your great America. Remember us, for we refuse to be forgotten.