BUT BEING CONSERVATIVE DOESN’T MEAN VOTING FOR TRUMP

A few years back we went to a high school reunion and went for a drink afterwards. You mentioned at that time that you couldn’t see me on Facebook anymore and whether I was still on. I said yes and added, honestly, that I had blocked you. You were surprised. I certainly didn’t block you because I didn’t like you–I blocked you because I loved you. I didn’t want to read your favorable posts about Trump. It hurt me to think you were not the person I thought you were, but I thought if I didn’t see your posts, I could still manage to love you. Afterall, I know you are a really good person–a strong person, a hardworking person, a good mother and a good grandmother.

This is why I am writing this letter to you. It is a love letter to a friend. Friends made in high school can be forever and are made at a time in our lives where we are just seeing who we are. A lot of our friendships have been that way. Over the years, the two of us searched for others to attend reunions and felt terrible when we couldn’t get in touch–or worse yet, when we were rebuked. And felt terrible that some friends did not want to know us anymore. This is probably the way you felt when I blocked you–but know this, it was my action to keep you as a friend.

So, here is my pitch to a woman who says she is a conservative.

Real conservatives: Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney, the Bushes, Mike Pence and so many others who have given up their offices because they could not support Trump are true conservatives. The never-Trumpers who were Republican and Conservatives walked away in 2016 because they understood clearly that Trump had no ideology at all. And many followed their lead after experiencing his administration. His military men were horrified by his disrespect for those who serve. Trump cannot understand public service; he cannot understand how someone might do something without getting something in return. He believes democracy is disposable since he doesn’t believe in public service.

Trump actions against the justice department and the judges who have angered him would affect you deeply. Those judges, no matter what their political beliefs are, rule justly. You know that. You know that judges do their very best to be fair and impartial. I know you do not want to see their integrity questioned and demeaned.

People always say that it depends on what media you watch to determine who you support. I don’t believe that for a minute. If you are hearing and listening to Trump, you know exactly what he thinks and believes-and it is nothing good or consistent. His only ideology is to get ahead, make money and reduce the tax laws to benefit the rich. That is not conservatism–it is narcissism. I know you know this stuff.

I am unsure why anyone who respects law enforcement would support Trump. At the debate he sided with the invaders of the Capitol and touted that the only person that died was Ashely Babbit–that is a lie. Yes, she was shot by a police officer as she was barging through the doors of the Capitol threatening the lives of the representatives we elected as well as crushing the head of a police officer in a door. Police officers died that day and after that day, defending the Capitol and the politicians, some who now have trashed their reputation.

I love you my friend and would love to debate policy with you. Policy is a “thing” it does not insult, kill or pit people against each other. Policy debates are acceptable and are part of a democracy. One side wins and one side loses, but we are still a people who can love each other. You can want to close the borders and I will tell you all the reasons why people should be let in. You can be against abortion and I will tell you all the reasons why God gave us decision making power in our lives.

Debating policy is not about calling people names, degrading those who may not agree with you, endangering the lives of transgenders and others who are different than you. Debating policy is not lying to people but convincing them through facts and conversation. Discussing policy is not about hate, it is about love.

I urge you to vote your conservatism by not voting for Trump. He is an evil man who has manipulated millions into a cult with no regrets about losing friends. I care deeply about losing friends–I love you my friend.