Congratulations on becoming the 45th president of The United States of America. No matter anyone's view on you as a person, it is a great accomplishment to be the leader of the greatest nation in the world.
I have traveled to many places outside of this country. I have been to Asia, Africa, Mexico... The more I travel, the more I see how other cultures and governments operate. I have seen children living in extreme poverty, covered in scabs and bites, sleeping in mud huts. I have spoken to 14 year old sex slaves wearing silk dresses and red lipstick standing on the side of the dirt streets waiting for a man to pay. I have held Mexican orphans in my arms, no more than a few months old, and told that they were locked in a their home with their 5 siblings while it was set on fire by their drug dealing parents who didn't want to pay for them anymore; by the grace of God, they survived and now live among other orphans with similar stories. I have seen horrors first hand. I have seen government oppression first hand. I have seen what truly awful leadership looks like, and I truly believe that you, Mr. President-Elect, are not that.
I have heard the things you've said in the past and frankly, it doesn't matter if I agree or disagree, or how I feel about it at all. It doesn't matter who I voted for or what I hoped the outcome would be. The fact of the matter is that you will be the 45th president of this great place, and I intend to respect that.
I know you see the people in the streets rioting, burning flags, beating people up, shooting others because they thought they voted for you. But I don't blame you for that.
I know you hear about the students who are standing at their high schools yelling at Hispanics to "pack their bags". But I don't blame you for that either.
I know you see the division, the disfunction, the disunity that has erupted since the election. But I don't blame you.
I blame us. I blame those who believe that this will accomplish something. I blame those who have chosen violence as an appropriate response to their fear. Just as we punish a rapist for the rape, and not someone who condoned the rape, I blame the people who have chosen this response, not anyone who condones it (again, I still don't know what you condone, because I have never met you).
Although you will never read this, I wanted to say that I am praying for you. The Bible says very clearly in Titus 3:1-2 "Remind them to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone".
It also says, "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth." in 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
And so that is what I will do. I will pray for you, Mr. Trump. I will pray that you lead with wisdom, with compassion, with strength. I will pray for my nation, that there will be peace, unity, love. I will pray that people will not blame you for the bad nor rely on you for the good.
Once again, congratulations, Mr. Trump. I look forward to the next four years with optimism and hope for my home, the United States of America.
