President Trump, we don't need a wall.

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington DC

25 April 2017

 

Dear President Trump,

 

I’ve heard that you are trying to get funding for the wall that you are building between the United States of America and Mexico. When you first talked about building a wall, I didn’t think that you would actually follow through; it almost seemed like a joke. But, it seems that you’re more determined than ever to keep Mexican immigrants out of the US.

 

Yes, I know that they are illegal, but they are also trying to get away from danger.  couldn't we change the laws to let them in?

 

I do not agree with the course of action that you are choosing to take. It’s expensive (about 15 billion dollars), but that is the least of my worries.

 

President Trump, you have called yourself a Christian. I hope you understand: being a Christian isn’t merely slapping the label “Christian” on yourself. It’s being loving, humble, kind, generous, honest, perseverant, etc. It’s striving to be Christ-like. It’s living in the knowledge that Christ died for you, and sharing with others that love--the love that he poured out for you on the cross when he was crucified.

 

And building a wall on the border of the US and Mexico to keep Mexican immigrants out of the US doesn’t sound like a very Christ-like or loving plan to me.  

 

Sincerely,

 

F

“Therefore, welcome one another as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.” -Romans 15:7

We've got to talk about this Earth Day thing, President Trump.

_{President Trump}

_{The White House}

_{1600 Pennsylvania Ave}

_{Washington DC 20500} 

_{Dear President Trump,}   

_{Today is Earth Day! Woo hoo! I hope you got a chance to enjoy the Earth today. In Michigan, where I am, it was a balmy 60 degrees. I had kind of a busy day, so I didn't get to enjoy the ourdoors as much as I would have liked to, but it was beautiful walking from place to place nonetheless. Maybe you were similarly busy today. In that case, I hope you enjoyed some sunshine while walking from place to place as well.}

_{President Trump, today you tweeted, "Today on Earth Day, we celebrate our beautiful forests, lakes and lands. We stand committed to preserving the natural beauty of our nation." President Trump, actions speak louder than words. You have eliminated the Stream Protection Rule, which protected our nation's streams from mining operations. You have moved to eliminate the Clean Water Rule. Your budget cuts money for the EPA and the National Parks Service.  You refuse to acknowledge climate change.}

_{Sir, if 97% of scientists-- highly qualified individuals who have dedicated their lives to studying how the world works-- agree that climate change is a very real problem, it is your duty and responsibility as well to work to preserve the beautiful country we have. If 97% of political analysts agreed that your presidency is the best in our nation's history, I doubt you would try to seek out the opinions of the 3% that disagreed. I know I wouldn't.} 

_{Please, President Trump, let your words match your actions. Please be fully committed to "celebrating our beautiful forests, lakes and lands." Please show the world that you care about the beauty of our earth and want it to remain just as beautiful as it is now for generations to come.} 

 _Sincerely,

 _K.

Insulting Canada? Seriously Mr. Trump?

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave

Washington DC 20500

21 April 2017 

Dear President Trump,  

In a New York Times article yesterday they quoted you as saying that “What Canada has done to our dairy farm workers is a disgrace.” 

The United States and Canada have enjoyed a mutual friendship that goes back to the earliest days of our republic.  Are you really trying to alienate the country that helps protect our northern border?  Have you really never been taught enough manners to at least refrain from insulting our neighbors? 

 

I have no idea what offence you believe that the entire country or Canada has committed against our dairy industry and frankly I don’t really care.  Surely you could have come up with a way to say that which was at least somewhat respectful to a country that we are friends with. 

I have written you nearly seventy letters and have tried to be respectful and civil in all of them.  Sir, surely you can learn to show respect to those that you don’t agree with as well.  As president of the country I live in, you represent me.  Start showing some tact and respect to the rest of the world, please..

Regards, 

Bill Boerman-Cornell

Presdient Trump, Time for a Policy of Truth

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave

Washington DC 20500

20 April 2017 

Dear President Trump,  

I heard on the radio today that a group of lawyers are suing you over your claim that President Obama had wiretapped Trump Tower, a claim which you produced absolutely no evidence to back up.   

Yesterday the news reported that you have no intention to release your tax records. 

On several occasions in the last several months you have declared that you had a plan to address a particular problem, but then refused to release the details of that plan.

I can imagine a couple of reasons for this rather odd reluctance to share what you say you know about these various situation with the American people.

First, perhaps you are embarrassed because you actually have no evidence to support your claims, perhaps you have no tax returns to show. Perhaps you have no plans to address the problems.  If this is the case, using the defense of claiming that you have evidence or a plan that you don’t have will not work, because people will suspect that your accusations are baseless, your taxes are hiding something, and your plans do not exist.

Second, perhaps what you are hiding is distressing.  Perhaps you really do have evidence about wiretapping, but do not want to damage President Obama’s standing.  Perhaps you do have tax returns, but what they contain would cause a scandal so monstrous that you do not want to release them.  Perhaps your immigration plan and your other plans are so horrifying that they would cause the American people to be upset.

But don’t you see, by not releasing the truth you allow rumors to propagate – and rumors are always worse than reality.

My third hypothesis is that you have a deep-set psychological aversion to telling the truth.  If that is the case, Sir, I think you are in the wrong business and should think about getting out.  

Mr Turmp, tell the truth.  If you do not have the truth, do not make accusations.  If you are honest with the American people, perhaps they would start respecting you more.

Regards,

Bill Boerman-Cornell

President Trump, at Least Listen to this Prominent Republican

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave

Washington DC 20500

19 April 2017 

Dear President Trump,  

In the Hammond Times, a local newspaper near where I live, this past Monday, April 17, they ran a story about former Senator Richard Lugar.  Lugar, a lifelong Republican, represented Indiana for 36 years and in a recent speech to the Foreign Policy Association made some suggestions about how you might be more effective in dealing with other nations.  Lugar argues that your focus on building walls between us and our allies, extracting additional payments from our allies, pledging to deport undocumented immigrants and cutting funds for diplomacy will result in America losing its position as a world superpower.  As Lugar put it, “These are goals that normally would be associated with a selfish, inward-looking nation motivated by fear, not a great superpower with the capacity to shape global affairs.”

Lugar goes on to argue that the history of this century shows that military force alone cannot substitute for other types of geopolitical leverage like international alliances, better trade agreements, and a strong diplomatic corps. All of these are things you have vowed to cut or eliminate.  “We cannot bomb our way to security,” Lugar says.  “If strong and comprehensive American leadership is withdrawn from the global stage, broader efforts at conflict prevention will fail.  The people of the United States and most countries of the world will become poorer and will have to endure more frequent conflict.  Solutions to threats that impact us all, including climate change, extreme poverty and hunger, communicable diseases, nuclear proliferation, cyberwarfare, and terrorism, will be almost impossible to solve.”

We are a global society.  In order to make things better for US citizens, we need to work with the rest of the world.  Alienating our allies and dismantling diplomacy will leave us unable to form and lead coalitions to deal with that which is really important on a global scale.

I haven’t read your book The Art of the Deal, but in all your years in business, have you really never learned that getting along with people and developing friends can pay off later.  I worry that your idea of a perfect deal is one in which your side wins and the other side loses.  That approach to global relations may prove to be deadly for the United States.  I urge you to consider Lugar’s words carefully. 

Regards,

 

Bill Boerman-Cornell

President Trump, It Is Time to be Kind.

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave

Washington DC 20500

18 April 2017 

Dear President Trump,  

I read about the Easter Celebrations at the White House recently and watched a video that showed a clip of you signing a child’s hat and, instead of handing it to the child, tossing it into the crowd.  

While that may seem harmless, after all, the kid probably got his hat back, it isn’t harmless at all,  President Trump. That is an unkind thing for anyone to do, let alone the president of the United States. 

 And, while this may seem like a small thing that I’m writing you about, the fact is, it’s not. As President, you are a role model and a leader. You are perhaps one of the most powerful and influential people in our country. When you’re a leader, other people look up to you and try to imitate your behavior. And it’s not okay to do things like that when you’re being looked up to and imitated.  

 A little bit of kindness can go a whole lot farther than you think, President Trump. The situation with the hat was very small in the grand scheme of things and probably only lasted a couple of seconds, but there have been other instances of you being unkind and inconsiderate to others. You have called women very nasty things before that make me feel disgusted and horrified when I read them, for example.  

It is time for you to start being kind.  

Sincerely,

 
F.

President Trump's Favorite Book

_{President Trump}

_{The White House}

_{1600 Pennsylvania Avenue}

_{Washington DC 20500}

_{17 April 2017} 

_{Dear President Trump,}  

_{Today I want to talk to you about books. They are the foundation of our society. They are a refuge for the lost. They are a home for the homeless. They offer comfort to the grieved. Anyone who disagrees probably hasn't found the right book yet.}  

_{President Trump, what is your favorite book besides the Bible and The Art of the Deal? I read in an interview that you mentioned those two, but the Bible I consider to be in a class by itself, and I would also argue that listing your own book as your favorite is not quite fair. So, what other books? What other books have made you question your view of the world, or changed how you see it? What other books have made you laugh so hard that you've woken someone up or had to run to the bathroom immediately? What other books have inspired you and made you want to change your own actions to imitate those of a fictional character or historical figure?} 

_{You can gain so much insight into someone's thoughts, values, and personality by learning what their favorite books are. For instance, my favorite books are the Harry Potter series. From them, I took away the ideas that it is never okay to be complicit in evil, even if it seems to be prevalent, that true friendships can be some of the most valuable things in the world, that judging people based on things they have no control over is wrong, and that love will conquer hate.}  

_{So, President Trump, what is your favorite book?} 

_Sincerely,

 

K.

Dear Whoever Opens President Trump's Mail , Part 2

1110 E. 16^th Place

South Holland , Illinois 60473 

Whoever Opens President Trump’s Mail

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington DC 20500 

Dear Person Who Opens President Trump’s Mail, 

Our family has sent President Trump 65 letters in the mail since he was inaugurated.  We have yet to get a response.  We know that he himself doesn’t have time to answer letters, but we are getting discouraged.  Since you are the person who opens the letters, could you tell us what happens with the letters we send?  Do any letters at least get a form letter response?  Do they all just get thrown away?  Does President Trump at least get a report of what people are sending him letters about?  Does our writing letters to the president make any difference at all? 

I thought this would be a good exercise for my children to learn about democracy.   Please write back and let us know what happens with our letters.  If we will never get a response anyway, I would rather not waste my kid’s time or get their hopes up that their letters can make a difference.

Regards, 

Bill Boerman-Cornell

President Trump, Don't Play Chicken with my Health Care

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington DC 20500

13 April 2017 

Dear President Trump: 

In business, I am told, you sometimes need to play hardball when negotiating.  Very occasionally, you might even risk the whole company if the potential payoff is big enough.  It takes nerves of steel to play a game of chicken like that and I am sure it is an exciting thing to do. 

Last night you announced your intention to eliminate the Cost Sharing Reduction Payments that are part of the Affordable Care Act.  According to MSNBC, physician and industry groups estimate that this would result in an average of a fifteen percent hike in premiums for consumers.  You stated that this maneuver will bring your opponents back to the negotiating table. 

Sir, you are not running a company right now.  You are the president of a nation.  You are not playing chicken with company assets.  You are proposing to play chicken with the health care premiums of real people – some of whom elected you, many of whom cannot afford a fifteen percent hike and may lose their health care and suffer greatly as a result.   

Let me be clear.  If you want to replace the Affordable Care Act, do it as a statesman.  Come up with a proposal that will solve the problems with the health care system and result in more Americans being covered.  Then lay our your arguments in support of that system.  If your proposal is a good one, your opponents from both sides of the aisle will see the value of compromise.  If instead, your try to play chicken, it will end the way the fiscal cliff scenario ended a few years ago, with public outrage, loss of support, and nothing gained for either side.  

Regards, 

Bill Boerman-Cornell

Develop a Presidential Sense of Humor

_{1110 168th Place}

_{South Holland, IL 60473} 

_{President Trump}

_{The White House}

_{1600 Pennsylvania Ave.}

_{Washington DC 20500}

_{12 April 2017} 

_{Dear President Trump:} 

_{Back to fourth graders’ report cards!  You may recall that a couple weeks ago, after I spent hours on my students’ report cards, it occurred to me that some of them speak not only to the lives of ten-year-olds but also speak to our lives as adults. In that spirit, I have lifted another report card comment for your perusal and reflection today.}

_{4th grader report card comment:   _______________ brings joy to our class with his self-deprecating humor.} 

_{Why it matters to you, or should:  Even as adults, what situation isn’t lightened a bit by those who make a joke or two at their OWN expense? It lightens some tense situations, aids digestion, and adds joy to life.  Some of the funniest people I know, both personally and onstage, constantly use their own foibles as great comedic fodder.   I am not asking that you become President-turned-comedian.  I know being leader of the free world is a heavy responsibility, but please take time now and then to laugh at yourself.  By all means, go to the White House correspondents’ dinner April 29 —it’ll be a blast… if you are willing to laugh at yourself.}  

_Sincerely, 

_{Amy Boerman-Cornell}

President Trump's Budget, Air, and Water

1110 E. 168^th Place

South Holland, IL 60473 

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington DC 20500

11 April 2017 

Dear President Trump,  

Yesterday’s New York Times contains an article that details how budget cuts would affect the functioning of the Environmental Protection Agency.  Often the public is told that cuts would eliminate bureaucratic redundancies and government waste.  This article underlines how the deep cuts your budget is proposing would affect the daily lives of Americans.  I urge you to reconsider these cuts based on what the results would be. 

Your budget would cut spending on the EPA by 31 percent, from 8.1 billion to 5.7 billion.  This move would eliminate 15,000 jobs. 

Specifically, the budget would cut the Public Water Supervision Grant Program which allows states to monitor public drinking water and without which, communities like Flint, Michigan, would never know their lead pipes were poisoning their citizens. 

Your budget would reduce spending on civil and criminal enforcement of pollution violators by 60% -- from 10 million to 4 million – making it difficult to stop the most egregious pollution violations.  Yet at the same time would fund a round-the-clock security detail for EPA administrator Scott Pruit, something that has never been funded by the agency before. 

Your budget would end regional clean-up programs including Chesapeake Bay, the Guld of Mexico, And Francisco Bay, and the Great Lakes – amounting to 4 million in cuts.  Experts believe this could also open the EPA to lawsuits that would completely eliminate the savings and would cast the government even more, 

Your budget would cut in half the Superfund program, which identifies polluters and makes then pay for the cleanup.  This would allow the most toxic sites to continue to hurt people.

Eliminating the EPA’s research budget would make it impossible to identify and evaluate potentially hazardous substances like endocrine interrupters and other substances found in everyday items which could cause cancer and other diseases. 

Your budget would completely eliminate emissions testing and, in the years it would take to set of your propose testing system that automakers would pay for, would significantly increase air pollution resulting in more asthma and other respiratory ailments. 

There is more, but I have to go to work.  Clearly, these cuts could hurt and quite possibly kill regular Americans (though they might benefit large corporations’ bottom lines).  My life and health, and the life and health of my children and neighbors is at stake here.  Don’t cut EPA funding.  Instead consider increasing it. 

Regards, 

Bill Boerman-Cornell

Skipping Rocks and Garter Snakes and Saving the National Parks (by F.)

1110 E. 168^th Place

South Holland, IL 60473

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington DC 20500

10 April 2017

Dear President Trump,  

Today, I went to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. My family, along with a group from my church, went on a beautiful hike, where we saw several garter snakes and enjoyed spending time skipping rocks in Lake Michigan by the dunes.    

My family also loves National Parks. Last year, on our vacation, we attended Bryce, Zion, Mesa Verde, Arches, and Grand Canyon National Parks. A few years ago, we went to Yellowstone with our reunion group. 

My family is Christian, and, to us, it is important to spend time admiring, interacting with, and caring for God’s creation. Just one glance across Grand Canyon National Park proves how powerful and amazing our God is.  

God commands us to take care of the world he created. It pains me when I see people throwing away things that could be recycled, leaving lights on that could be turned off, and buying new items when the ones they have suffice. Pollution and global warming are things that make me frightened, and sometimes, they make me feel small and powerless. But they are real things and they need to be addressed.  

When I attend a National Park or Lake Shore, I feel comforted. They make me feel like America does care about preserving rare and unique wildlife and formations. I am able to see parts of God’s incredible creation that I wouldn’t get to see anywhere else in the world.

In short, President Trump, National Parks and Lake Shores are extremely important.

And, I was quite upset when I heard that you’re cutting the budget for National Parks and Lake Shores. That is not okay, President Trump. Please reconsider.

Thank you, 

 

F.

President Trump, Keep the Line Item for Libraries

_{1110 E. 168th Place}

_{South Holland, Il 60473} 

_{President Trump}

_{The White House}

_{1600 Pennsylvania Ave}

 

_{Washington DC 20500}

_{8 April 2017} 

_{Dear President Trump,}  

_{I don't know if you personally read any of the mail you've been getting (it would be foolish to presume you read all of it, because there are simply not enough minutes in the day to read the volume of mail I assume you receive), but I am hopeful that perhaps some tally makes its way to you every day, or week, or month. Something along the lines of "540 letters about healthcare" or "4,000 letters about Syria." In that case, I would like you to mark down this letter as a "Please don't propose to cut IMLS funding" letter.} 

_{I've said it all before, but libraries play an important role in our society. You do not have to have money to enjoy the benefits of a library. You do not have to be a certain race or have a certain job to enjoy the joy of reading that a library can bring. The free and comprehensive education of America is one of the things that distinguishes us as a world leader, and libraries are an important part of that. Please don't cut their funding. I realize I have written about this before, but as a businessman I know you care deeply about numbers, so please add another tally to the list of letters protesting the elimination of IMLS as a line in the US budget.} 

_Sincerely, 

_K.

Tragedy in Syria (Our 60th letter to President Trump)

Update:  This is the sixtieth letter we have printed, mailed, sent, and posted to President Trump. 
(We are still awaiting a reply to any of them)

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington DC, 20500

6 April 2017 

Dear President Trump: 

The Syrian Regime dropped chemical bombs on innocent civilians Tuesday.  86 people were killed.  26 of the dead were children.  The pictures are horrific.  That action was nothing less than evil.

Last night the United States bombed back. I have not heard the results of our air strike, but I am glad that you have changed your mind and are no longer supporting President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.  I am sure that you are meeting with your advisors to determine the next courses of action to take.  I am not a diplomat nor a military expert and would not preserve to advise you as to strategy or which action to take.  I am, however, a teacher and a father and would like to give you two cautions. 

First, although the pictures of the damage caused by the al-Assad regime's chemical warfare make me angry and probably make you angry too, as you consider further military action, please remember that there are still tens of thousands of innocent people trapped between the government and the rebels.  In our anger toward the people who perpetrated this crime, let us be careful not to hurt the very people we wish to avenge, or perpetrate similar crimes with mis-aimed airstrikes.

Second, those people that we engaged in an air strike to avenge, those children whose bodies have been horribly torn and destroyed by this action, they are the same children that your legislation wants to bar from entering the United States.  Clearly they need help.  Do we really want them to face a life stuck in war-torn Syria or stuck in a refugee camp for decades?   

I know you have said “America First.”  You have shown that you are willing to change your mind when you recognize injustice.  Perhaps you might consider a new slogan: “People First.” 

Regards, 

Bill Boerman-Cornell

 

Vague threats are a bad idea, Mr. President.

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington DC, 20500

5 April 2017 

Dear President Trump: 

According to CNN, today you met with Jordan’s King Abdullah and spoke on the phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.  While CNN didn’t report on what you discussed, I am assuming that you spoke about some of the trouble spots in the world.  Also today, North Korea test-fired another missile.  CNN quoted you as saying “Well, if China is not going to solve North Korea, we will.” 

I think that may have been a dangerous thing to say.  I an imagine that there may be times in international relations when it is necessary to issue a threat, and that North Korea's nuclear program may be present such an occasion, But when a threat is vague and unclear, it can come across as far more belligerent than you perhaps intend it to.  When you make a vague threat you allow a lot of room for interpretation.  Since North Korea is ruled by a paranoid, egotistical madman his interpretation will likely be that you intend an attack on his country or his person in whatever way his imagination can think of.  If he were the only person in that country, this might make sense.  In fact, however, North Korea is populated with innocent people.  Regardless of what measures you intend, there is a huge risk of those innocent people being endangered.   

I wanted to write to remind you that not only do our actions, no matter how well intentioned, put people at risk, but your words, as the leader of our country, put people at risk as well.   I encourage you to seek wise counsel and think careful before you act or speak on matters of world conflict.

Regards, 

Bill Boerman-Cornell

President Trump, Reinstate Workplace Protections for Women

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington D.C.  20500

5 April 2017 

Dear President Trump: 

On March 27 you signed an executive order which didn’t make much of a splash in the news, but should have.  That executive order revoked the 2014 Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Order.  That order ensured that companies with federal contracts had to comply with 14 existing labor and civil rights laws.   

President Obama signed that order after a 2010 Government Accountability Office investigation showed that companies with rampant violations of these laws were being awarded millions of dollars worth of federal contracts.  In part the order includes a ban on forced arbitration clauses that permit companies to force female employees to sign away their constitutional right to a day in court and also their right to discuss what happened with the press. You have now eliminated that protection. 

Sir, I have two daughters.  One of them is in college now and will be joining the workplace in three years.  Have you honestly just changed the law to make her less safe?  Are you protecting companies at the expense of my daughters’ safety?  Have you really just signed an order that allows companies to pay women less than men to do the same job?  How can you justify such an action, Mr. President?  Such an action is enabling inequity and injustice.  Such an action is unworthy of anyone occupying the office of president.  Sir, your job is to protect the American people.  All of them.  Making it easier for women to be sexually assaulted in the workplace is despicable. 

You have two daughters.  Do the right thing.  Reinstate the protections for women and people protected by civil rights laws.   

Regards, 

Bill Boerman-Cornell

A 100,000 dollar donation by President Trump does not offset a 1.5 billion dollar cut to the National Parks

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington D.C.  20500

4 April 2017

Dear President Trump: 

I am genuinely pleased that you have chosen to donate your first quarter salary for being president to the National Parks Service.  You have made a good choice as the National Parks are a wonderful gift to all Americans.  Last summer my family and I travelled to Grand Canyon National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park.  We were deeply impressed with the dedication and competence of the workers there and the care they take to protect the land and the people visiting it.  The National Parks are truly an amazing treasure for all Americans. 

However, in spite of this personal way of supporting the parks, your proposed budget would cut funding to the Interior Department (which includes the National Parks) by 1.5 billion.  My understanding is that one fourth of your presidential salary comes to about 100,000 dollars.  So while I do not mean to minimize your gift, it hardly makes up for the cuts you are proposing.  Even if you would donate to the Parks Service for each quarter of your four year term, the cuts you propose would still leave the agency crippled.   

I wanted to let you know that for me and my family, funding the National Parks is of far more importance than spending billions of dollars on a wall along the US - Mexican border – particularly since that wall is something we don’t need, that won’t work, and that sends the wrong message to the world about how we feel about our neighbors.   

Sincerely, 

Bill Boerman-Cornell

 

Immigrants...We Get the Job Done,

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington DC 20500 

Dear President Donald Trump,  

My family is obsessed with the musical "Hamilton". I am sure that you are familiar with the musical. It is absolutely spectacular; the songs teach a lot of history, there are many meaningful lines, and all of the actors are incredibly talented. We actually got the opportunity to go to Broadway in Chicago and see it live a few days ago!   

Anyways, there is a line in “The Battle of Yorktown” when Lafayette says, “Immigrants...we get the job done!” That is perhaps my favorite line in the entire musical. (And that’s saying a lot!) Immigrants...we get the job done. Immigrants...we get the job done.   

And in a song on the Hamilton mixtape, “Immigrants, we get the job done,” it says, “...it’s really astonishing that in a country founded by immigrants, ‘immigrant’ has somehow become a bad word.” 

That really struck me. After all, President Trump, everyone who isn’t a Native American is either an immigrant or the descendant of an immigrant.  Your very own wife is an immigrant.  Without immigration, the US wouldn’t be the nation that it is currently.    

The way you are talking about people from other countries in the news, though, makes me think that they will not feel welcomed here.  And that would be a shame.  President Trump, please remember that immigrants are what makes our nation full of variety. Immigrants are what bring different religions, cultures, art, music, stories, food, and so much more to America.    

Immigrants...we get the job done. Immigrants get the job done. They are what makes America great.

Sincerely,

 

F.

Cut funding to libraries? What the heck?

President Trump

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington D.C.  20500
1 April 2017

Dear President Trump:
 

I recently read of an action you have taken that has tested to the limits my ability to engage in a polite level of civil discourse. Let me explain.
 

I work in my college campus's library. As someone who has grown up around and has loved being part of the welcoming community that is a public library, I absolutely love my job. Recently my supervisor forwarded an email from a Michigan librarian to all of the student workers at my college. This message informed us that your administration has decided that the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and within that, the Library Services and Technology Act which the IMLS administers, are non essential. They are on your list of things to be eliminated, and thus, they do not receive any funding in the new budget you have proposed.
 

This is appalling. This is absurd. Libraries serve as places of equality and learning in communities across America. They are not only places for books to be shared with everyone, although that alone should be reason enough to spare some funding. They are places for communities to join together and have clubs, do activities, and get to know one another. Many children across the country have fond memories of "story hour" as children. Libraries are available to everyone. They do not discriminate based on gender, race, or economic status. Federal dollars are an essential part of this. When the federal dollars are joined with state ones to fund the library (and, I may add, the state is incentivized to set aside this money for libraries because if they not set aside a certain amount, they do not receive the federal dollars for funding the same thing), they can accomplish amazing things together. 

 

Frankly, sir, I see absolutely no need or reason to eliminate funding for libraries. I do not know how much you have used them in your life, but they have been a source of comfort and freedom for many people in many diverse situations. From a farmer looking to do research on taxes to an aspiring fashion designer looking for some advice from those who have gone before her to someone looking advice on how to start a business to someone who is looking for a way to escape their life for an hour or two, libraries are there. I hope and pray that you will not cut their funding. Please acknowledge the great contribution that Libraries supply to America. 

Sincerely,

K.