Letter to the Editor: Overcoming a fear of honest conversation

I am pushing myself to overcome fear of honest conversations with my friends and community. My father and his father were Republicans who served in elected office in small-town Texas. As a small girl, I helped my father campaign for Goldwater by going door to door and leaving messages to vote for “AuH20 in ‘64.” 

I wonder how my father and I would relate in this divisive time. Would I have the courage to have open conversations about things that feel so dangerous? Would we label each other as libtard, dewy-eyed Dems and MAGA Trumpers? Would my father find that what the news apologetically reports as “unprecedented” is inaccurate? I ask, “How can it be unprecedented when it happens every day?” I will never know what my father would think today.

What I know is that I see families torn apart as result of ugliness hurled by the now bully at the helm. I label many of his remarks as racist, misogynistic, just plain mean, wrong and unimaginable coming from the White House. I believe this President’s behavior is part of a plan by people who have his ear; his constant attempts to control exposure to his own bad behavior, that he started a war to disguise other things, that he wants to be the king. I believe he is NOT a religious person who will save us. He and his family are fearless in openly manipulating money into their own pockets. 

I am so thankful that I live in this country. To enjoy all the freedoms because of the people who fought wars for me and the selfless service so many folks volunteer for. I hope that I can be brave and defend what I believe to be true, and that as a community, we can linger in common ground.

Charlotte Hinckley

Shell