A Letter to the President
In the last week, much has happened in my hometown, Minneapolis, MN. Today, as with the last week (and beyond), the President chose to make comments regarding the situation, which has spread across the country. I decided to write a letter to the President in response. Unfortunately, the letter appears to be much longer than the White House website will allow. Until I am able to physically mail the letter, I will post my letter here for anyone who finds it to read.
Donald J. Trump
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
My name is Erik Beck. I am a citizen of the state of Minnesota; born, raised, and now living in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. In many letters, or in many approaches to constructive criticism, this would be the point where I should make some sort of, at the very least, semi-positive comment or statement, perhaps a bit flowery, as a way to acknowledge something you have done or the level of your office, leading into the body of the message.
I have no words for you of that nature today.
As I write, today is June 1, 2020. One week ago, a member of my community, a black man, was killed by police. This is not the first time a member of my community was killed by police. Unfortunately, I also suspect it will not be the last. While I may disagree, I understand there are moments when this level of force is deemed necessary to protect the public. In this case, the use of force was so grossly negligent, so disgustingly vile, so incredibly inhumane, that any question of “necessary force” can only be laughed at in a manner reserved for those statements made with the greatest level of incompetence imaginable. In the wake of this tragedy, the world has seen the community I love rise in response, once again issuing a demand for justice and change which so often has been left unfulfilled.
It would perhaps seem, on its face, that this would not be a situation which would include you in any sort of prominent manner. Past presidents have been seen in moments like these in the past, of course, most often with an attempt to introduce a consoling voice to a family, a community, a nation searching for answers. History has shown many moments where these statements have actually been either late or tone-deaf, failing to truly address the issues underlying the actual incidents which have occurred. To wish that we could rise to that level from the depths to which you have descended is a shame upon you, our government, and our entire country.
My city has burned; it has been looted; it has been shot up. My city has hosted demonstrations, mourning, and questions which do not yet have answers. With your comments today, it seems as though you wish to see that continue with every fiber of your being. The list of words which could be used to describe your statements is potentially endless: senseless; idiotic; aggravating; incendiary; and dangerous, are the first in a long list of words which come to mind. Above all, there is no peace in your words; there is no understanding; there is no empathy; there is no power; and there is no path forward to anything resembling a solution.
There is no reason at this point in your presidency to expect more from you. Comments made to provoke extreme response have been the core of your repertoire since before your most recent presidential campaign. From the beginning of that campaign, you laid the foundation for your intended path with comments of racism, sexism, and xenophobia. The duration of your campaign was no different. Your presidency has shown that there was nothing meant to be built by you, only torn down and destroyed in some bizarre attempt to prop yourself up. The fact that you and your surrogates sought to present the image of a uniter after your election was laughable and insulting, and only serves to cement the legacy of one who will be remembered only as a liar and divider.
There are no “alternative facts” in this situation. Race has played, and unfortunately will continue to play, an incredibly large role in the history of our nation. At a time when we are meant to be most “enlightened,” people of color remain less economically free, less well educated, less well employed, and less than in almost every other metric of consequence related to personal and public welfare in the United States. Black members of our country are over-represented in our jails and prisons, are statistically more likely to be targeted for arrest and prosecution for any number of crimes committed at equal levels by white members of society, and are more likely to face harsher sentencing than members of other races. Members of these communities have been screaming for their plight to be heard and understood for years, and at a moment when the country seems to be waking, you seek not only to snooze, but completely destroy the alarm being sounded in our communities.
It is to my shame that I have not been louder before now. It is to our shame that these issues have not been addressed sooner. A country which seeks to be “Great” while looking to continue the disenfranchisement of large numbers of its citizens will crumble in the face of any real test given to it. There is only one direction in which this path leads, and it is not toward greatness.
Unfortunately, based upon what I have seen during your tenure, one voice will not reach you. Many voices have already fallen on deaf ears. My hope is that there rises such a cacophony of sound that there is no way to drown it out. Indeed, there is nothing that can be done to stop history as it arcs toward justice, no matter the steps taken in an attempt to do so.
My name is Erik Beck. I am a white, evangelical, seminary trained, full-blooded Minnesotan, who is also a registered voter. I stand with my community, and I am here to seek shalom, peace, for my city. I refuse to stand by and remain silent, as you seem to be incapable of doing the same. My vote is cast; it is not for you.
Erik Beck