A letter to a family member who won’t “engage with politics”

I don’t have the luxury of ignoring politics right now. My very existence is under threat from a government that seeks to humiliate, denigrate, and dehumanize me.

If you asked, I would tell you how, every day, I counsel my team and colleagues who live in fear for their lives.

If you asked, I would tell you how painful it is to watch my life’s work be dismissed as meaningless—even though my mission is to serve my country and save lives.

If you asked, I would tell you how my trauma doesn’t stop at work. It follows me outside of 9-5 as I’m bombarded with meaningless tasks from this administration, designed to demoralize and control us.

If you asked, I would tell you how hurt I am by friends and family who voted for this and remain complacent, sitting back as my world falls apart without even trying to understand what’s happening.

But you didn’t ask.

When I was at my lowest and shared my frustration and pain, you ignored me.

Because you don’t do politics.

My world is falling apart, and your preference is to avoid politics.