To My Parents (maybe yours too)

I recently went to my father's 68th birthday party, where my 67 year old mother gifted him a Donald Trump bobblehead and his stupid body was the Terminator from T2. I have had a lot of talks with them over the years, but I'd like to try reaching out one more time. I send my mom PBS news some mornings, she mostly says 'thanks, I think' and my father remains silent or worse.

Hey. I know that it was a long time ago that I was a little boy. I'm 39, now and I'd like you to try and think back to the early 90's with me. When I was growing up, we didn't have much money, and Dad wasn't home as much because he worked 2 jobs. Mom walked me to the library sometimes 3 times a week to keep my curious mind satisfied. Mom, Dad, your party is trying to dismantle libraries. One of my most cherished memories with my mother and sisters is the library. I have been taking your grandson, who is only 7 months old to the library for story time. Why would you support dismantling this institution?

You taught me that the definition of a strong man is how he stands up for those who are weaker than himself. Right now, your party is making it clear that there is strong and that there is weak. Your party is deporting brown citizens and stripping rights from women. You cheer while they rip the weak apart like hyenas. I married a brown woman. Fine. You're liars.

Okay, truth now, technically, Mr. Rogers and his neighborhood taught me to be a good man. Let's be honest, based upon your only examples of a healthy relationship, I'd be beating my wife right now and on my third arrest. Why are you for canceling PBS? Are you not proud of the man that I am? Didn't I become good, better, even???

You served in the Air Force during Vietnam. I joined the Marine Corps and served in Afghanistan. Why do you drink alcohol and call me stupid when we discuss politics after dinner? We should finally respect one another's opinion.

I've done so much because I wanted you to be proud of me. I checked off every single box that I could to make you proud. I know it wasn't brilliant to get a degree in Literature, but you said choose something that I loved. Fine, now I write.

Here are some questions, I hope that you don't mind. Why doesn't it matter if I am proud of you? I'm honestly ashamed of you both. My opinion of you should matter. If my son was ever ashamed of me, I think I'd try and understand why just a little bit more.

Your parents would be ashamed of you too. They fought when it mattered the most. Dad- your father fought in Korea and lived through World Wars. Mom, your parents survived the depression in the midwest. Why aren't you ashamed of yourselves for allowing billionaires to run our country? Allowing millionaires to dismantle your retirement? Guys- you're so close to retiring and you're going to throw it away? To be right about what?

Let me be clear, folks, if anyone came to you now or in 10 years when you're 78 and tells you that you should sell all of your gold and real estate to invest in crypto currency I would look up the real life Statham from that Beekeeper movie. It is happening to your president right now.

You two mean the world to me. At a certain point, every human being realizes that their parents are just normal human beings who are trying their best. Fine. I'm still ashamed. Do better. Stand by me and earn my respect and pride.

Love always,

Your son