An Open Letter to All Americans
By: Kevin Sites
Tags: Politics, Civility, Election 2016, Election 2020

Dear Everyone,

Let me start by saying I am well aware that the next few remarks I make will have multiple effects/results different than the intended impact I am hoping for. I do not intend for my remarks to be offensive or to stir up contention or anger, instead as I am one who rarely makes political comments, I am hoping my thoughts will help others stop and think about their actions going forward. I am also well aware I will be dismissed by 80% of you as uneducated, ignorant, biased, or a slew of other excuses, but after reading through the constitution and bill of rights, knowing that we have a right to freedom of speech that many do not, I felt it was my obligation and duty to share my thoughts on the current situation in the USA.

I would say the ultimate goal or intent of my remarks is for everyone to see that there is common ground between us.

To my friends on the “right”:

I understand your anger/frustration/disappointment with the results of the election. I also understand the desire to call it “a hoax” or “stolen” and wanting/willing your candidate to be the winner. But let’s stop and think for a second. The feelings you are having right now are exactly what members of the “left” were feeling Nov. of 2016 when Pres. Trump took office. They too felt anger or hurt with the result, they too claimed, sought evidence, and investigated whether or not the election was valid. “Welcome to the end of America”, “Better move to Canada because the US won’t be standing in four years”, and “This has to be fake” were common remarks both shortly after the 2016 election and unfortunately throughout Pres. Trump’s time in office. Yet none of those things happened, the USA is still standing (albeit differently than four years ago).

The “left” was unfair in their assumed judgement and resentment against Pres. Trump before he took office, however if you are saying those same things now about Pres. Biden, you are doing the exact thing you were upset about happening to Pres. Trump.

Take a second if you will and answer these questions about those who are “left” in their political opinion:

1. What is their end goal in politics?

2. What do they actually want to achieve through the passing of bills/laws in congress and/or having their candidate be in the Whitehouse?

3. What do they believe in?

I think if you reflect honestly across those answers and ignore the first thoughts that come to your head (I.e. “they want everyone to just get free money without working”, “turn the country into a bunch of socialists”, “literally end the USA as we know it”), you will see at the root of it, they want to help people, all people and they are trying to the best way they know how.

To my friends on the “left”:

I understand the relief you must be feeling with the results of the election. I also understand the desire to call the behavior and attitude of the other side “insane” or “stupid” because their candidate did not win. But let’s stop and think for a second. The feelings you are having right now are exactly what members of the “right” were feeling Nov. of 2016 when Pres. Trump took office. They too felt that the behavior and attitude of the “left” were out of line by calling the election “a hoax” or “stolen” and that the “left” was trying to investigate a “witch hunt”.

You probably feel like the “right” has already decided to prevent your candidate from doing anything before he has taken office. This is how they felt about you when Pres. Trump took office.

Take a second if you will and answer these questions about those who are “right” in their political opinion:

1. What is their end goal in politics?

2. What do they actually want to achieve through the passing of bills/laws in congress and/or having their candidate be in the Whitehouse?

3. What do they believe in?

I think if you reflect honestly across those answers and ignore the first thoughts that come to your head (I.e. “they only care about making money regardless of people”, “white supremacy”, “literally end the USA as we know it”), you will see at the root of it, they want to help people, all people and they are trying to the best way they know how.

Conclusion

There is an old analogy that the President is the pilot of the plane we are all on. You would never hope and/or try to have the Pilot fail, why are we trying to have the President fail? Now is the time for all of us to do better at getting behind the Pilot and supporting him (notice I did not say agree with him).

What does that look like? It does NOT mean blind obedience or agreeing with every thing/policy he or Congress comes up with. But it DOES mean we don’t spend hours blasting him/them on social media, refusing to acknowledge any good they have done/are trying to do, demonizing them, making them seem to be a threat just in their very existence.

The point? We all have the same intent, to help people. We don’t share the same opinion on how to do it and we don’t have to. My wife takes a different route to Smiths grocery store than I do, I think it takes longer and I don’t like it but at the end of the ride, we are still at Smiths.

Again to my friends on the “left”, congratulations. Now is the time for you to extend a hand to your fellow Americans and work together on the common ground of wanting to help people.

Again to my friends on the “right”, you lost this one. Now is the time to support the winner, regroup and plan for next time, accept the hand of friendship extended towards you, and work together on the common ground of wanting to help people.

I believe the USA will still be standing in four years when the next election comes around, I hope we are more civil and wanting to work together when that time comes.

“The best time to plant a seed (of civility) was [four years ago], the second best time is now” — Unknown

Sincerely,

Kevin Sites