Dear America,
I want to begin with this:
I love you.
I really, truly do.
I lived in your cities. I walked your campuses. I sat in your coffee shops, dreaming of building something that could change the world.
America was where I studied. Where I discovered my voice.
Where I fell in love with ideas that reshaped my life.
Where I started Mindvalley, with nothing but ambition and a belief that anything was possible.
For a full decade, you were my home.
And in many ways, you still are.
I may live elsewhere now, but I still identify as American more than anything else.
Because America—the idea of America—isn’t just geography.
It’s a frequency. A dream. A promise that inspired not just me, but billions of people around the world.
What we loved about you
We loved your optimism—the way you believed anything was possible.
We loved your rebels—the ones who spoke truth to power and rewrote the rules.
We loved your Martin Luther King Jr., whose voice still echoes across continents.
We loved your Silicon Valley, that dared to invent the future.
We loved your Apple, born in a garage, changing the way we connect.
We loved Burning Man, a wild celebration of freedom, creativity, and community in the desert.
We loved your poets, your scientists, your dreamers.
You were never perfect. But damn—you had soul.
You were the lighthouse.
The messy, brilliant, complicated beacon we looked toward for what was possible.
But lately… that light feels like it’s flickering.
What the world sees now
In just six months, this is what the world has seen:
– Threats to abandon NATO, the alliance that preserved peace for generations.
– Pointless trade wars where everyone loses.
– Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Treaty, while the Earth burns.
– And now—bombs falling on Iran.
Another unwinnable war in the Middle East.
A war your people swore they’d never allow again.
Not after Iraq.
Not after Afghanistan.
And it’s not just the outer world we see you destroy.
We see you tearing yourselves apart from within.
- Immigration raids that tear apart families and have caused LA to burn.
- Politicians who sound like children while openly taking bribes.
- Tax cuts for billionaires, while those struggling now actually have to pay more in taxes.
- A climate movement abandoned by the very country where it was born.
And yet—I’m writing this letter with an open heart.
Because I haven’t given up.
This week, I’m helping my son apply to U.S. universities. We’re preparing for a tour of East Coast campuses. Then, I’m driving from South Dakota to Yosemite, with stops at Mount Rushmore and the great open spaces I fell in love with.
I want to show my son America. Because I still believe in what America can be.
But I also cannot stay silent—not as a lover of your culture, not as a global citizen.
This spiral you’re in?
It must be named. And it must be stopped.
Because true friends don’t stay silent when they see you crashing.
The spiral was not a mystery. It was a choice.
Every war.
Every broken treaty.
Every erosion of trust.
It didn’t just happen. It was chosen through voting decisions.
By people who, often unknowingly, chose:
- Ego over empathy.
- Charisma over character.
- Soundbites over substance.
And I don’t blame you.
You were caught in a storm of propaganda. You were tired, misled, afraid.
But we need to be honest:
When you vote for leaders who enable war, destabilize peace, and govern through vengeance, you are not just voting for policy. You are voting for self-destruction.
What happened to service?
A great American president once said:
“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy
Another said:
“We must never remain silent in the face of injustice.” – Barack Obama
Even Ronald Reagan once called America a “shining city upon a hill.”
What happened to that America?
Now we see leaders who sow division instead of unity.
Who thrive on conflict rather than compassion.
Who look not to serve, but to rule.
And as Sun Tzu warned:
“Some men would set their own nation ablaze, just to be king over the ashes.”
Can you recognize them?
Because now more than ever, you must.
America, you’ve always known how to tell the story. Now it’s time to live it.
Think of your heroes.
The ones you’ve shown us on screen for decades.
Will Smith in Independence Day.
Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible.
They save the world, not just themselves.
They protect their families, but they also rise to a higher mission.
That’s what made us fall in love with you.
Your heroes were never selfish.
They were flawed, yes. But they stood up for something bigger.
So why, in real life, do you so often vote for the opposite?
Your vote is not just yours
I say this with love—and urgency:
Your vote doesn’t just affect your neighborhood. It affects the entire planet.
- It affects the air we all breathe.
- The treaties we all depend on.
- The peace we all hope for.
- The future our children will inherit.
This is no longer about party loyalty or economic policy.
This is about consciousness.
This is about whether the most powerful country on Earth will continue to operate from fear and ego —
Or rise into wisdom and service.
What the world needs from you now
We don’t need another American empire.
We need an American elder.
Not one who dominates. One who guides.
Not one who fears. One who serves.
Because you were never meant to be a fortress.
You were meant to be a lighthouse.
But a lighthouse cannot fulfill its purpose if it forgets to shine inward first.
You taught us to dream. Now we’re asking you to dream again.
The world doesn’t hate you.
We’re not laughing at you.
We’re just watching… and hoping.
Hoping that the America we believed in is still in there.
The next time you march in the streets,
March for all of us.
Not just for the poor or hungry in your zip code.
But for the citizens of our shared planet who need you to shine again.
And when the time comes…
Vote with your heart. And with your higher self.
The choice is yours
Not every election is a turning point.
But some are.
And the one you’re facing now?
This is that moment.
You can vote for leaders who turn the world into a battlefield.
Or vote for those who understand that true power is service.
You can choose:
- Ego or evolution
- Division or destiny
- Fear or future
The world is not asking you to be perfect.
We are simply asking you to remember who you are, at your best.
The America that marched with MLK.
That wrote the Moonshot speech.
That created iPhones, NASA, jazz, and the dream that all humans are created equal.
That’s the America we still believe in.
That’s the America the world needs.
Let that be the America you choose.
— Vishen
Founder, Mindvalley
Citizen of Earth.
Forever shaped by the promise of America.
PS: This letter isn’t just mine—it’s a conversation we all need to have. I’d love to hear how this landed for you. What do you believe America still stands for? What does it need to stand for?
Share your comments below.
Let’s make this a space for reflection, dialogue, and hope.
951 Responses
I guess you would have also preferred that Hitler not be stopped?
I feel your pain but it sounds like you have been affected by the propaganda originating from Russian bots. Agreed, it would not be wise to leave NATO, but it is unlikely going to happen. The tariffs are reciprocal tariffs, the other countries may just not call them a tariff but subsidize their own industries, which acts like a tariff to other countries. While we need to take care of the earth, climate change is overhyped and some of these so called “green” energy sources have been pushed into the market, hiding how harmful they are for the environment – we need to look at all aspect, not just a few that fit the agenda. Iran has been calling Israel the little Satan and America the great Satan. The regime was only days away from a nuclear bomb. The horrific Iranian regime has imprisoned, tortured and murdered many Iranians and foreigners who voiced their discontent. Bombing the Iranian regime is giving the people of Iran hope, they are starting to regroup, this is their chance to overthrow the regime. America has assisted in the liberation of the Iranian people. With a regime as evil as the Iranian regime, a regime that only understands violence, bombs are the only option or the last resort. We all want peace but few a willing to use force to bring about peace.
There is Amerikkka and Amerika which you describe in your post. Trump is a frump who is riding the wave of of the moment. As a cynical opportunist Frump has no competition. He is the worst of the worst type of false American. The true America is spelled with a “c” standing for Light (Lift) and Consciousness that has no beginning, end, or tired storyline. The Future is now and the field of all possibilities is open to all who wish to creatively contribute to a future that is worth living and in alignment with principles like diversity, equity, inclusion. A demogogic, narcissistic, mercantilist pretender is the shallow shadow side of Amerikkka/Amerika (K is for Kremlin) which is having its last hurrah before entangling itself in a witch’s brew of lies, deceit, and corruption that it cannot overcome. The Real God we trust in America is not the phony one produced by the technologically enhanced brain but rather The Eternal One who is the embodiment of Love, Harmony, Beauty beyond spacetime illusions. It’s time to turn our votes into vetoes and bring this Frumpian circus to an end. Thank you, Vishen, for articulating The Truth about the Real America and giving Us a forum to deconstruct this monstrosity that has so ominously arisen.
Ralph- (Thank you for your counter-thread comments!)
To your, “Not the God produced by the technologically enhanced brain but rather The Eternal One who is the embodiment of Love, Harmony, Beauty beyond space illusion.” Indeed!
It seems to me that a “technologically enhanced brain” when boiled down to its most basic level is “humanism”! (Self is God)
Such is in direct opposition to “The Eternal One!”
Technology cannot choose “love, harmony, beauty”! The only source for such results is the “Eternal ” God! God is the source of man while man is not the source of God and proportionally to the degree that we adhere to this perspective the more “love, peace and harmony” we enjoy! “Do to others as we want others to do to me!”
From one American born boy who grew up in another country, who was multi-cultural before the term became popular, has visited 57 countries and a worldwide perspective – I salute and enjoy your thinking!
Vishen,
Your message is beautiful — and essential. Not only for America, but for our evolution as a species. I deeply support your expression of the collective crisis of conscience we are facing at this pivotal time.
We are feeling the pain of a backlash against generations of progress — a push against the forward motion toward a more just society. Yet that pain is also a call: to heal our trauma, confront our hatred and fear, and live together in the pursuit of justice and happiness.
You’ve eloquently reminded us that empathy — truly caring for others — is the root of that progress. Upholding the rights enshrined in law through movements for civil rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial equality has always pointed us toward a better society. These aren’t isolated issues. They are all part of the vision of a world where all people and creeds can live without violence, connected by trust and understanding.
In recent months, it has felt as if we are sliding backward — into old fears and prejudices many of us believed we had begun to move beyond. We are again reminded how fragile progress can be, and how necessary it is to see ourselves in one another.
History — from the world wars to countless social struggles — shows us that hatred born of misunderstanding leads only to destruction. Healing begins when we embrace difference, and recognize ourselves in the other.
The hard-won victories of the past — women’s rights, racial equality, social protections — must not be forgotten. We must continue that path by feeding the hungry, caring for children once they’re born, and protecting the Earth — recognizing that planetary health is tied to the love we extend to each other.
True democracy seeks to level the playing field, learning from past errors and lifting up our neighbors through understanding. That spirit gives rise to joy — a creative force that changes the world for the better.
Your message carries a compass. It reminds us that the way forward is through love, not fear. That prejudice and disconnection are not our destiny. That we share this blue rock together, and through love, trust, and imagination, we can go beyond borders — to discover the wondrous nature of our true selves.
This is the dream Dr. King spoke of — and it is still alive. America, at its best, has stood as a beacon for that dream, recreating itself again and again. If we continue to live guided by love, we may finally realize the promise: that the pursuit of happiness is a right for everyone — and a future we can all share.
Wow🌟🌟🌟💫
This message was so inspiring and uplifting.Thank you for sharing and generating the new life force based on love and not hatred and control. We all need to do our part to make the WORLDS. A better place for all of humanity.
Much Love
D
Perfect — here’s a respectful open reply that keeps the tone warm and thoughtful, but systematically challenges the naivety, emotional framing, and narrow lens of the original letter. You can use it as-is or tweak it to suit your voice:
⸻
🗽 An Open Reply to “An Open Letter to America”
From Someone Who Also Loves This Country — But Sees a Much Bigger Picture
Dear Author,
First, let me say: I understand your emotion. I recognize your affection for America, and I hear your frustration, confusion, and concern.
Many of us feel those things — and have for years.
But after reading your letter carefully, I believe you’re seeing only part of the picture.
A powerful, moving part, yes — but also a limited, sometimes selective, and occasionally unfair one.
So here’s my open reply, not as a rejection of your message, but as a deeper conversation — one that doesn’t simplify the complexity of this country or its people.
⸻
🇺🇸 America Was Never Simple
You speak of a lost America — a “shining city on a hill.” But that America never truly existed in the clean, glowing form you describe.
It was always messy. Always flawed. Always a work in progress.
Yes, the U.S. gave us Martin Luther King Jr., NASA, and jazz. But it also gave us Jim Crow, Vietnam, and corporate lobbying. The duality you feel now is not new. It’s just more visible.
Real patriotism means embracing the whole story, not just the idealized one.
⸻
🌍 The “Global View” You Mention Is Real — But Not Universal
You say “the world is watching.” But which world?
Not all of it sees America the same way.
Some see America as an arrogant empire. Others see it as the last line of defense against rising authoritarianism. Some resent its influence. Others flee tyranny for a chance at its freedom.
The global view is not monolithic. Neither is the American one.
⸻
🧠 The Spiral You Mention Has Deeper Roots
You blame the current chaos on ego, bad voting, and propaganda. But that misses the real driver: systemic failure over decades.
People didn’t vote “for ego.” They voted out of despair, disconnection, or distrust of a political and economic machine that seemed to ignore them.
They weren’t misled — they were abandoned. And they reacted, not always elegantly, but understandably.
⸻
🧾 About Those Specific Claims:
• NATO concerns weren’t about abandoning peace — they were about paying fair shares.
• Paris climate withdrawal didn’t stop the U.S. from leading in emissions reductions.
• Immigration policy was broken long before 2016, and remains broken in 2025.
• Trade wars had a cost — but also revealed deep imbalances with countries like China.
• Politicians taking bribes? That’s a bipartisan feature of our system — not a party-specific glitch.
These aren’t signs of collapse. They’re signs of a system groaning under decades of contradictions, bad incentives, and top-down narratives that finally lost credibility.
⸻
💡 What You Call Division, Others Call Awakening
You mourn the loss of national unity. But maybe what we’re seeing is the end of pretend unity — and the rise of long-overdue conversations.
• Working-class Americans on the left and right are now questioning the elites who failed them.
• People across demographics are rejecting corporate and political gaslighting.
• More Americans now know how media, tech, and money shape opinion. That’s not regression — that’s progress.
⸻
🗳 Your Vote Doesn’t Belong to the World
You write that Americans should vote for the planet, not just themselves.
But respectfully — that’s not how sovereignty works.
Every nation exists primarily to protect its own citizens. That’s not selfish. That’s how peace is preserved in a world of conflicting interests.
The U.S. does bear a heavy burden. But it cannot — and should not — sacrifice its people on the altar of global perception.
⸻
🌟 Service Looks Different to Different People
You invoke JFK, Obama, and Reagan. Great quotes — but all from presidents who also presided over war, surveillance, or inequality.
And “service” doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone.
For some, it means fighting for climate justice.
For others, it means defending borders, tradition, or the unborn.
You may not agree with their version of service — but that doesn’t make them blind or evil.
⸻
🌱 What I Wish You’d Said
Instead of dividing Americans into “evolved” and “ego-driven”…
Instead of assuming people vote wrong because they’re brainwashed…
Instead of assuming America is flickering out…
I wish you had asked the deeper question:
What truths are people on all sides trying to express — even clumsily — that we’ve ignored for too long?
⸻
🙏 Let’s Be Honest
America is not dying. It’s waking up — painfully, noisily, and unevenly.
It is still:
• The most generous nation in disaster relief
• The source of vast innovation and free thought
• The destination millions still dream of
And yes, it’s flawed. Deeply. But that’s not new — and it’s not fatal.
⸻
❤️ My Hope
My hope is that your son sees not just the monuments and the myths…
…but the arguments. The grit. The chaos.
And understands that’s what freedom really looks like.
Thank you for your love of this country. But please — before you ask Americans to “be better,” try first to understand why they’re angry, guarded, or skeptical.
Because if you truly love America, you’ll love all of it — even the parts still in process.
Warmly,
A Fellow Believer in a Truer America and more AwAke America….seeking TRUTH …….someone who has no interest in companies who choose up sides and keep the division going— by making judgments ALOUD rather than suspending them, we reveal our limited view and finite mind and potentially lose some of audience???
Chat GPT
⸻
Hi Anonymous ( are you really a ChatGPT response?),
Well written response, pointing out the embedded biases and assumptions in Vishan’s beautiful call to the ‘best’ of America. I think Vishan would do well to consider your points and edit his call. That would make it much more powerful and inclusive. Reducing leaders, and issues to good/bad, right/wrong is dualism, always an over-simplification that does serious disservice to complex issues ( and our understanding of people). I would expect your response by someone very experienced in Focusing ( a method developed by another brilliant American – Eugene Gendlin. I’m interested to know your background.
I am an Australian and live in Australia .
I have quite a few American friends.
Australia has always thought of America as a very special and close ally.
My late father was lent to the American navy during world war two because of his radar skills.
Hé was proud to do this.
What i see and hear coming from America is not the America hé and Australians felt so close to.
We in Australia need the America we can proudly be a friend and ally to.
Yours with hope and sincerity.
Pam
Great blog post Vishen! In agreement on all fronts.
Thank you, beautifly said.
1000% agreed, thanks for posting.
This is beautiful. Thank you for so thoughtfully bringing the perspective of a global citizen.
One thing you said near the end of your letter that rang an important bell for me: “ Or rise into wisdom and service”
THIS. America is at a critical juncture—evolve or perish. But she cannot stay the same. Many will tell you that great nations tend to last about 250 years. That is a Pluto cycle. That’s where we are. When the planet of power returns, it’s time to level up or get out. America’s original mission was bold and beautiful, but there was rot in the foundation. Now is our opportunity to root out that rot, to right the foundation, and to actualize the noble ideals that founded this nation. It’s time to level up. It’s time to “rise into wisdom and service.”
Vishen, you are an amazing leader, I love your vision for peace for the world. We need more leaders like you. Beautifully written.
Enough fighting, it’s pointless, it’s time for peace and love, before these humans destroy the world.
No, this isn’t the space for politics and will only further divide people. Almost everything he says is naive BS and I’m outta here.
Awesome post, Vishen. I agree with what you say, and many need to hear this. Unfortunately, I fear that the people who need to take this to heart the most will probably not resonate with this. They are so far afield and removed from reality. But I hope you reach at least some of them. I admire your courage in writing this, because, under present circumstances, it could adversely affect your entrepreneurial ventures. Many powerful businessmen in the US will not speak out due to fear of retaliation, so, I salute you! I am a member of Mindvalley and think that what you are doing is amazing. I also live in the US and am heartbroken because of what’s going on today. Keep up the excellent work, and keep using your influential position to make this world a better place.
Well here we are again. Another political propaganda piece from the guy who says he “loves America” but also doesn’t think countries should exist. I stayed subscribed till now but I’m finally drawing the lune and leaving. Congrats on using the recent Iran attack as an excuse. I’m not even gonna bother addressing most of your useless essay as it’s not worth it, but don’t you dare criticize the voters in a passive-aggressive way like things were great before. You and your ilk can never and will never understand why someone like Trump got elected. So stop pretending you understand the voters. I don’t necessarily like everything about the Repubs but I hope they’ll keep winning elections and the Dems will remain a minority party. Better than the alternative with clueless idiots like you, who think voting will even change things. You are the people I would march against.
As for dividing people, that’s primarily done by your kind, as well as the scammy govt policies and scammy financial system we have. So don’t talk about “uniting” people and don’t tell people who to vote for. You say you like the idea of America but your and your ilk don’t even understand it. The idea is to be more free of govt, not to have it increasingly in our faces as has been the case for nearly a century. So don’t pretend you understand.
I could go on and on but like I said, you’re not worth a long reply. I hope you and your supporters have fun living in your spiritual and political BS group-think bubble.
I also hope Mindvalley goes bankrupt. See ya.
I voted for Trump from my higher Self out of love, light, compassion and the fight to get back to America’s true values. I believe that is happening and he is being guided by God to act for the higher good of all.
I also don’t believe you should be sharing these thoughts with Mindvalley customers, Vishen. We come here to learn and be uplifted, not to hear your political views.
Agree! 100% I’m disappointed because I’ve always been a fan until now. Completely disgusted by this “letter” and couldn’t disagree with it more.
Hello Vishen,
I appreciate your passion and many points I can say I agree with you fully…but I teach my children to love everyone as people of the world…but to not get caught up in politics that only serves to divide us all. It is a uni-party that only gives us Americans the illusion of choice. We can only control how we interact in the world, with as much thoughtfulness and kindness we can muster. Voting at a ballot box – it is merely symbolic but does not garner freedom for anyone except the politicians. I will continue to raise my humans to not hurt people, to do no harm but take no sh*t from governments or any that might seek to do harm.
Beautifully said, Vishen! You have summarised perfectly my scattered words and feelings about the American dream and the situation the world finds itself now.
Thank you!
Things are not always as they appear. We have an unseen enemy, Satan. Most people don’t even believe in Satan or Jesus Christ. Think what a tremendous advantage he has when we don’t even believe he exists. At mind valley we talk a lot about spirit and our enemy is a spirit.Eph 6:12. His main weapon is lies and deception. He has been in control of this world for thousands of years. He has been undermining the Constitution and the United States of America since it’s inception. He has had worldwide domination and is responsible for almost all the wars, terror and evil on this planet. He operates through people. His Network has dominated our country and our world. He has had almost total control over what is called the seven mountains. Financial, family, church/religion, government, entertainment, media and education. He does this worldwide but his main focus has been the United States because we are all that is standing between him and world domination. The movie The matrix was trying to tell us something. We live in The matrix that Satan has created. It’s complicated, but try this on for size, go to rrdailyblog.blogspot.com. listen to the current or most recent broadcast and you will hear stuff that’s almost beyond belief but that is what is happening behind the scenes. Donald Trump and the white hat alliance and the Christians and true Patriots and the good military that have been working since the assassination of JFK, are tearing down a multi-thousand-year-old evil empire to usher in a world of peace, a Great Awakening, and a golden age. Thank you so much for allowing us to comment on what you said.
Vishen!
I’m excited to hear your spending some time in South Dakota! I live in Sioux Falls. My wife and I have read your books, and they have changed our lives. My family would love to host your family, if you’re open, we can talk about South Dakota, what you should do and see, and avoid.
Thank you Vishen for all you do for humanity. I am truly grateful.
There are some beautiful sentiments here and your letter comes with love intentions. However I was surprised to read that you seem to accept what’s going on at face value- things like the protests, nato, the “climate emergency” narrative etc- for doing so fuels fear and division. Humanity is evolving, we are going through serious growing pains on our spiritual ascension as the old structures fall away, and everyone including leaders on all sides have a role to play. – there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than we know if we watch the mainstream news that is fed to us. Sending love to the people of America and in other places who are navigating these changes the best they can. You always have power and choices no matter how hard it seems. 💜
Vishen, I am sure this message will be buried in with all the rest. I enjoy reading others responses and thank all that have shared here. I have not shared my views with the world or responded to any social media like this letter, because I realize it will be read by people with closed minds to understanding and seeking truth. Yet, here I am responding to your letter in an attempt to plead for all to have open minds to views that differ from their own and keep seeking truth…not just from those that support your view.
First, what you share is the view of someone living in another country and hearing the views laced with propaganda from all over the world. I have many friends throughout the world stating the same views that you share and they refuse to hear any truth that does not support their view. Reframing a truth and seeing a different perspective falls on deaf ears that refuse to even engage in hearing.
Truth is, no matter what political affiliation one’s ideology aligns with, 90% of people want the same outcome of peace, love, health, clean air, affordable living to facilitate a happy life, etc. How we obtain this is where the problem lies.
We know that generations of beliefs can change our genetic DNA. This being said there are those that take refuge in being told what to do and how to do it…a mentality of giving responsibility for their choices to someone else…the doctor, social group, government rules, etc. Victim mentality that cries of what is, yet does nothing to change it. This is where many governments take advantage and squeeze the dreams out of a society through fear of noncompliance of rules, laws or social shaming.
Then you have those that refuse to give up the sovereignty of their own mind and they choose to dream, seek knowledge based in truth and use critical thinking.
Sadly to control the masses the “divide and conquer” strategy has been used aggressively for years, bringing us to where America and the world sits today. We have all been subjected to the entities that, for years, have lied about their true motives and vilifying, even destroying the truth so it does not reach the masses. COVID is a perfect example.
Only united hearts of love, seeking understanding of truth in all things will heal America and the world. Seeking truth…even using AI does NOT present truth, as it has misinformation included in its results.
Let us all lead with hearts open to hearing one another with true empathy, curiosity, and above all a loving heart.
OPEN YOUR EYES TO THE VEIL OF DECEAT.
Blessings for humanity always
Thank you for sharing. I love that beautiful letter.
Even though it looks grim right now. There is so much more good than bad in America and the world. We’re surrounded by beautiful, loving people every day. We/they are just quieter, but our hearts are loud and clear by the caring, loving, positive energy we give to our family, friends, and neighbors, which in turn pours out into the world.
America will always rise up. We all have a choice, and the majority will keep choosing from our hearts!
Dear Vishen: I read your letter and thank you for portraying the greatness of my nation. I felt how sincere you were when you described how much you love my country and why. You are absolutely right when you say we are not perfect, but we have a soul. And it is because of that soul that we do what we do.
-We didn’t really threaten to abandon NATO. We called on everybody to fulfill their financial responsibilities with the alliance, which is in the best interest of the alliance. It did work.
-We told the world we would no longer tolerate being charged outrageous tariffs while they get to enjoy the full benefits of our market at a much lower cost. While we have dozens of millions of European and Japanese cars in our country you can’t find an American vehicle in Japan or any European country. Fairness is all we want. Many agreements have been signed and there are many more in line.
-We withdrew from a totally unfair Paris Climate Treaty that was placing a huge burden on the American economy while allowing the largest and third largest contaminants in the world to continue to do so, and even increase their contamination sources. We made it very clear that we were willing to sign an agreement, but it had to be fair.
-We did not bomb the entire country of Iran. We bombed Uranium enrichment facilities that were intended to allow an oligarchy to have a nuclear bomb threatening the very own existence of Israel and many Arab countries in the region. And for that, quite a few countries have expressed their gratitude, some publicly and some in more private communications. We didn’t start a war. We are ending it, after more than reasonable time and opportunities were given to the Iran oligarchy to do what is best for world peace.
-Talking about world peace, let’s not forget the Abraham Accord, which resulted in a peace agreement between Israel and four Arab countries (UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Sudan), with the unofficial blessing of Saudi Arabia, who was being groomed at the time to be part of the accord also. This was something the Iran oligarchy did not like and resulted in the Oct 7 terrorist attack with the support of Iran. A lot of people missed this point.
No, my friend! We are not destroying the world. We are making it a better place by making sure we have a fair relationship with other countries and by not allowing bad actors to be able to threaten the existence of other nations. That is the right thing to do!
As far as internal policies go:
-We take, by far, more legal immigrants than any other country in the world, year after year. Uncontrolled and illegal immigration is not fair for those doing it legally, and it has created a huge financial burden with a direct impact on our own citizens. I understand, as you stated in a previous message, that you don’t believe in borders (which I respect), but we do! And so do, basically, all other nations in the world. Fourteen million illegal immigrants coming into our country under the previous administration should’ve never happened. Unfortunately, among them we had all kinds of criminals that resulted in the death of many of our honest citizens. That is completely unacceptable! But it happened due to the very selfish interests of one political group. Allowing it to continue will not result in anything good for the nation. We know that by experience.
-Like all other countries, a lot of our politicians are not great. It is a never-ending problem that all nations need to combat, and, like all countries, we do our best to fight it and will continue to do so.
-Yes, billionaires don’t pay a lot of taxes. But the truth is that any taxes imposed to companies will be added to the cost of the products we consume. We will pay those taxes, anyway. Our system is not perfect but has allowed millions of citizens to grow financially, more than any other country in the history of mankind.
-Climate is an issue that must be addressed properly, in a way that is fair and balanced for all parties involved, not in detriment of one nation only (e.g. Paris Climate Treaty). Yes, we have work to do on this issue. So does the entire world.
I’m glad you are helping your son choose a great university. I wish you wisdom. Many of our great universities have been hijacked by a cadre of professors (as much as 90% in some of them) who are more interested in promoting DEI, CRT, and ESG ideology, than in imparting great education. Many of their graduates leave their campuses believing their gender was assigned and that it can be changed at will, like changing cloth. Let’s not forget that buildings are built based on mathematics, surgeries are made based on medicine, and many world problems are solved based on science. That is where the focus of great universities should be.
I understand your need to voice your opinion, and I know you understand mine. Yes, we are in a spiral, but going up, not down. We are calling things what they are and we are not staying silent about it. The nation spoke loudly and clearly across the board during our last election. If we look at all the numbers (popular vote, electoral college votes, swing states, number of states, number of counties, demography) the result was a huge mandate to change the direction in which the country had been taken in the last few years. That is irrefutable. Maybe you didn’t notice, but we were crashing then, badly, and “we, the people” voiced our desire for change. It may not be the change you suggest, but it is the change we want. Yes, we were lied to and misled, but we lived the result of our previous decision.
-Service has always been in our sight. We never forgot the words of Kennedy or Reagan, and we are doing what Obama said we should do but failed to do himself. We didn’t forget Sun Tzu either. That is why we just changed the course of the nation.
-We are living our story, our destiny. It may not be what Hollywood portrays to the world, but it is the real US, with leadership that has proven they are not there for the money they don’t need, but for the wellbeing of the nation. We understood we were all in the same sinking ship. We are making this ship float again and we are taking the ship in the right direction.
-As previously stated, our vote was loud and clear. Most of the world has expressed relief in various forums and meetings. The action in Iran is proof of our commitment for the wellbeing of our world. Not only our country, but that of friends and foes alike.
-We have proven beyond doubt that becoming an empire has never been our goal as a nation. We did not keep any of the countries we took from Spain during the Hispanic-American war, even though some of those countries wish we had. After WWII, the only land we kept from Germany and Japan was the land needed to bury our dead. History speaks clearly.
-We never stopped dreaming, and never will. That is why we decided to change the course of the nation, and we are doing it.
-We never doubted our power to choose, and we exercised that power recently.
My friend, I sincerely and wholeheartedly thank you for your concern, good intentions, and suggestions. But I must ask you to trust us, respect us (which I know you do), and allow us to chart our destiny the way we see fit. As a nation we have made many mistakes in the past, and I’m sure more mistakes will be made in the future. But in the end, we will continue to do well as a nation. Our history is proof of that.
Finally, I want to thank you for your service to the world through Mindvalley. I pray for your health wisdom so we can continue to benefit from your platform. Thank you!
Vishen, this is a wonderful and inspiring letter. It made me cry, but it also pissed me off.
I understand that the world sees the United States as you described, and it is heartbreaking. But that is only a small percentage of us. You know how the toddler who screams the loudest gets all the attention. Everyone knows the bully on the playground, while the peaceful child is often ignored. The majority of the citizens in the US are the peaceful children. It is time for a revolution, and we are waking up.
However, we need support from the world to help us and to openly and verbally stand with us. Your letter described how the US has led the world in peace, technology, the environment, etc. Please also recognize that we have been beaten down and often left helpless. Even though our government may want to isolate the US, the world has moved beyond that possibility, and there is no going back.
Just as we can not rely on our government to “do the right thing ” and must rely on the people and the citizens to stand up, the same is true globally.
We are wounded, and we need the world’s help. We need the light of the world, and collectively, we can pull out of this.