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.
952 Responses
“Peace be with you “there is no joy when there is so much sadness in our home in our back yard across the seas
Lord hear my prayer
Dear Vishen,
Thank you so much for speaking out and set spark to our hope. This was so needed. I read your words crying, not out of despair but because of feeling seen, heard and not alone. I am more than ever committed not to stay silent and contribute what I can to relieve the darkness. See you at Mindvalley U in Amsterdam!
This is exactly what every American needs to hear and embrace. I have lived in other countries and I always loved them but knew that America was the best country in the world. I would sit under the flag at the American embassies on Friday nights just to remind myself of the privilege of being American and the American passport. In America you can become anything you set your mind on becoming. So many people have come here with nothing and have created inventions, companies, etc. that change the world for the better. I miss the beautiful America. True leaders. Love and acceptance. My friend that immigrated here and became an American citizen told me that his hope is that in four years a new election will come and that things will change. I hope and pray for that day.
It’s a good letter but you talk about illegals families broken up but not about the illegals that came here and killed peoples you talk about tax breaks for the millionaires but not about the money the politicians have been stealing from the people form the American people you talk about let your voice be heard but only of what you like not what is good and right for the U S A and I could go on with all your statements but I’m not going to waste my time read your statements and ask yourself what the truth really is and hopefully you will find your answer
Thank you John. I think there has to be more of a round table of discussion not just what the media feeds the people. I found this letter very one sided and not at all open to why things are the way they are. People are beautiful and resilient. I believe love and truth will prevail if we are all truly open to it.
Agreed! I sent a similar post. It makes no sense for someone on the outside to try to tell Americans how things are here or how they THINK things should be. Outsiders shouldn’t be aloowed to sway others with a minimal amount of real information. imho
👍👍👍👍
I agree with you, John.
Agree.
Agreed a one-sided discussion is never connecting with consciousness!
Indeed! This was such a shock to see in my inbox this morning. I was “gobsmacked” by the clearly uneducated, unresearched information that went on and on and on.
I also never see folks talk about who is going to pay for the immigrants? Maybe Vishen will start giving Mindvalley courses for free to show he truly supports no barriers, perimeters, or parameters.
At some point, goods and services must be paid for. Typically that is done within a budget. America is over $30 TRILLION in debt.
I am so happy to hear you, for a ‘3-minute years’ I thought you have gone all ‘corporate’. But that’s not a sin if you still have a huge heart – which you awesomely do. I celebrate that!!
What do we do with the others that are ‘oh please, not in this space’ as if there’s anywhere to hide. As if there is a delimitation between spirituality, citizenship, morality, aspirations, the world, and personal growth.
Some think they can grow in a bubble and a lot of them try, especially after the challenges thrown by a ‘global plague’. People become more easily scared and less willing to speak their truth.
I feel you are very kind and optimistic in front of a chasm, can we all meditate and affirm that it already happened, that the world already got peace and equilibrium, so we can manifest it into reality?
I guess most of us are scared, waiting. But that’s not going to do much. What can we do, because now we need to do it more than ever.
You were right about all the great achievements, there are many great minds, positive powers out there, I keep wondering how is all this negativity possible, with all these bright minds around the world, how can they have a greater influence for good?
Dear Vishen,
Your open letter touched me deeply, and I feel called to respond with the same love and care you poured into your words. As a proud Texan, a conservative, a business leader, and a mindful servant of my community – I share your passion for America’s promise. While I see some of your concerns differently, I offer this response with understanding, compassion, and a shared hope for a brighter future.
– Love for America:
You share your love for America’s past, and I echo that. I felt proud to be American when I walked the halls of my Texas high school, where teachers instilled values of hard work and freedom. I felt it when I started my business, inspired by the promise that anyone with a dream could build something lasting. I felt it in the quiet moments of prayer, grateful for a nation that protects my faith.
That pride hasn’t dimmed – it’s grown. It lives in the small business owners I serve, who rise daily to provide for their families. It lives in the volunteers rebuilding communities after storms. It lives in my children, who dream of studying engineering in a country that still leads the world in innovation. My pride is rooted in America’s people – their grit, their generosity, their unyielding belief in a better future.
Yet, I must ask with respect: If you’re no longer living here, experiencing the daily realities of this administration’s policies, how can your perspective fully capture the domestic challenges we face? Those of us here – paying taxes, raising families, running businesses – navigate inflation, border security, and energy costs firsthand. While your global view is valuable, it may not fully reflect the moral and practical trade-offs we weigh. I invite you to share how your distance shapes your stance, so we can better understand each other.
– America’s Light Shines, Even Through Storms:
You describe America’s lighthouse as flickering, but I see a nation glowing with resilience. The optimism you cherish lives on—in our innovators, our communities, our dreamers. My cybersecurity business protects companies, helping them thrive in the digital age you once celebrated. That’s not a fading light – it’s a beacon guiding us forward.
Our economy grew by 2.5% in 2024, driven by technology and energy, lifting families and businesses.
American pioneers are shaping the future, from space exploration to artificial intelligence.
You speak of a “spiral,” but I see growing pains. America is navigating complex challenges with the messy, vibrant spirit of a free society. We’re not perfect, but we’re learning, adapting, and striving.
– Geopolitical Choices Reflect Care, Not Conflict:
Your worries about NATO, trade, and Iran come from a place of care, and I honor that. As someone who works in cybersecurity, I understand the weight of protecting what matters. America’s role isn’t to step back but to lead with strength and wisdom, ensuring safety for our people and allies.
NATO remains strong. Talks about fair contributions aim to deepen, not weaken, our alliances.
Trade policies, like tariffs, shield American workers, reducing trade imbalances by 18% from 2018 to 2024.
Diplomacy and careful deterrence guide our path, distinct from past conflicts.
Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Treaty prioritized economic balance. Yet, U.S. emissions fell 14% from 2005 to 2023 through innovation.
America acts not out of haste but with a commitment to freedom and stability. As Sun Tzu, whom you quote, wisely noted: “The art of war is of vital importance to the state.” Our strength fosters peace.
– Unity Persists Amid Passionate Debate:
You see division, pointing to immigration and taxes. I see a nation alive with passionate dialogue—a sign of our strength. As a Hispanic American, I know the immigration debate firsthand. Enforcement upholds fairness for legal immigrants like my family, with 2024 deportations focusing on criminal offenders, not families.
Tax cuts have empowered small businesses like mine, sparking an 8% annual rise in investment. Inflation challenges families, yes, but this is a global hurdle, not America’s alone. Beyond politics, Americans unite—rebuilding after disasters, supporting neighbors. My work with local Hispanic communities shows this spirit daily.
– Service and Faith Guide Our Path:
Your call for “service” resonates deeply with my conservative and spiritual values. I live by “peace through strength, love through harmony,” inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., whom you admire, and Ronald Reagan’s vision of a “shining city.” Service is action, not just words.
I advocate for cybersecurity policies that protect small businesses while ensuring accountability.
My company secures data and protects businesses, fostering trust and growth for clients.
As a mindful Christian, I seek wisdom through prayer and act with compassion.
You ask, “What happened to service?” It thrives in every entrepreneur, volunteer, and parent nurturing their children. Our leaders, though imperfect, include many who serve with dedication, passing laws to strengthen communities.
– Us Voting Reflects Our Heart, Not Our Failures:
You suggest voters choose “ego over empathy.” I see Americans voting with conscience and hope. My mindfulness practice teaches me to pause, reflect, and act intentionally—qualities I see in voters of all stripes. The 2024 election drew 68% turnout, a testament to our engagement.
Your cinematic heroes—Will Smith, Tom Cruise—are outshone by everyday Americans: the single mom working tirelessly, the veteran serving her community, the coder dreaming big. We vote for opportunity, security, and a better tomorrow.
– America Leads with Purpose
You rightly note our vote shapes the world. America isn’t just a servant but a cornerstone, enabling global progress through innovation and strength. My cybersecurity work protects clients worldwide, from Texas, because America sets the standard.
We shine brightest when we act with courage. The world doesn’t need a dimmer America—it relies on our bold leadership. When I drive my family through Texas, I show them not only natural wonders but the industries building our shared future.
– A Shared Choice for Freedom and Unity:
You call this election a turning point, and I agree. It’s a moment to embrace liberty, innovation, and faith. We’ll vote for leaders who protect our values and unite us, not those who dwell on what divides.
Vishen, I deeply respect your journey and mission. America isn’t spiraling—it’s striving, a fortress of freedom built on sacrifice and dreams. Let’s celebrate that together, lifting each other toward a brighter future.
With warmth and hope, Eduardo Contreras – Proud American, Texan, and Citizen of the World
Well said. I do have to wonder though if posts like these from Mindvalley and others are trying to paint a picture to convince the World that America is becoming or has become a third world country. Considered motives for such negative words against our Great Country. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!
Thank you for your insightful and hope-filled response to Vishen. I have admired Vishen for many years and I don’t believe in throwing the baby out with the bath, so I will continue to learn from Vishen and his various coaches. However, I, too, am a conservative, Christian and Texan (80 in 3 months) and I applaud how our newly elected (overwhelmingly) President is handling our government at this time. The outside world does not see the corruption that has been rampant in government and how we needed to “drain the swamp.” I do not advocate war, revenge, or dictatorship, but that is NOT what our President is about or showing to us. He is simply doing what he said he would do when the MAJORITY of Americans voted for him and asked him to step in and clean up the corruption, the border, abortion, and asked him to reposition OUR country, America, as the prominent country in the world, not the laughingstock that Biden and Harris drove us to with their ineptitude, lies, and corruption. God bless the USA!
As a proud Texan I thank you for your eloquent response. As someone who I have held in high esteem for years, Vishen has lost all my respect with a post like this given he does not live in the US and does not see the things that have broken this country. Your response was measured and loving. Thank you.
Hello Eduardo,
Thanks for your comprehensive & patriotic response. As a Mexican-American formerly from the Rio Grande Valley, I know first-hand how illegal immigration affects America & her citizens. It’s interesting to read Vishen’s advice to the US while he is scouting American schools for his son-ironic, really.
All the best in your business, family, patriotic & spiritual journey,
Dolores Perez Priegnitz
Thank you for verbalizing how I am other conservative voters feel.
Beautifully said!!!
I wanted to reply in a considerate and respectful way to each of your comments,Vishen, because I respect you so much. But although you missed the mark in my opinion, this response negated the need for my reply. I couldn’t have said it any better.
Excellence response! Thank you for a level headed perspective.
Superb Eduardo
Thank you Vishen for sharing your thoughts, and this open letter to America and to the World.
I have never lived in America, but I have always dreamt of visiting its vast lands, beautiful valleys, canyons, beaches, cities and above all to witness its grandeur, America the Eldorado, where everything is possible, where people are modern, civilized, and have high values.
I still believe it, strongly, but the American government haven’t been exemplifying that in the last decades, and it’s getting worse.
Year after year this beautiful vision has been fading and turning into a complete disenchantment.
We are all seeing, hearing and witnessing what is happening to our world and our children’s world, and we will all remember when America lost its humanity.
Everything change when the environment around us changes, and to each action, there is and will be a reaction, a response, a consequence.
I want to believe that an awakening is possible and things can shift to the better. It takes one man, one decision, one act to change everything.
I am sending love, light and positive energy to humanity, our planet and those who are orchestrating the wars so that they awaken to more evolved versions of themselves and start being the forces for good they ought to be.
Not everything about the current state of affairs in America is bleak. From my vantage point here in California, there’s a great deal of good happening every day. Our state chose a different path—we supported a candidate whose principles still resonate deeply both here and around the world. California continues to stand in opposition to the direction the country has taken, leading the way by filing more lawsuits against the federal government than ever before.
We’re living in a moment where people are beginning to see the real consequences of their decisions. This realization will require a shift in thinking—a process that may involve discomfort and time. But I believe that, through it all, we will emerge with a stronger sense of shared humanity, something that may feel distant but is, in fact, right before us.
Agreed! Sometimes things may seem worse for a Season before regaining our balance. America is shifting in the right direction.
👍 YES
I am very glad that Vishen shared his thoughts here, after his Mar-A-Laro lovefest email that he sent us back in March. This restores my faith in this man I so admired that was badly shaken by that fiasco, and as a result I will be renewing my Mindvalley subscription after all.
Protesting? Yes, I am there at every protest with my sign that says, “We the People, Rise up against Fascism.” I am greatly heartened by the huge number of cars driving by that are honking their horns in support at these protests. Voting? Oh yes, I am voting against this regime at every turn. And I am not living in fear, as the law of attraction correctly states that we draw to us what we focus upon. Instead, I am deliberately focusing my thoughts on every positive thought I can muster in my mind, including great hopes for the future of our beloved country. We have survived tumultuous times before and come through. We shall do this again and rise up from this current quagmire even stronger than before.
Blessings to you Vishen, and to all of you.
Vishen,
Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place. As an American I could not agree with you more. Trust me—the people who are marching are mostly people who are marching for EVERYONE. They didn’t vote for this, and they know what is at stake for the world. It is unbelievable and frightening that in the US one person and his cronies can get away with what they are doing. I appreciate what you are saying about voting, but we have a long way to go before the next presidential election, and who knows if we can even trust the results? I truly don’t know what to do.
On another note, Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD is wonderful university. My twins went there. Best wishes to your son!
Keep up the amazing work! The world needs you now more than ever.
With love and appreciation for you and your colleagues,
DC
Thank you Vishen, for reaching out and sharing your thoughts. I agree with so much of it, but some of your comments suggest that you only have superficial knowledge about some key issues. Kind of like you have only been watching left wing news outlets. They not only make mistakes, but purposely distort facts, and actually down right lie. I will just make a couple of comments. Like bombs falling on Iran. Iran was getting close to atomic weapons, which would have allowed them to carry out the destruction of Israel, and attack the US, as they have threatened for decades. Without the tariffs, the US would have gone bankrupt. Trade deficits have put the US about 37 trillion in the hole, and financed much of China’s threatening expenditures, like 7 artificial islands in the South China Sea, and much more. Many of the MAGA changes will preserve the US that you and I love, even though they appear bad at face value. I wish you had shown really in depth knowledge of issues. I respect you a lot, and I am surprised at a lot of your comments. I am sure that you are extremely busy and don’t have time to explore issues deeply. But, thanks for your comments, they serve to generate dialogue, which is a great place to start looking for real solutions. And, on this forum, people do listen to each other, which is vital! Thanks again, and God bless you and God bless America!
Yes
I strongly disagree with Vishen and don’t think he should’ve gotten involved in politics here, but you got a couple of facts wrong too. Iran was not in fact “close to building a nuclear weapon” like the neocons kept saying over and over the years but will certainly speed up their efforts now. And as for tariffs, the problems with the trade deficit are deep and are unlikely to be solved with more protectionism. The real solution is harder and involves reforming our monetary and financial system which I’m not going to go into now. Also, do you know the difference between trade and debt deficits? The trade deficit didn’t make the US bankrupt, they just kept spending, mostly on stupid things.
So while I agree Vishen has a superficial understanding of the facts, so do you. And people who don’t understand the facts should keep quiet. If only.
I appreciate your passion and love for our country. However, I don’t appreciate using this platform to show one sidedness, and what comes out very political, and with lack of full understanding of what you and the rest of us will never really know is going on behind the scenes. when you get into voting, it’s crossing the line for division.
Things are a mess, but you offer no solutions, except your otherwise strong platform about things we CAN control. We all are getting misled news no matter what channel we’re watching as it’s a bunch of egos and money related.
Please do not divide us more. Please, continue to do your amazing work with focus on raising vibrations. You are the master of that and are appreciated.
Love is the most powerful vibration, for self and for others. So let’s all send out the most powerful love for all decision, makers, followers, leaders, teachers, students, our elderly, our children, and so on even our ancestors.
Your message was more meaningful than the original one You replied for. I am unsubscribing from the Mindvalley now. Lately it is a terrible platform and just getting worse and worse. Even their customer service is terrible. They are nice until they take Your money and after You have any problem they don’t even reply.
Amen!!!
Thank you Vishen but voting for the other side won’t fix America!
I’m very surprised and a little disappointed that you believe it could be that simple.
The Dems are not a better choice, their policies and corruption have also destroyed the America you loved.
It is exactly that rot that has given rise to Trump. Don’t you see that? It’s the same in the rest of the western world. The liberals, progressives have gone too far, not listening to the people and not leaving us any choice. That’s what creates the extreme right!
Both sides are rotten and serious and thorough change is needed.
Amen. I agree with you
UGGHHH!! Here too?!!! Trump won both the electoral vote and the popular vote in America. This IS what we voted for. I wish you wouldn’t have used this platform for American politics. If I wanted to watch the division and hear opinions I would have simply turned on the news. I am here to center, learn about vibrations and improve my manifestations. I pay for that service. Please stay in your lane. With love (of course).
Thank you, Vishen, for your loving and eloquent words. As a Canadian who resided in the US many years ago, and who studied in its higher learning institutions, it is painful to see how quickly the country has spiralled into such darkness. I am shocked every time I see images of untold violations, or hear hateful words emerge from leaders. It is worrisome to see how quickly the tide has turned, and I think that the worst is yet to come unless millions refuse to be cowered and bowed. I send healing prayers to my American friends who are feeling overwhelmed and helpless, because they must trust that their words ARE strong and so is Truth. Please, never stop believing in their power.
I shared on my FB. It’s lengthy and may not be read by many but we are in a crisis and we need to come together and talk about this as much as possible because we can’t normalize these behaviors and actions.
Dear Vishen;
Your sentiments are sweet and noble, but you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m sorry, but your perspective is so skewed and does not comport with reality.
I am not an expert either, but I can tell by your message, dittoed by all of your followers, and not one is giving an alternative view, that you live in a small, echo-chamber bubble and are geo-politically naive.
I could say much, much more but there are not enough hours in the day to educate you.
I hope you and your fans open your minds and widen your perspectives.
Thanks for reading,
SueAnn
I agree. Well said!
💜💜💜⭐️⭐️⭐️🥰🥰🥰
Well done Susan. I”d like to add my quick thought: To someone (me) who has lived in the USA and is a Global Citizen and has lived through a war and, and, and… this is just a superficial surface scratching very young (not to use Susan’s word “naive) mind who offers simple points, not all valid or true and offers an ever more naive suggestion. Thank you Vishen but your letter sounds more like using the current storm for a few more followers/comments…
Dear Sue Ann,
Please elaborate to helping Vishen, myself and others to understand. This, making a comment with little content other than «you don’t understand, and i cannot educate you», does not help in understanding why you believe his thoughts are a proper view of the situation. Would really like to know, because there is so much i do not understand.
All comments are reviewed? Sounds like you’re part of the insanity now. My friend, you just intertwined your business with politics. Although I do agree with some of what you’re saying but your heart felt message just feels off to me. Almost like underneath all the fluff you’re pointing a finger with three fingers pointing back at yourself. Maybe I’m wrong but again something just feels off to me now so I’m going to decline joining Mind Valley at this time.
Subject: In Response to Your Open Letter
Dear Vishen,
Thank you for your heartfelt letter. I appreciate how deeply you care for America, and I feel moved to respond openly, because like you, I love this country and its people — but I see things that I believe you may not.
You wrote about threats to NATO, but what I see is that NATO is now being pushed toward war. You mention trade wars and climate treaties, yet so much of this is more about control than truly saving the planet. Look at East Palestine, Ohio — that disaster was ignored by the same administration that claims to care about the environment. Do they ever mention the chemicals and toxins poisoning our people?
You speak of bombs on Iran and yet another unwinnable war. Many of us see how powerful the Israel lobby is — and we hope this push for conflict ends soon.
When you speak of immigration raids and riots, please know that some of those riots were not organic but funded by American interests operating from China, designed to destabilize. The raids you mention targeted companies laundering cartel money — that truth gets buried under propaganda.
As for corrupt politicians — yes, look at Biden. Regarding taxes: Trump has been trying to pass tax cuts, but neocons and powerful lobbyists have blocked him, demanding he confront Iran first. Please look deeper, Vishen — it’s more complex than it seems.
You say the climate movement has been abandoned by the country that birthed it — but again, this is more about controlling people than healing the planet.
You’re helping your son apply to U.S. universities. I hope he thrives — but I fear he may only be further indoctrinated instead of truly educated to think for himself.
On your road trip, please look beyond the coasts — visit the Rust Belt and see the America that was left behind when our industries were sent to China. These Americans were promised jobs that never came. That’s why they voted for Trump — not out of hate, but because they were forgotten.
You say the spiral must be named and stopped — and I agree. But please understand: the West broke its agreement with Russia, triggering the Ukraine war. And Americans you think chose ego and soundbites were often just fed up with lies — they wanted truth, and they still do.
You quote Kennedy and Obama — but even Obama was deeply corrupt. I voted for him twice hoping he’d end the endless wars, but he didn’t. He deported millions — more than Trump — though the media rarely says so. Propaganda is everywhere; the CIA had people inside every major news outlet, even the BBC and the Guardian.
You say we once had leaders who united us — but many of us were getting along just fine until Obama’s administration inflamed racial tensions. Now the Democrats represent coastal elites and a dependent underclass, while the GOP has become the big-tent party of working people.
You ask why we vote for the “opposite” of our heroes — but we’re not. We’re choosing courage over corruption, flawed though it may be. Sun Tzu warned of men who burn nations to rule the ashes — and we see exactly who they are.
You say our vote affects the world. I agree. And I believe America must lead with wisdom and service — not globalist empire-building. Many young men now lean conservative — check the stats — because they see through the lies. There is hope for better leaders to rise.
Finally, you ask us to remember who we are at our best. I agree. But understand: Trump may not be our best in refinement, but he has shown the courage to stand up to globalists and criminals disguised as leaders. For many of us, that’s what we need most right now.
Thank you for loving America enough to write. I hope you’ll listen to the voices you don’t always hear, too — the ones drowned out by the same systems you’re questioning.
With respect,
Sue
Amen and thank you. People are truly one sided even if they don’t know it. True progressive discussions need people who have the ability to look at both sides. Most people speak from opinions on what they benefitted from. Not from the perspective of those who suffer in this country and still do. Not to mention the amount of Americans who supported Mindvalley, including me, don’t only see his point as the ONLY valid argument —-he automatically sent this letter out as a plea and as if we all agree with HIS VIEW. I’m quite disappointed but not surprised.
I support the majority of your statement, Sue. Well said. Just not the blind faith in Trump – he’s a puppet like all the others. He ran a campaign on the basis of “stopping all wars”. So far:
– Hasn’t stopped war in Ukraine
– Hasn’t stopped the genocide in Gaza (Gaza is worse off than ever before)
– Approved bombing of Iran
spot on, Sue. Thank you for speaking up.
These points read like a FOX News Greatest Hits list, Sue.
Trump never wanted to cut taxes for 80% of Americans. If you don’t know that, you’re lying to yourself. The bills have to be paid and if corporations won’t do it we have to. Cutting corporate taxes only helped the rich, Reaganomics was a lie sold to the poor to fund Wall Street.
If you think Trump stood for anything it was only that he loves the ignorant. He loves someone that wants to trust and “give the benefit of the doubt” to him. But when a man lies to that extent that even he believes his delusions, you have to start listening to your better judgment.
Case in point? Who is in charge of anti-terrorism? A 22 year-old kid from a grocery store.
Please don’t vote.
Aaron – exactly. The slashing cuts he’s made to our critical infrastructure he has done only to extend the tax breaks to his billionaire backers, which are set to expire this year. This is the only reason DOGE exists, that and for Elon to get his companies deregulated, because most of the agencies he took out were actively investigating him.
It’s incredible to read these Fox Greatest Hits lists right on the heels of seeing Tucker Carlson come right out this week and say what the rest of us have known for ages– that Fox deliberately manipulates people, especially seniors.
This week alone, Margery Taylor Green, Candace Owens, and Tucker have all condemned Trump. I never in my entire life thought I’d agree with them on anything, but here we are.
And Sue, the GOP isn’t the big-tent of working people. Read about the disastrous budget bill they’re desperate to pass– it cuts every single safety net for seniors, the poor, veterans, and our country’s most vulnerable. You are sadly delusional if you think otherwise, or you are simply getting all of your intel from Fox or OAN. It’s the most destructive bill in our Nation’s history.
This bill requires massive cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, Veterans’s healthcare and services, SNAP (which provides food to children and seniors), child care credits, resulting in vastly increased costs for the nation’s poorest families. It would result in the closures of rural hospitals, and take away health insurance for up to 1 in 5 children. It also takes money away from public schools and re-allocates them to private charter schools, providing scholarships for rich kids while creating a $5 billion shelter for GOP donors. The only people who benefit from this budget are billionaires, who don’t need the tax breaks.
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/20/nx-s1-5437851/children-poverty-republicans-big-beautiful-bill-reconciliation
Not that you would know it from the childish “Mythbusters” page on the White House’s vulgarized website.
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But the worst thing the bill does is undermine Democracy, and this is something that would give Trump king-like powers with zero guardrails, and it’s retroactive. This alone is the single most destructive thing that could happen to our country, and it’s a direct result of suggestions from Project 2025. Anyone who cares about democracy needs to be calling their Senators to urge them to stop this, because the vote is this week.
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It destroys the courts’ ability to hold government officials accountable, which in effect, is our very last check and balance on unchecked authoritarian efforts. If we cannot use the courts to hold the government accountable, we will be officially in an authoritarian state. Countless experts agree on this, and experts on tyranny itself like Timothy D. Snyder and several others have left the USA for Canada, because they see the frightening similarities between us right now and 1930s Germany.
From Trevor Potter, president of Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and former Republican chairman of the Federal Election Commission
“This outrageous change would undermine the rule of law and allow government officials, including the president, to escape the possibility of being held in contempt of court if they violate court orders. The provision would even apply to court orders and injunctions issued before this law takes effect. In essence, the provision could in a single stroke render thousands of prior orders across the country unenforceable via contempt proceedings. The rule of law in our country would be dangerously undermined if this provision becomes law.”
https://campaignlegal.org/press-releases/clcs-trevor-potter-urges-congress-reject-problematic-provisions-budget
https://campaignlegal.org/update/these-hidden-provisions-budget-bill-undermine-our-democracy
For Trump and his ilk to say that immigrants are the problem is incorrect, propaganda, and dangerous. Immigrants by the way contributed nearly $100 billion in taxes last year (yes they pay taxes), while Trump wasted $30 million of our money on his golf trips in just a few short months, another $45 million on that parade nobody went to, and DOGE wasted billions without saving us any money. In fact, the Partnership for Public Service, and nonpartisan nonprofit that focuses on the federal workforce, estimates DOGE’s cuts will cost taxpayers $135 billion this year alone. It’s clear where the waste really is.
You said it all and it couldn’t have been said better. The America I love is being plundered, smothered and hollowed out. Mercy and justice are laughed at. Greed and hubris are praised and for what??
Finally you said something about it. Yes I am not American but I am one of all and we are all together on this planet. We are one.
Thank you Teacher
Thank you Vishen. You have summarized much of the best of America in the past and the historic promise of America. And yes, I think you are correct in the suggestions you are making to Americans when they contemplate their future now. However, I would add one more essential action — honest reflection on the history of America, internally as well as its international actions. As a born American who grew up in the South, I have always been aware of the racist, misogynist, self-absorbed, isolationist, and very violent underbelly of American culture. Unless and until Americans face that part of our history, I do not think fundamental change will happen. It is not possible to change something that one refuses to see and accept about oneself. The actions of the right-wing in America, trying to deny and erase the ugly part of American history and culture, clearly offers a continuing self-destructive path for the country. Trump is putting all of the worst of the American character in everyone’s faces, so that it cannot be missed. Americans have a fundamental choice to make — face our history and the very violent parts of our culture and change them or continue on the same self-destructive path.
Here’s hoping from a dual citizen who fled the US more than 50 years ago because of that ugly, violent underbelly of American society.
Alexandria, Victoria, BC, Canada