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.
950 Responses
I am dumbfounded. This is not a political platform Vishen.
Instead of enlightening your paid members to individually strive to make good decisions for the future, you have just shown you are part of the propaganda machine.
You have just taken sides on a political arena and at the same time, almost blamed some of your members for making bad choices when they honestly may have had no other choice in a system that gives a two party preferred candidacy. With change it brings great responsibility. Wether one agrees with the majority of not, there is a definitive need to let people make their own informed decisions, however they chose to be informed. Each level of society has a place. Just like a 5 star Michelin Chef needs the dish pig to clean the plate that his Fine dining expensive meal is going to be presented on, so to is important, the work and input of the people of the lower socioeconomic and diverse public.
When Injustice Becomes Law, Resistance becomes duty.
That is exactly the terms the American constitution was founded on as you mentioned. The Civil war was fought for those very values you appear to be blaming your fellow voters for. The right to stand up against tyranny and corrupt governance. But it goes both ways.
What is most important is finding the balancing point where harmonious existence rules across the world, and chaos does not reign.
Where there is money, there is greed, there is power, and there is pain.
Humans have destroyed themselves with all of the above for centuries of not millennia, we…. Are the problem, not the solution. Until we learn from the past and keep it simple, we will continue to repeat the mistakes of our forefathers and deliver ourselves into extinction.
Using this platform is not the arena for your political agenda or commentary. That’s what X and other platforms are for.
We love what you’ve built here, please don’t ruin it.
Could not agree with you more. We come to Mindvalley to escape political agenda, to find a neutral sacred space. This has honestly ruined Mindvalley for me…
Absolutely agree with you
Thank you. This was insightful and elegantly stated.
This may seem off-topic but I promise it’s salient, considering Vishen brought it up in this article. Main message aside, I had to read one line THREE times to make sure I got it right….Vishen is taking his child on go-sees to UNIVERSITIES?? What the actual….I literally got sold on all things MindValley after hearing him declare, over and over, that traditional education is dead. It’s the reason why he started the incredible MindValley university event and it’s been such a source of inspiration. I don’t begrudge any decision one takes for the children, but I sure would love to read a blog post helping all of us believers in Vishen’s Vision understand why the about-face.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽✌🏽🫶🏽🌍
Vishen – these words are beautiful. Thank you so much for your thoughtful message. I live in the Silicon Valley. I believe we can get back to greatness.
Thank you Vishen for such a thoughtful letter to Americans. Inspiring!!
Thank you, Vishen. Please know that many of us in the US still hold in our hearts the idea, the promise, the dream you speak of. Not only do we hold it but we are working hard to make sure that dream is never lost despite the fact that it has been flickering in recent years. I am absolutely convinced that truth and compassion will prevail.
To have your support and that of others around the world is invaluable. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and hopes with us.
Thank you Vishen for taking such a brave reaction to the arrogance of the richest over the poorest.
Vishen, your letter is beautifully written, but real love tells the whole truth.
You speak of America as a lighthouse, a guide, a dream.
But millions of us around the world have lived under the shadow of that light – not its warmth.
We’ve seen that dream sold in the language of freedom, while our homes were bombed, our leaders toppled, and our resources extracted.
You say “the spiral must be named.”
Let’s name it fully: Iraq. Libya. Vietnam. Chile. Afghanistan. Palestine.
This isn’t new. It didn’t start in 2016. The empire didn’t suddenly lose its soul — it was built on that contradiction.
You speak of optimism, rebellion, and heroes like MLK and Apple.
But:
MLK was killed by a state that now quotes him.
Apple profits off sweatshops and addiction.
Silicon Valley sells us tools of surveillance wrapped in freedom.
You call America to become an elder — not an empire.
But elders don’t fund genocide.
And right now, the U.S. is not just complicit – it is actively arming and financing the brutal massacre of Palestinians.
Thousands of children bombed. Entire generations wiped from census data.
And yet, America sends weapons, vetoes ceasefires, and sells it as “defense.”
No amount of beautiful writing can soften that reality.
You ask Americans to vote with their higher selves. But even when they do – bombs still fall.
Drone strikes just come with better grammar.
You say the world still believes in America.
Some of us used to.
Now we’re just watching, grieving – and asking:
Can you really claim to be a lighthouse while Gaza burns?
This isn’t a rejection of the American dream.
It’s a reminder that it was never meant to come at the expense of everyone else’s.
So yes – wake up. Rise up.
But don’t ask the world to applaud until your evolution includes justice for the ones crushed beneath your silence.
Let’s see if you approve this comment.
Well said!!
Thank you for so elegantly saying what was burning in my throat upon reading Vishen’s heart-felt yet also mis-dealt message.
Thank you for articulating your voice here. These are deep truths that need to be seen. To bridge the gap from human consciousness to political action, from individuals to social change, Marianne Williamson said this yesterday. “If we want to peace in this world, we will need a new politics. If we want a new politics, we will need a new consciousness. If we want a new consciousness, we must be willing to embrace the deeper yearnings of the heart.” My heart yearns for unity, respect, peace and love for all beings everywhere. I believe it starts in our hearts and ripples from there. I speak. I vote. I listen and I act. All of that is greatly enhanced when my heart is a field of great expanse. 🙏🏼
Well said!!!!!
It is very sad to read the reader comments following the letter. America and too many Americans have truly changed. I am surprised by how deep and pervasive the changes are across the American society. A cultural rift of immense scope. The views of so many people continue to surprise me. The social trends arising from this cultural rift have damaged America and the two sides seem to be consolidating their positions which will drive further division and intolerance at a time when the Nation faces immense challenges. Not even a destructive and failed presidency that is driving these changes appears to have a chance to bring back long-held established values that truly made America great. How will the United States heal? The price of these politics and it’s impact will be much higher than most people realize.
It’s the Fox news effect. A lot of Americans have no idea what’s actually going on in the world
Wholeheartedly agree 💯
My ancestors hail from Jamaica, England, Ireland, Germany, multiple nations on the western coast of Africa, and Polynesia. My husband’s people are from North America, Spain, Italy, the Middle East. Both sets of his grandparents came to this country from Mexico to see their dreams realized.
Our kids (15, 13, 10, and 8) are wondering how we celebrate this 4th of July, in light of what’s happening in the nation and the world because of this administration (and the people who voted for it). I will be reclaiming the Stars and Stripes. Like so many, I am tempted to abandon anything that resembles patriotism because of who has hijacked it and what it now represents. But if I do that…if we all do that…it will be stolen more quickly and completely than any of us thought possible. I am picking my loud love for this country back up and saying that America is and will be for the dreamers. I will make it so, alongside so many others who love this country and the lofty goals it represents. We will fight those who wish to destroy it from within. Hate cannot drive out hate. Perfect love casts out fear.
True Americans need to let their love for all fellow Americans be louder than the hate, so thank you for writing this.
Reading this certainly brings many lost thoughts back to the brain. It will require reading over and over, but it will back.things we haven’t thought about for a long time and make us remember the words “God Bless America”.
Reading this certainly brings many lost thoughts back to the brain. It will require reading over and over, but it will bring back.things we haven’t thought about for a long time and make us remember the words “God Bless America”.
Thank you Vishen! I’m very happy about the brave and unapologetic choice to share these thoughts, as all of this, all of world’s politics affects all of us. You can’t be a citizen of earth while simultaneously be racist, sexist, or any other form of ultra-selfish. Propaganda and misinformation is killing the planet to a point where to me it sometimes looks like we are the Earth’s autoimmune disease. It’s so much broader than votes in an impasse of a two-party system that can never truly allow new voices. Choosing to be on the side of humanity is so much bigger than politics, but you can’t omit the current political climate is quite literally killing the planet for profit and power.
One small point of criticism that bugged me in this open letter: It speaks of America when it’s clearly meant to mean USA. There are many countries on the American continent, some with similar issues, but that’s beside the point, we are talking about the United States, that should be clear. I’m not saying the USA is responsible for everything that’s going on in the world right now, but as a major player in world politics it should get it’s shit together. (and many other countries should too)
Thank you for inviting all of us to think, and talk. The course of humanity concerns all of us.
TRUMP´S AMERICA IS FUCKED
Thas a ridiculous statement.
Trump is finally cleaning up the mess we were forcrd to endure.
He is such a strong and caring person as proven by the many people writing thanks to him.
All of which is never covered by the mainstream media that is bought by liberal unpractical people.
Vishen, with all due respect, this post was one of the worst things I’ve ever heard you write.
I love you man but you have got to start doing deeper research than watching mainstream news, you have no clue what is actually going on and this post shows you are just parroting the narrative and completely ignorant…
Start by watching plandemic 1, 2 , and 3 and “the great awakening” by Miki Willis
Your friend from Necker
Kacper
Thanks for your reasonable response!
Well said! So many comments agreeing with Vishen, I’m shocked, both at his message and the fact that so many agree. The USA has been systematically destroyed over recent years, is Trump a saviour, clearly not, he is part of the theatre of politics. But to vote him out misses the point that it is just theatre, and the media is deliberately using it to divide us. Shame Vishen that you support that division.
I don’t believe it was “planned” but I remember the doc, it was interesting. Fauci belongs in jail no matter what. There was only 1 part though, wasn’t there? Where’s part 2 and 3 or are they part of the same thing?
I see you’re in Necker Island, give my regards to Branson if you see him. Another guy that has too much money.
Under the YOUR VOTE IS NOT JUST YOURS heading the word “conscience” might be a more meaningful choice than “conscious”.
Bravo, Vishen, for using your bully pulpit to proclaim your view of America in a direct and respectful manner. I wonder how many of those who are writing in opposition to you as a business leader speaking out also wrote to Elon Musk to castigate him for doing the same – and considerably more?
The corruption in the US seems to spread throughout everything – and all the way into the structures where the people’s voices flow through. The way our candidates are brought forward is driven by money and power and the playing field is not level for everyone to enter that work.
The chaos provides a falling away…no one said that change is easy. Unfortunately, what got us here is not going to get us out of it. So, let’s see what happens as people wake up. and I’m not talking about being “woke”. Actually awakening to who we truly are as energetic beings having a human experience.
Peace internally will give way to peace externally. Let’s work on that internal peace.
Insight, Wisdom and Love!!!
Not sure why a non-citizen is commenting on US tax policy, “cutting taxes for Billionares” … but okay. Let’s break it down. The Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) would keep tax rates the SAME as today. So let’s assume you’re suggesting raising them. That means less capital to grow the economy which hurts everyone.
And remember Buffett famously bragged that he paid less tax % then his secretary. That’s because those politicians that “openly take bribes” ALWAYS leave a loophole for themselves. Raise the rate, it won’t matter, the loopholes remain.
I too share the dream of a world where love for all reigns supreme. Love for our planet and our universe. Indeed, the energy of the universe is love itself. Here’s the question. Do you think the Iranian leaders are kidding when they chant Death to America? How do we best address that?