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.
961 Responses
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,
I agree with your well stated reply, Susan. President Trump is the first President who is advocating for Peace and Prosperity. Many people seem to forget the constant bombing and toppling of countries like Libya under President Obama, who personaly oversaw dronestrikes on individuals in the Middle East.
I suggest the author do more research into globalsim, WEF and the WHO, Project Mockingbird and the Smith Mundt Act, which Obama unleashed and allows propaganda on the American People.
In my personal opinion the most important thing right now is to help the crowd to acces to information and then, to encourage reflection, analysis and return to respect universal human values that unite us so much.
I think every professional working directly with people should do all that is possible from every particular place, situation, experience, be aware that today more than ever crowd need our knowledge, our expertise, our privileged education of all of us to help them to understand what it is really happening.
Thank you so much Vishen for create this space of meeting and for being the great human being you are. I admire you and love you so much man.
Count with us, we are all on board.
Sincerely
Vilma Garrido Riquenes
Thank you for being honest Vishen. For those who are surprised by his words, he’s never shied away from his feelings on those leaders that are trying to divide and sow fear and hate. Not sure what Mindvalley you’ve been subscribed to? If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. Thank you Vishen for standing up and speaking truth on the realities of this new America.
He’s not in the US. He is misinformed.
He is not an American, its not his business
Thank you Vishen. You have taken a risk in using your platform to speak your Truth. The World has witnessed many turning points, and while in recent years there has been a notable slide toward Authoritarianism it is the current US President and Admin that could seal the deal for so many millions beyond the borders of the United States. I have many friends in Europe & Canada who are keenly aware, and some who are currently impacted & silenced in the face of de-Democratization. I have many friends in Latin America who are still traumatized by decades of war, perhaps much of which was initiated by earlier American Imperialist tendencies. And yet, there is this hallowed ‘American Ideal’ that we strive for. May that flourish, and truly evolve to bring Light and Freedom to the darkness that is now spreading in the World. My heart aches as I watch & hear so many Americans endorse the destruction of our Constitution, which has been revered & adapted in so many places. At the same time, there is this idea of Abundance that also has a dark side. Of course it can free us from our past individual traumas, it has helped so many to gain personal financial freedom. And: NO ONE needs billions of dollars. NO individuals should use their wealth as power over others. Where is the commitment to serve the underprivileged? to feed the hungry caught in these webs of power struggles? It is how we choose to use our Abundance energy that can be the positive shift. Not just to ‘have more’. But to ‘give more’- of our time & energy. And our Love. I highly recommend to move beyond this striving for ‘more’…and go ‘serve’: feed the hungry mouths, help build a small-scale off-grid energy system in a village that has never had electricity, finance the building of a school so a rural indigenous community can gain literacy and then learn how to empower their own communities, help free small rural farmers from the choke-hold of Big Ag, which only seeks to steal their ancestral lands so they can turn a profit. Use Abundance not in self-centered ways, but to help others gain some part of social/environmental/economic justice. May we receive the true blessings of the spiritual teachings that show us how to serve the Divine. THIS is what I have devoted my life to. You are invited to help. and PS: Polis is the root of the word Politic: it is about how people live/act and make decisions in the world around us, so in my opinion, it is entwined with all that is here on this platform. We don’t have a ‘separate’ reality for spirituality.
Vishin, you are entitled to your view, but as an Australian who grew up in American in the middle of the ’70s (gas lines, stagflation and super weak leadership under Carter), I could not disagree with you more.
In particular, but helping to rapidly remove the threat of an Iranian atomic weapon America has made itself – and the whole world – safer. Safer physically and safer from ideological mad-men.
By standing up to the trade imbalances America is restoring some balance to global trade. It’s about time.
By insisting that allies do their share of the heavy lifting on defence, America is making the world a safer place. There’s not substitute for a strong defence.
As for deportations… since when did deporting people who are in the county illegally become a BAD thing? Again, from a distance, it looks like the US has been very weak on boarder protection for a LONG time so the problem is hard to fix. But it also seems to need fixing.
Main thing – can’t speak for everyone else, but I come to Mindvalley for business and mindset advice. I don’t look to you for political grandstanding. I’d be grateful if you stick to your lane.
I didn’t read anything in your letter about the genocide in Palestine. This is cowardly. If I missed something subtle it is a noneffective way to communicate. I believe in you Vishen corrects the silence and speaknout.
Until we get high quality candidates, who actually have the skills and integrity to vote for, it’s just a choice between “lesser of two evils.” Our party system is outdated and illogical in 2025.
Thank you Vishen for articulating what many of us feel and want to say. We all want the dream of America that many of us grew up believing to expand and evolve. As we watch from other countries the implosion of the United States of America, our hearts ache and we pray that the leaders wake up from the sleep like trance that they have been lured into.
Thank you for this. I could not agree more.
Thank you for your truth and grace and the desire to increase understanding in the world.
I grew up a Canadian, but spent many childhood summers with my Mother’s family in New England and the warmth and generosity of spirit ,the kindness and love I experienced there will always remain in my heart.
Thank you for reminding us all to be the best, the highest, the most light filled we can be, to stand when we fall and to extend a hand to others when they do so.
Thank you, Vishen.
No political statements from Mindvalley, please. Vishen, you can have your opinion, and I might share it or not, but keep Mindvalley clear of politics!
Too late
Agreed! When you take a position, you also make a choice and now I will make a choice to cancel my subscription.
I’m writing this with a heavy heart. I’ve long admired the spiritual space you’ve built—one that has inspired so many of us to grow, heal, and evolve. That’s why it was deeply disappointing to see political messaging take center stage in your recent post.
Many of us turn to this community specifically to escape the division and hostility that dominate the political landscape. MindValley has been a rare space of unity, insight, and spiritual nourishment. By taking a strong political stance, you’ve effectively fractured that space and alienated a large portion of your audience.
This isn’t simply about disagreeing with your opinion—it’s about the tone, delivery, and intent. The message came across as dogmatic and one-sided, cloaked in the language of positivity, but ultimately promoting a divisive narrative. It lacked the openness, nuance, and respect for differing perspectives that I once associated with this platform.
To make matters worse, your viewpoint appears heavily influenced by mainstream media sources known for presenting selective truths, omitting key context, and shaping public opinion through bias. For someone in a position of influence, that’s especially concerning.
I am truly saddened. MindValley once stood for inclusion, higher consciousness, and rising above the noise. Now, it risks becoming just another outlet contributing to division.
Fully agree with you Jack. I was unpleasantly surprised reading Vishen’s letter. Hopefully, this space can be neutral and no political division.
Hello Jack
Vishen has stood for kindness , truth , compassion kindness for all mankind. This is what America stood for !!
Now it is evoking rampant fear , terror in the hearts of humanity.
I agree with Vishen wholeheartedly !
If America wants to lead the world it should do as the founders of this country wanted !!
Liberty peace for all
100% agree with Jack and Claus. I felt Mindvalley was a safe place to grow, learn and be myself. The political post from Vishen makes me second guess this. So disappointing!
Fully agree Jack
Vishen, I am heartened by your thoughtful plea which said so much, so well! As I hear you, you are reminding us of core values which give us a moral compass first as world citizens and secondly as US citizens.
I admittedly am not really proud to be an American for a variety of reasons—perhaps because I grew up with the belief that my first responsibilities were to the Higher Power in my life. We need to be people who are not driven by fears and greed but rather by compassion and peacemaking. ✨
I am saddened by this letter to my country, and the use of the Mind Valley platform to communicate such as message. It’s one thing for people in a community to share their personal beliefs with each other on matters of politics, it’s another for the leader to address an entire population as if they acted as one, in such a demeaning way. I feel we in the US have been in a state of divide since the election campaigning began and as someone who did not vote for Trump in either election, but did vote, and as someone who loves this country but does not agree with the actions being taken by this administration, I am offended by this letter. I have been a Mind Valley member for several years. I have just cancelled my subscription.
This is exactly what is also irritating: People are unable anymore to share their thoughts and feelings on a subject without being criticized. Was it too hard for you just to reply by agreeing… or not on the subject?
Vishen, this touched my heart deeply.
As someone born in Los Angeles to immigrant parents, I’ve carried both pride and pain watching the soul of our city—and our country—struggle under the weight of division, injustice, and unchecked power. Your words remind us that America was never just a place, but a promise. One rooted in possibility, purpose, and unity.
Now more than ever, it’s time to heal—not just as a nation, but as a world. To move from fear to compassion. From dominance to shared humanity. We can still choose love over ego, inclusion over isolation, and empathy over indifference.
May we return to being a lighthouse—radiating hope, embracing our beautiful differences, and standing tall in service to each other and the generations to come. 🌎❤️
This resonates especially as a Canadian watching from the outside in. It’s hard not to feel bad for what was such a beautiful and strong country being ripped apart domestically and internationally. We are watching in horror as things unfold with no explanation. This line from Vishen’s post: “We are simply asking you to remember who you are, at your best.” says it all. Come back America, the world needs the real you. Kate, your neighbour from Canada 🇨🇦
A beautiful letter.
When I was a little girl, when anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, my answer was always, ‘ I want to be American’. I can’t tell you why. Maybe because the best TV shows were American or all the Heros on TV seemed to be American….
But right now I’m so scared of what you’ve become.
But I hold hope!
Every beautiful American person I know would never want what is happening now for their country, their lives, their children, their neighbour.
I don’t know how the ‘baddies’ have managed to cause so much harm to so many so fast. But I know your country is still filled with hero’s who are gathering their numbers, summoning their courage and will rise to reclaim the America that was free for all generations to come.
Democracy means that the power belongs to the people not the few. Claim it! We are supporting you.
With love from UK.
I am extremely disappointed by this!
You do not speak for all of us Americans!
Why would you even say, you do not speak for all of us Americans? He never said that… He was he was speaking for himself, from his own perspective.
Amen.👍
Dear Vishen, this had to be said. I am not from the United States, but I have allways shared the american dream. I admire Martin Luther King Jr. and how brave he was sharing his dream and making his nation believe in it.
The great souls from United States have allways been people that serve others….there are so many great souls in this beautiful country! and they are diverse, from all ethnics…
I believe in the American Spirit as a Beacon of Freedom, Justice and Faith. I pray to see that beacon shinig again for alll antions in the world
Disappointing to say the least! I don’t understand why brands are lining up to create division in their market base but here we are! I came here to learn, and not to be lectured to regarding your opinion. If you cannot see why changes are necessary you obviously haven’t been into the heartland of the US or the inner cities. Congrats on creating just another echo chamber! I canceled my longtime subscription!
THANK YOU! I totally agree! Terrible and unappreciated email.