An Open Letter to Donald Trump — 9/4/2020
- Phoenix Congress 2020 represents members of the American Union, who are willing to vote for both Republicans and Democrats in the 471 federal races who will meet our terms, including Donald Trump.
- This is the fourth in a series of open letters, explaining our demands. These links are to the first, second, and third.
September 4, 2020
Dear President Trump,
You’re invited to join a fast for peace on September 15, in solidarity with the American Union and our goals of ending poverty, mass incarceration, and the endless wars. If you are willing to discuss terms, we are willing to consider alternative solutions to the ones we’re proposing, but the status quo is no longer acceptable.
In February of this year, Mr. President, in those pre-pandemic days that seem like ancient history, you visited the ashram of Mohandas Gandhi, more commonly known as Mahatma, or ‘great soul.’ He was a great soul, and in his own nonviolent fight for independence from the British, he used national days of fasting to unite his countrymen, like our founding fathers had done.
You can join us in our fast by abstaining from food for any 24 -hour period that is mostly on the 15th, drinking only water. Gandhi suggested a dinner-to-dinner fast, and that those unable to participate safely take fruit or juice if needed. Fasting is free, voluntary, and beneficial for almost every adult. In a nation with widespread obesity and a culture of instant gratification, willfully abstaining can help us practice self control.
Fasting can also bring moral pressure to bear. In 1947, Gandhi fasted for peace in Kolkata, India. There had been religious riots the previous year that claimed thousands of lives, and tensions were high. After a mob attacked his house, Gandhi announced September 1 that he would begin a fast to the death, until peace returned to the city. He was 77 years old.
Thousands of students wanted peace; they marched together in the streets, demanding people cooperate to save Gandhi’s life. He told his grandniece Manu that, “This fast will not go beyond ten days. There shall either be peace within that period, or else I shall die.” The violence in the city began to lessen. Elsewhere, Hindu and Muslim peace protestors demonstrated side by side, showing the spirit of brotherhood. And still Gandhi fasted.
Hundreds of Kolkata’s on-duty policemen staged a one-day fast in solidarity with his efforts. Gang leaders, both Muslim and Hindu, brought their weapons to Gandhi, pledging an end to violence with tears in their eyes. And still Gandhi fasted.
Community leaders came to him, promising they would keep the peace, even at the cost of their own lives. Finally, on September 4th, 1947, when a whole day had gone by without any murders, Gandhi accepted a glass of juice, and broke his fast. Peace had returned to Kolkata, not by force, but by choice.
How can a fast bring peace? Three decades ago, Bill and Ted articulated a basic human duty, ‘Be excellent to each other,” on their quest to write a song that would bring world peace. How could a song bring peace? As we learned in their latest adventure, ‘It wasn’t so much the song as the fact that everyone played it together.’
How can can a fast bring peace? There are millions of people in America who want peace, and if we fast together, you, Mr. President will feel the moral pressure, along with the 1000 other candidates for federal office.
End poverty. End mass incarceration. End the endless wars. These are our terms. If you’re willing to join us on September 15th, you can add your pledge here.
Respectfully yours,
(You can read the open letter for September 5, 2020 here.)
Other articles on Medium:
A call to action around Martin Luther King, Jr.’s triple evils: The Marginalized Must Unionize in 2020
A look at our duties as Americans and the legislation they inspire: The Blueprint for a Better America
