Mr President

I don't want to write this, Mr President
confronting authority goes against my inclination
but as a citizen of this country
I can't stay silent any longer
my conscience demands I speak

what you/ we are doing in Israel
is wrong
dead wrong
too many people are dying
too much retribution is happening
and I feel ashamed every time
I see the UN vote on ceasefire
and the US stands alone in
vetoing it

guilt gathers on us
each time we/you do that, Mr President
any credit you gathered
supporting Ukraine against a similar takeover
has been completely erased by
your support of Israel

and before you say
you spoke against their excesses?

bullshit

that has the ring of
'please keep the noise down
so you don't disturb the neighbors'
not 'you're committing genocide
and need to stop
now'.

I'm distinctly aware of the dangers
we face in this upcoming election
but you are not the only possible opponent
to fascism
as a queer person, I'm terrified of the lengths
the conservative party will go to cement their power
and the LGBTQ demographic is their preferred scapegoat

but even so,
I can no longer, in good conscience,
vote for you.
As a good Catholic, you know what that means,
morally I am no longer able to support you
even in the face of extreme political danger

so I'm asking you
please step aside
please implement a plan B
allow a candidate to come forward
who is able to unite the opposition
to democratic takeover
please do the most important thing
you will ever do with your power
and set it aside

R. Nordman