My Dad Recently Became a US Citizen — This Is the Letter He Wrote Me After the Election

My dad recently became a US citizen, but he was born and raised in the small town of Hamilton, Ontario. A true-blue Canadian, he says "eh" upon inflection, loves the Blue Jays, and has a vintage Maple Leafs jersey tucked safely away in his closet that I've been trying to steal for years. After quietly observing the division in the US caused by this week's events, he wrote me an email imploring me to give peace a chance. Here's what it read.

Dear Sam,

While I've lived in the US since before you were born, I've only been a citizen for a few short years. When you went off to college, I decided that it was time for me to have the opportunity to be a part of the democratic process that makes this country so great. After months of studying for the citizen test, background checks, and interviews, I recited the Pledge of Allegiance and became an American. It took time, commitment, and conviction to get there, and that's why nobody in our family is moving up to Canada now!

I know the outcome of this election may have soured your trust in government and created uncertainty about the direction we are headed in. We have never had such a polarizing figure in line to lead. Watching him conduct himself over the past year and a half has instilled a degree of fear in me. Having two daughters, I do not take his policies, his words, or his actions lightly.

It's my greatest responsibility to protect you from the type of hurt you have felt since Tuesday night. Unfortunately this one was beyond my control, but unlike the millions of people who woke up on Wednesday feeling defeated, I woke up hoping for unity and optimism.

A period of change is ahead, but we cannot jump to the conclusion that it will all be negative. We don't know what kind of president Donald Trump will be, nor do we know what kind of president Hillary Clinton would have been. Give him a chance. Give peace a chance. Love others, pray for our leaders, and pray for America. Stay open-minded and continue to work hard for what you believe in.

I believe in you.

Love,
Dad