17 November
Dear Donald Trump, Jr.,
I hope this letter meets you in good health. After the 2020 Presidential Election, I pondered over a question: What does success look like? For this question always comes to mind, when I, an outsider, observe the great work you have done, in the course of your lifetime.
What does success look like?
I have read many books of great men and women. And one thing I can say is this: most people do not pay attention to their mistakes. We do not often care about their mistakes, except to learn from them. We only care about what they achieved in the course of their lives. But these people are not demonized because of their mistakes. And I ask: if these people existed in today's world of political dissent and information explosion, what would their story(ies) be? We are all human. Even highly revered people are human. And we (humans) make mistakes. But what becomes the story after? What will search engines say about them?
Before becoming president, you were everything to the American popular media. I was not born until the 1990s, but I can tell. You were everything at times when people were not quick to get offended. You were popular when local political dissent was not enough to spur enmity between peaceful neighbours. You were famous for being Donald Trump. And you inspired us. You were everything until you contested. Yes, you were everything until you contested for the seat of the most powerful person on earth. And our minds changed.
You won—you became president of the United states of America. We lost—we gave all our civil powers to the media to tell our story. And they told us many stories. Stories that made us hate ourselves. And so we blamed; and we hated; and we rioted. So we looked to you for a solution. We did.
What does success look like?
We have heard many common answers to this question: Money, a successful career (which
includes making money), great health, and so on. But today, one thing most people never
mention is: to start a family. As though, starting a family does not matter. As though, a family is not the smallest unit of the life of a society. As though, it is not the most fragile aspect of society—where all the right values can be built (or destroyed). Having a family is a natural metric of success. This is one thing I am certain you understand; and remains to be true. The lack of acceptance of this, shows the dearth of moral values in the Western world today.
Sir, because this is true, you have raised Eric, Ivanka, Donald Jnr. Tiffany and Baro, in the values you uphold. Which is something many parents can not boast about. You were the love of many in America until you chose to impose these values on America. And no Sir, this is not an argument on whether your ideology is right or wrong. I only look to weigh your reaction to the public (and the new generation)'s reaction to your ideology.
It will be an arrogant presumption to say that politics altered your reputation in America. Not after the media's damaging reflection of you. Yet I know that you understand, like I do, that reputation matters. So while we may blame the media for having tainted some aspects of your reputation, you cannot be relieved of your responsibility towards public opinion. (Or public opinion towards the media's portrayal of you). I write to you about your role in the media's portrayal of your personality in the Western world.
I know you tried to bring America back to the values it was founded upon, to.set an example for the Western world. For a person who wanted this for America, and the western world at large, you were a no-brainer. But this does not excuse any defect in your leadership. Reputation matters. In history, and today.
In these times of political polarity, when we needed you most for a solution, you resorted to
cast blame on political dissenters. This matters less whether your blame was plausible, but more on whether it was becoming of a leader. A leader of diverse and complex America. You had the opportunity to lead with grace and subtlety, but you did not exercise restraint on your value induced emotions.
In the history of the world, much evil has been done as an excuse for the greater good. And this is already happening today, leading to a very destructive culture of laziness, entitlement, and degeneracy. You yourself must know better, as it was what you campaigned to get rid off. Even so, we cannot have a wealthy and healthy society when people hate each other. And while we can point fingers on who caused it, it is not a solution. It is therefore the work of a leader to serve as a unifying figure, however figuratively. This, you were not excellent at.
Sir, you were not very careful with your words, even where they were highly implicative. This was counter-intuitive to your good intentions. You sometimes showed arrogance to those you serve. It was unnecessary. A leader must learn to exercise restraint over his emotions. And your position called for more personal discipline on your whims; and a better outlook in leading
America—beyond the strategies you had taken in Business, and in your Family life.
Today, you are no more the president. But your influence remains. And these things I am writing to you, matters now, as it did then. You must understand that your long life on earth is as much a gift, as with the wealth you have accrued over the years.
Today, you have the opportunity, by your words and conduct, to rewrite history and use your influence to achieve unity in the ways you can. Because if your love for America and Western values remains, you must know that a win for America is not when you have won—as it was with business, family and with the 2016 elections;— but when they (Americans) know they have won.
Thank you for your patience in reading through my letter. I wish you and your family good
health. God Bless America.
Yours Sincerely
Enyinna Arua
Enyinna Arua