Dear Beto,
I am writing you today to tell you a story about friendship.
You see, ever since I was a kid I never really had friends. Despite always wanting them, I was too awkward to be funny and too shy to be outgoing. I’d trip over words and stumble over my sentences. I was known as the “weird” girl in school and bullied without mercy. That being said, growing up this way taught me to be independent and I learned self respect and how to believe in myself.
A few years ago I moved to Austin, Texas. Surprisingly, once I moved here - I made friends, Real friends! My dream came true. It wasn’t like a group of friends, just another couple, but it was friends and despite having different political views, we got along great. They were right and we were left, but we all had respect for each other. We became close and considered each other as family. We’d hang out every weekend, go to brunch, played board games and had movie nights. We did everything that good friends did. I even threw a Halloween party last year and I planned on having one this year!
Our friendship, was everything I ever wanted.
It seems silly I guess, but if you’ve never had a friend, You might understand how much it meant to me. Anyway, A few weeks ago, I was in Canada. I ended up talking to some locals up there who were very anti trump & who supported you. I thought that was pretty cool. So I posted about it on Facebook. Seems harmless right?
Wrong.
One of my close friends started to argue with me on facebook about it. I tried to diffuse the situation. I replied to his arguments with things like, “we don’t have to agree politically” And “You like what you like, I like what I like. It’s okay to be different.” But the more I wouldn’t argue with him, the more he tried to argue with me. Long story short, I received an angry email from him about the post. I’m like this is Facebook! It’s not the end of the world. It’s a post about meeting people in Vancouver and that they cared about Texas! I tried reasoning with him, I explained that Differences are okay to have and that this shouldn’t be the end of a friendship. Imagine my surprise when I then received an email from him, insisting that I apologize for supporting you. That if I didn’t write him an apology, that if my apology wasn’t “adult” enough that he and his wife would no longer be my friend.
I was shocked, I was hurt and it felt like a slap in the face.
Beto, I thought about it. I thought about it for awhile. I weighed out the pros and cons of apologizing. I was forced to make a really tough decision.
Do I apologize and keep the friendship? Or do I stick with my beliefs? It was one of those really important life moments.
I knew if I gave in and said I was sorry, I’d have a hard time looking myself in the mirror and living with the decision of giving in.
I also knew that if I didn’t apologize I’d be going with my heart and doing what’s right yet, giving up on the one thing I’ve always wanted - a friend.
Do I go with the dream or do I go with my heart?
I didn’t apologize. I couldn’t do it. I knew what was right. I knew I wasn’t guilty of anything. So In tears, I made my decision. I went with my heart. I went with conviction. I went with integrity. I went with what was right instead of doing what was easy.
I went with losing the only friends I ever had and I was crushed.
You know, I spent the majority of my life doing things alone. I was never invited to a birthday party, I never even had a birthday party. I went to the movies alone and shopping days were spent by myself. I couldn’t even tell you what a “girls night out” meant.
This was an incredibly hard decision, But I knew I made the right choice.
Beto, I hope you win. I lost the one thing I’ve ever wanted because I believe in doing what’s right.
I know that families are being torn apart and friendships are ending because our country is in chaos.
I’m still having my Halloween party this year, Only I changed the invite to read “Open House” even though no one will come to it, I am going to have that party with my head held high and I am going to have that party knowing that I did the right thing.
Beto, You might have lost friends and people have been mean to you. But you are running anyway. You are doing this with heart and you are doing this with conviction. You are doing this with integrity. You are doing what is right instead of what’s easy. You believe that things can be better. You are giving us hope and hope is a very powerful thing.
So, Please stay strong. Please Tell your family to stay strong. We desperately need a leader and I very much believe in you.
Thank you,
Kerri ❤️
Cedar Park, Texas
