Growing up in the United States I always felt fortunate. We had a nice home; my Dad always had a really good job. We weren’t wealthy, but we had what we wanted. We had peace in our land, good food, good roads, good schools, and the country was so big, you’d never see it all.

Democracy was something we learned about in school, and if I can be totally honest, something that we just took for granted. I have always been interested in history from the time I was a little kid. My folks took me all over the place on vacations, so at an early age I was lucky enough to see history, not just read facts in a book. I still vividly remember our trip to the Civil War battlefields at Vicksburg, Tennessee as a child. It was so incredibly moving to be there where so many of our people died.

Once we made it through the Cold War and weren’t incinerated in a nuclear hell, I figured our country was safe, and that was that.

Everything changed in late 2015 when Trump announced his candidacy for president. I figured he was done for after disparaging Senator John McCain, who had endured so much torture and plain hell after being shot down and captured in the Vietnam War. Panic hit in 2016 when Trump got the Republican Party nomination, and when he won the election, I really felt that our democracy was no longer a given.

Then when Joe Biden won the 2020 election, a calm came back over me until January 6, 2021. I will always remember that day. I was horrified and so ashamed. Then 4 years later, the majority (the largest number for any one candidate) voted for Trump again – the one who tried to overturn the 2020 election and pushed the insurrection at our Capitol.

I have not felt at peace since last November 5. And everyday since January 20, 2025, I have felt more ashamed, embarrassed and angry. Our country probably will never be the same. Whether or not our democratic republic holds is in serious doubt.

But my point today is not to replay history; it is to offer a sincere apology to all of my non-US friends and followers. Our nation is divided, not along any particular geographic line, no, but along those who are informed, educated, value our long history of democracy, and those who have been literally brainwashed by right-wing, fascist (yes, I said it) media.

In two short months Trump and his gang have ruined long held alliances and friendships. We have all but abandoned Ukraine who has been fighting for its very existence for 3 years now against Russian aggression. We have so insulted and alienated our northern neighbor, Canada, that they have taken all American products off their shelves. We blame our southern neighbor, Mexico, for our own failures to rectify our broken and antiquated immigration system and for our drug problems. Yes, many, many Americans have serious drug problems.

In the disgusting, inexcusable, and horrifying national security breach the other day, we have now publicly communicated our true feelings for our European friends and allies.

I just want you all to know that this is NOT how I feel, or how I voted. This is not how many of us here in America feel. I have never before been ashamed of being an American. But today and for the past several months, I can truly say that I am ashamed. I cannot hold my head up when facing my international friends.

I thought we shared so much – common ancestors, common values, common goals. In my view we all still do. But I guess too many people in the US do not share those views. I saw a post on Instagram last evening from an Australian fellow that really hit home to me. He said, “It’s your mess; you made it, take responsibility and clean it up, or bear the consequences. “

That is such a true statement. I immediately got an image of a ruined Germany in 1945 after Hitler’s ridiculous attempt to rule the world. That could be us in a few more years.

No, I don’t ask for your sympathy. I just want you all to know that not all of us are fascists. I am not; I never will be. I value our friendships, alliances and mutual understanding. Our differences make us stronger – we can learn from each other.

Please understand that so many of us have not deserted our friends in our hearts. Trump does not speak for so many Americans. Please accept my apology for our country’s stupidity and horrible behavior. I will continue to do what I can to resist and help our nation overcome this deplorable chapter in our history.

Thank you!