Dear Dr. Haque: Ecountering this quote was stunningly resonant with my lived experience:

…”American carnage. I don’t just mean the 400,000 dead of Covid and counting. I mean the carnage of the American mind, the breaking of the American heart, the death of the American soul. I mean the carnage of social bonds, intellect, culture, the norms and values of a decent society, the curiosity and empathy of a civilised one, the goodness and truth of a humane one. America never had much of any of those. But it has none now, and that’s easy to see: 400,000 dead, and who really cares? Anybody? I know you think you do, but I’m about to prove to you that you don’t, not really.”

Specifically, if I had a million dollars for every time a therapist or intimate friend heard my story of incest at the hands of my father and defined as a “ heart- breaking soul murderer”, I could buy me a river that I absolutely would sail away on, to paraphrase an Iconic song title.

But I have this strong sense that I am writing and broadcasting my way through this in order to bring about a better day- a world that works for all of its residents.

Best,

VernonNickersonSchoolcoach