1. United States
2. Alaska
3. Letter

What happened to those two German teens in Hawaii—detained, strip-searched, and deported without cause—was not just cruel. It was authoritarian. And it should alarm every American who still believes in freedom, dignity, and the rule of law. Yes, Alaska’s economy will suffer. Tourism is already at risk, and international perception of the U.S. as a safe, welcoming destination is crumbling. But as terrifying as that is, it pales in comparison to the greater threat we now face: the erosion of democracy itself. This isn’t about party politics anymore. It’s about whether we allow our nation to slide into fascism under the cover of “law and order.” The misuse of executive power, the militarization of immigration enforcement, the deliberate cruelty at our borders—these are all warning signs. We ignore them at our peril. Please, do everything in your power to preserve our democracy. I have no interest in living under a dictatorship. I want a free country for my daughter to grow up in, and for future generations to thrive—not fear.