1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am writing as an American who is deeply disturbed by what your party has become. The cruelty, selfishness, and moral emptiness on display from so many within your ranks are not new—and sadly, they’re no longer surprising. The tone set by your leadership has emboldened a generation of young Republicans to treat politics as a game of mockery and hate rather than service and humanity. You have power, influence, and a platform that could be used to build something better: a party that values truth, compassion, and the common good. Instead, too many of you choose silence or excuses while your colleagues tear down the most vulnerable among us and poison public discourse. You stand for taking—taking rights, taking credit, taking advantage—while giving nothing back to the people you were elected to serve. History will remember that. So will we. It’s not too late to find courage. But cowardice, once a habit, is hard to break. I hope you start now.