Having grown up in a community and family of mixed political beliefs, I strive to maintain a certain amount of respect and understanding for those who hold views different from my own. I sincerely believe – despite moments of frustration and outrage – that most people are fundamentally good and want good things for the world, regardless of their position on the political spectrum.

However, on three specific points in this election, I find it very difficult to forgive anyone who votes for Donald Trump. Three things that are important enough, serious enough, that they should objectively obscure all other considerations.

The first is climate change. For all the talk about immigration and inflation, climate change is by far the biggest challenge facing our country (and the world, obviously). We don’t talk about it because it’s so scary and depressing that, frankly, we’d rather not do it. Trump calls climate change a hoax and wants to roll back every microstep we’ve taken in the right direction in recent years. To me, these claims constitute a crime against humanity, as his choices will literally result in the deaths of millions of people over the coming decades. The fact that Kamala Harris feels obligated to hide her pro-climate credentials in the name of Pennsylvania perplexes and infuriates me, but at least I know she quietly aspires to do something to save our planet.

The second is his rhetoric on immigration and immigrants. My husband is an immigrant and I teach dozens of newly arrived immigrants at school. These students are without exception hard-working, intelligent, respectful, and ambitious, and I constantly feel the need to apologize to them for the behavior and attitudes of their American-born peers. The fact that Donald Trump, who possesses none of these positive qualities, is using his agenda to demean decent people and fuel hatred and fear of immigrants among his supporters is frankly revolting.

The third reason is perhaps the simplest. Donald Trump doesn’t even believe in democracy or fair elections at all. Why is this alone not enough to end this brutal battle we have been waging for eight years?

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