When I started this blog, I never intended to wade too far into the political weeds. Many influencers would have us believe they are shaping worldviews. Instead, they often act like an echo chamber that does nothing more than reinforce what their audiences already believe to be right. Some make a comfortable living doing so. It’s enviable.

So, when I started my platform, I wanted to be as far away from politics as I could get, aside from making some cultural references and observations that I think my American audience would find interesting. I wanted my blog to be a place where people discover the world they live in; to understand that human experiences are universal and can bring about real healing moments for those who dare to venture out of their comfort zone, not a space that engages in political activism. I rather like my corner of the web and want to keep it clean and free of political rhetoric. However, in moments like these, as someone who writes about their global experiences, I realized that I have a platform and a voice, and I needed to take a moment to reaffirm some core values that we should all share.

Most human experiences come down to the basics—enjoying good food, maintaining dignity through hygiene, sharing a laugh, and building a life worth living. I have met people from every walk of life in all corners of the globe. Regardless of geography, their desires are universal: to worship as they see fit, to live without fear, to enjoy the bounty of their labor, and to exist in peace and comfort.

So, at this critical moment, we must speak up and speak out against those who would take away people’s personal liberties across the globe. My American audience, specifically, must realize that there is more at stake with the words and actions of our current administration than they might understand. If they break the world and follow through on any of their implied threats at any point, the version of America that stood as a beacon of hope for the world’s disenfranchised will disappear forever.

My fellow Americans, please understand that the world beyond our borders is not a series of abstract threats, but a vast, inherently good community. From the streets of Japan to the dramatic landscapes of Thailand and Southeast Asia, I have met and worked alongside people from every corner of the British Commonwealth, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East—experiencing a level of hospitality and kindness that is often difficult to put into words. In many ways, most of the world enjoys more personal freedoms than the average American can even begin to understand.

It is for this reason that I feel a visceral anger when our leadership threatens any place in the world with bombs, war, and annihilation. This is a gluttonous destruction of the very people who still admire America and would be our allies under any other circumstances. Beyond the human cost, this aggression is a reckless waste of taxpayer dollars that serves no true American interest; it is a betrayal of our values, and we must all stand against it.