I recently received a “response” from the White House after sending a heartfelt letter about the harm caused by the ongoing government shutdown. What came back wasn’t a dialogue — it was a form letter filled with blame, distortion, and hostility. I’m sharing part of it here, not to invite argument, but because truth must be seen. Silence and denial are how darkness grows. When cruelty becomes normalized, compassion must speak.

As our government remains in shutdown and Congress debates the future of health care access, millions of Americans are waiting to see what will happen next. This moment will determine whether families can continue to receive affordable care—or be left without support when the protections expire. It is a time of deep uncertainty, but also a time of choice. We may not hold political power, but we hold something greater: the power of collective compassion. When we speak with courage and faith, our voices become light in the darkness, guiding this nation back toward care and conscience.