Letter to my daughter, mother of my grandchildren

This is a personal letter that will actually be sent, and I am sharing it here so that other parents can also send it to their children. You can adapt the letter as you wish or write a new letter from your heart.

Dear daughter,

We have often discussed the current situation and everything that is going wrong in our country and in the world. I am pessimistic about the future and feel compelled to warn you, your husband, and your children once again. War is coming, and I believe we must resist the warmongering of our so-called leaders. Above all, I want to prevent my children and grandchildren from dying in yet another senseless war.

Our leaders have already waged so many senseless wars. Wars that were unnecessary and, in hindsight, turned out to have been started on the basis of lies. The Vietnam War was justified on the basis of an incident that never happened. There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Yugoslavia and Libya were attacked by exaggerating domestic unrest. The US and NATO are responsible for many thousands of innocent deaths.

When we look at conflicts around the world today, we see the same patterns repeating themselves. The US and NATO are belligerent and are using Ukraine against Russia, Taiwan against China, and Israel against Iran. The reason is that Russia, China, and Iran stand in the way of world domination. Anyone who stands in the way must be eliminated. That is how primitive man operates—in the past and present, on a small and large scale.

The problem is that most people do not see these patterns. People are not very interested in history and quickly forget the nonsense and lies. Strangely enough, leaders and organizations that lie time and time again are still believed. There are always new lies that find their way into gullible ears. Unfortunately, lying has been elevated to an art form, and the US and NATO have professionalized propaganda.

Yet I continue to be amazed at the willingness of politicians, journalists, and influential public figures to go along with the narrative they are presented with. As if they really believe that Russia will invade Europe. As if they do not see that the US is stirring up Taiwan against China. As if they find it normal for the US to bomb Iran without any evidence of a nuclear program. It is abundantly clear which party is being aggressive.

In our country, the defense department wants to buy old trains to use as mobile hospitals. You only come up with such an idiotic plan if you intend to go to war. The media talks about it as if it were normal. The war train is already running and gaining speed, and I fear it cannot be stopped. Too many people are talking about it, and there are no journalists or presenters putting the brakes on. We are like frogs in a pan on low heat, heading toward boiling point.

I think you feel exactly the same way I do, but perhaps you hope that it will not come to that. Once the flame hits the pan, it will be too late to prepare, which is why I urge you to prepare now for what is inevitably coming. You do not need to prepare for a nuclear bomb, because if one falls, it will not matter what you have prepared. Even a bomb shelter with five years’ worth of food will not be a life worth living.

My concerns are for those who are being sent to war and will serve as cannon fodder. Look at all those Ukrainian boys and men who are being sacrificed for a war that is not theirs. Look at all those women and children in Gaza who are being killed with weapons from the US and NATO. When war breaks out, they will throw everyone under the bus. The question is what the people themselves want: to fight or to refuse.

Of course, I can’t decide what you and the children should do. I would refuse myself, even if they put me in front of a firing squad for it. The fact is that I have completely lost faith in our leaders. I fear that even this simple letter could be grounds for our increasingly tyrannical government to imprison me. I would entrust my life to Putin, but never to Trump or Rutte.

I don’t mean to scare you, but I can’t remain silent either. We’d better prepare ourselves properly instead of just hoping that primitive people will suddenly become conscious and sensible. Think about what you yourself want and can do. Think about conversations with your children and what you want to say to them. Make them aware and teach them the facts. Teach them to think for themselves, to be critical, and to make their own choices. Every conversation can be meaningful.

I can’t make it sound better than it is, but unfortunately I am pessimistic. Because so few people see what I see. In hindsight, everything will become clear again, but once again we will not be able to justify thousands of innocent deaths. I would like to shout it out loud, but few will (be able to) listen and see through the lies like I do. The leaders are following their own plan, the media is selling it, and the frogs are waiting until they are handed a weapon.

I don’t know when all hell will break loose, but I feel that the war will gain momentum between 2026 and 2029. People will see the signs more and more clearly, and perhaps the masses will wake up in time to put the brakes on. But in the meantime, all we can do is raise awareness and enjoy the days that are still somewhat peaceful. Worrying all the time is unhealthy, so make sure you do fun things too.

I am proud of you. You are busy with your family, your work, your social life, and your own development. You are a good mother to your children. You are not responsible for war, nor for the choices your children make, but I hope with all my heart that none of you will choose to kill the children of Russian, Chinese, or Iranian parents on behalf of the US and NATO. There is nothing to defend, because we are not being attacked.

It is the other way around. The US and NATO are constantly attacking countries, forcing those other countries to defend themselves. When will the masses finally realize this? When will our eyes be opened and we stop giving power to leaders who have plans for war? Leaders who blindly follow the US and NATO with their plans. My repetitions show how enormous my surprise and disbelief are.

Let me conclude by saying that I love you. That I love your family. That I hope my fears will not come true and that we will skirt the right side of the precipice. Perhaps we should trust with all our hearts that things will turn out well, so that we will attract good things. Let us prepare ourselves, but also spend our days in a pleasant and meaningful way. Let us have good conversations together, because we have each other.

Love, Dad.

Nico Cost