Letters: What more will it take for Trump’s supporters to turn against him?
What more will it take for Trump’s supporters to turn against him?
Bob Woodward’s new book, “Rage,” is out next week and damning excerpts in Trump’s own words are being posted. He knew how deadly the virus was in early February and did nothing to prepare the nation. He said it was contained, would disappear quickly on its own. While other countries rallied their citizens, took their responsibilities seriously, prepared for the worst, Trump denied, dismissed and divided. Much has been made of the Trump administration’s incompetence, but this was the opposite.
Trump is famous for saying he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and his supporters wouldn’t turn against him. Now that he has killed tens of thousands on Main Street, will they still stick with him?
In the evenings I walk the dog through the small town where I live, counting the yard signs along the way. A neighbor has put up five Biden signs and even added spotlights to illuminate them at night. Aside from this one defiant gesture, every other sign is for Trump. This is beyond my comprehension. Their relatives and friends are sickening and dying equally with the Biden supporters. What rage does it require to go against everything they once admired: the Constitution, the rule of law, the military, our democracy, if we can keep it?
Maybe the yard signs don’t tell the whole story. Maybe there is a silent majority that will only express their opinion at the ballot box. For America’s sake, I pray this is true.
Consider the full range of Catholic teach when voting
We disagree with Linda MacMonagle’s letter urging faithful Catholics to vote for Donald Trump based on his abortion position. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops states that abortion cannot be used as a “way of dismissing or ignoring other serious threats to human life and dignity” such as racism, the death penalty, climate change and health care access — a position Pope Francis echoes.
No Catholic teaching states that criminalizing abortion is the most effective policy to prevent abortions. According to the CDC, abortions stagnated during the Bush presidency but fell during the Obama presidency, partly because more Americans received health insurance.
The right to life is linked to other human rights. Because humans are endowed with inherent dignity, life issues are connected. The erosion of respect for the life of any individual or group, including Blacks, immigrants, and persons of color in society diminishes respect for all life. Pope Paul VI said, “If you want peace, work for justice” — a chant similar to “No Justice, No Peace!” heard at Black Lives Matter protests.
We encourage Catholics to consider the full range of Catholic teaching when voting.
Performance remains as moving today
When I was a young undergraduate student at what was then called “Western Reserve University” in Cleveland in the early and mid-1960s, I frequently traveled to nearby Oberlin College to hear great folk music concerts hosted by them. In one of them, the wonderful singer Buffy Sainte-Marie finished her performance with the song “My Country ‘Tis of Thy People You’re Dying.”
At the conclusion of the song, with tears streaming down her face, she stalked off the stage … and refused to sing an encore despite the pleading of the audience (me included). Now, more than a half-century later, her lyrics are as compelling as ever, and still accurate both figuratively and now literally.
By all means, go to YouTube and listen for yourself. Thank you, Buffy!