Letters: No limits to insults and lies; US must stop arming Israel
No limits to insults and lies
It’s tempting to tune out the rhetoric in the presidential campaign, but we must see how low Donald Trump is taking us.
We’re accustomed to his outrageous comments. A “bloodbath” if he doesn’t win. Praise for dictators. “Very fine people on both sides.” Disparaging veterans. Calling Kamala Harris “real garbage” and “a b----.” Dehumanizing immigrants.
And the lies — 30,573 during his presidency; more than 30 in his debate with President Biden.
The insults and lies keep coming — increasing in abusiveness and vulgarity.
Trump recently called civilian medals “much better” than military awards, leading The Veterans of Foreign Wars to label the comments “asinine” and “crass,” questioning Trump’s qualifications to be commander in chief.
In continuing assaults on Kamala Harris, Trump claimed that he’s “entitled to” attack his opponents. Parents don’t tolerate such rudeness. Why condone it in someone vying to be president?
In a rambling hate-filled post, Trump falsely accused Harris of fabricating an image of a rally crowd. His lie was quickly exposed with photographic evidence and statements from attendees.
At Trump’s recent 64-minute “press conference,” NPR counted 162 misstatements, exaggerations and outright lies, concluding, “It’s a stunning number for anyone ... even more problematic for a person running to lead the free world.”
Increasingly desperate, Trump posted AI-generated pictures preposterously claiming that Taylor Swift endorsed him— easily debunked and subjecting him to more lawsuits.
Trump isn’t wooing voters by proposing meaningful policies. He’s demonstrating his cruelty, his unfitness for office, and his utter disrespect for Americans.
US must stop arming Israel
The administration’s “working day and night for a cease-fire in Gaza” has failed. The U.S. must stop arming Israel and leverage its power to rein in Prime Minister Netanyahu. Netanyahu has made it clear he doesn’t intend to stop killing civilians, turning away aid, or destroying infrastructure in Gaza. Democrats, including candidates Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, boldly stated that the Democratic Party’s tent is big enough for everyone, but, without even vetting her speech, Georgia state Rep. Ruwa Romman was barred from speaking. She would have been the first American-Palestinian to ever speak at a DNC. Harris missed an opportunity to obtain an endorsement from the Uncommitted Movement. The American-Israeli parents of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin were invited. They spoke movingly about their family’s suffering and the suffering of all the innocent hostages and Oct. 7 victims and their families. They told of their longing for a cease-fire, the return of their son and all hostages, and an end to everyone’s suffering. Every atrocity committed against civilians by terrorists and war mongers is despicable. Why not give equal voice to the suffering this war is inflicting upon, Palestinian civilians? We need to stop power-hungry bullies at home; it is also urgent to stop power-hungry bullies abroad. Current policies are escalating tensions throughout the region. No one is safe. The U.S. must facilitate fair negotiations for a just and lasting peace by halting the flow of U.S. weapons to Israel finally putting an end to Netanyahu’s genocide.
What has the party of Trump become?
“Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray,” Matthew 24:11.
“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive,” Romans 16:17-18.
“In their greed they will exploit you with false words.” 2 Peter 2:3
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths,” 2 Timothy 4:3. “Even the elect,” Matthew 24:24.
“You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.” “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire, ” Matthew 7:15-20. “They commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil,” Jeremiah 23:14. “There is no truth in him,” John 8:44.
Truly the party of Trump has become as him, perpetually lying for their own profit, not yours. Trust and check your own remembrances, not their lies.
Lost art of ‘working things out’
The events of this passing summer bring to mind the elementary schoolyard of my youth in the 1940s — the flailing arms and fists of two red-faced combatants encircled by cheering schoolmates until, pause, wait for it, until the firm step of clear-headedness strides into the arena and utters just three words: “my office, now,” which abruptly ends the confrontation and steers the rest of us toward more gainful schoolyard pursuits and, in the long run, each of us toward healing friendships.
Who among “us ordinaries” are taking such a step today, actually sitting with an opposition occurring in our private life trying to work things out? You? Me?
Who among all levels of government are calmly stepping forward and actually sitting with the opposition trying to sort things out in order to truly make it possible to achieve the goals desired rather than simply shouting promises and declarations to do this and that?
Who among us actually strives to listen, to understand, to calm?
Our silence is indeed deafening.