To the Editor:
Martin: I think I may have overlooked what now appears to be your sense of humor. Initially, I thought your response to Pat Collins’ pithy LTTE about denial being exhausting merely exceeded “deflection” and vaulted to your signature “raspberry” retort. But from someone coming off a three-week hiatus with your fingers in your ears, your “get some rest” advice provided a welcome moment of unsullied mirth. The meaning of your comments on my LTTE, however, escapes me. You correctly criticize Trump’s “flawed” peace efforts (ignoring the degradation of our international status, and the many other absurdities he commits), yet conclude, as did Lincoln about Grant, “I can’t spare this man, he fights.” You admire that Trump starts vengeful, destructive fights with predecessors, dissenters, and nations, abandons worthy allies like Ukraine, but struts around making more empty predictions of victory and excuses for failure than General George McClellan? We have two sides to our brain, Martin, and optimally they work together, in concert with at least one of the 5 senses.
I was somewhat impressed when, for one brief, shining moment, several Republican senators joined the Democrats to pass a War Powers Resolution to defy Trump’s usurpation of their Constitutional congressional wartime authority. But then, a furious Trump invaded their lunch-meeting to yell insults and threats, demanded and received a re-vote of support, and branded one steadfast Republican colleague “a horrible person” and not one Republican kitten mewled a protest.
While you offer flaccid congratulations to Ukraine (which may be winning the Russian War, no thanks to “fighter” Donald Trump), our democracy and world status are being dismantled by Trump and his political party, even as he and his family raise corruption to levels never before seen in this country. And this is the guy you believe invaluable to our national interests, whom we “can’t spare?”
Some people find it attractive, even consoling, to focus exclusively on possible future terrors which are far beyond their ability to control, rather than confront the things right in front of them for which they bear immediate responsibility. Perhaps, because time and distance are in their favor. Our beloved country will have many future challenges, but if we are to survive them as a Constitutional Republic and show the world the advantages of Government by The People, we cannot afford such destructive escapism. We must insist on separating truth from the vast manipulations in our world, be willing to question old biases and assumptions, burnish our principles, and defy prevaricating, self-serving leaders who demand subservience from everyone except the rich and powerful.
It is reckless to discount or deny present, internal threats to our freedoms, and cowardice to ignore responsibility for our own unjust actions or inactions, in the hope of passing into history without accountability.
Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca
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To the Editor:
I appreciate that Ms. McCloud took up my letter for comment. Unfortunately, it leaves us right back where we started. I pose a specific question about something in the here and now and the response is finger pointing and demonizing those of us unwilling to close our eyes to what is right in front of us.
If we both had magic wands and a wayback machine, maybe we could have a productive conversation about Governor Brown. But that doesn’t address what we need to respond to in the here and now.
To accuse Democrats of weaponizing January 6th, is like blaming the victim of a mugging for filing a complaint with the police. Democrats did not attack the police. They did not smear feces on walls. They did not shut down legal proceedings to overthrow an election. Those of us with eyes to see and ears to hear know what happened. No matter how many times you tell us you “feel” Trump won. Not a single court or jury agreed. And you want us to hand them our hard-earned tax dollars? For the inconvenience for being held accountable for their actions? Because you didn’t get what you wanted from that election?
And I’m sorry Mr. Farrell didn’t recognize the kindness in my letter last week. I heard his exhaustion. I didn’t want to add to his weariness. I know how much energy it takes to deny what is clearly and overwhelmingly in front of us. The corruption, the grifting, the incompetence, and the cruelty are staggering.
The fact is, at this point, Trump isn’t the biggest problem. It’s the timid Republicans in the house and the senate who tremble when he raises his voice. Who go on recess rather than do their jobs. Who sit on their hands while he bombs whatever he feels like and then walks away when he gets bored. Gas prices shooting up. Food prices. Health care—just some of the things he’s sacrificed to give the uber wealthy uber tax breaks. And all the citizens who go deaf and blind rather than fight for our constitution, for the rule of law, Mr. Farrell has said this is all forgivable because of his treatment of immigrants. I’m not sure what Ms. McCloud is getting.
Pat Collins,
Fillmore, Ca