Trump puts his own election ahead of our nation and our allies: Letters

Trump puts his own election ahead of our nation and our allies

Feb. 12 − To the Editor:

Once again, D.J. Trump shows his true colors. 

The Republicans and Dems came together in the senate to craft a bill providing comprehensive border security that would have solved the disarray at our southern border. It contained almost everything Republicans wanted. It was paired with aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

Then, Trump stepped in. He told Republican senators not to vote for their bill because it would look like a victory for Biden and would take away a Republican issue. 

To heck with our allies and resolving the Southern Border. They did as he said for fear of retribution for daring to put country above Trump!

But the Maga crowd won’t see it—they can only see red.

Michael Frandzel

Portsmouth

Donald Trump's shocking comments about NATO and Russia

Feb. 11 − To the Editor:

I have never been so shocked by the comments by a politician as I was today reading Donald Trump’s comments at rally in South Carolina yesterday.  Trump related a tale about a NATO ally asking him if he would defend them if attacked by Russia. He responded by falsely saying no because they are delinquent on their payments to NATO. Then he unbelievably went on to say, “In fact I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.”

This is the most dangerous, anti-democracy, pro-totalitarian comment ever uttered by a former president and now candidate for president.  How dare he announce to Putin that he encourages him to attack our allies while he would stand by and do nothing.  How dare he put all of our long standing allies at great risk, who came to our aid after 9/11 by invoking for the first time in history Article 5 of the NATO Charter.

This comment alone, even above all of Trump’s other legal problems, should disqualify him from ever holding any public office.  This comment is an insult to all military members past and present who have served to protect our nation and our allies from the threat posed by men like Putin and his Soviet predecessors. Trump’s words clearly demonstrate how existential a threat he is to our nation and the world.

Rich DiPentima, LTC, USAF, Ret.

Portsmouth

Just because actions are legal doesn't make them right

Feb. 11 − To the Editor:

Many things are legal but that doesn't make them right. Apparently it was legal for ClarenceThomas to solicit and to accept bribes. Until 2022, lynching was not a federal crime. Apparently, extrajudicial killing as evidenced by Bush 2's, Obama's, Trump's and Uncle Joe "s willingness to order drone strikes and the lack of international will to bring these criminals to justice is also legal. Is it right? In 2000 the Supreme Court installed Bush 2 in a bloodless coup. Was that right ? In the early 2020s Gov. Sununu suspended rights of movement, of association, of assembly et cetera. It was legal but was it right? It was apparently legal to mandate a medical intervention for NH State employees. Was that right? Its  lawful to spend trillions killing people around the world while at least 40 million people here suffer poverty. Because particular development projects are deemed legal doesn't make them right. I have no problem making such a declaration nor should anyone else.

John Robinson

Portsmouth

Anger destroys democracies, which god will you choose?

Feb. 11 −To the Editor:

Much of our politics today is fueled by anger and hate.  We’ve become angry at just about everything, from the number of immigrants entering our southern border seeking asylum, to food prices, to abortion and abortion rights, to the high cost of healthcare, to global warming to. . . well, you get the idea.

The ancient Greeks enshrined the dilemma in their mythology.

Most of us remember that Ares was the Greek God of War.  He was the angry, adrenaline-fueled Olympian who plunged headlong into the heat of battle, striking fear into his enemies.  His fierce anger and intensity often won the day against insurmountable odds.

But the Greeks had a second God of War, Ares’ half-sister Athena.  She was the strategist.  Her cool-headed approach studied and understood the strengths and weaknesses of her enemies and developed a plan to turn those qualities to her advantage, which sometimes meant avoiding the conflict altogether.  Ares may win a few battles, but it was Athena who won wars.

The ancient Greeks understood that anger could only take them so far.  Mobs of people motivated by anger and fear against the status quo turned against the very institutions and structures that protected their safety, rights, and freedoms.  Their anger might “win the day,” but it left them weakened and vulnerable to new enemies and new attacks.

That might explain why the Greeks have never named a city after Ares. Instead, they named their largest and most prosperous city after Athena and later declared it their capital.  They planted olive trees, one of Athena’s symbols, in her honor.  Olives soon became a favorite crop and a rich source of revenue for the Greeks.  It should come as no surprise, then, that the olive branch symbolizes peace and prosperity.

The ancient Athenians also gave us the gift of democracy, a government system run by popular vote, where citizens have a say in how they are ruled.  It was no coincidence that the city of Athena should also be the birthplace of democracy.  Democracy needs cool heads and the ability to understand the viewpoints and philosophies of people with differing ideas to find solutions to problems and turn them to our advantage.  That’s why olive branches are needed for democracies to be prosperous and successful.

In contrast, anger destroys democracies, it deals in absolutism as the only possible choice, without further consideration.  Dictatorships are formed from anger and fear, where only one viewpoint matters.

Greece was once the most successful civilization of the ancient world, thanks to the philosophy of democratic governance symbolized by Athena.  Their downfall came when they let their differences overcome their values. Instead of listening and understanding differing viewpoints, they fought amongst themselves, trading the cool-headed approach of democracy for the faster, angrier allure of a charismatic dictatorship.

Today, the US is the world’s richest country and its oldest democracy.  That’s not a coincidence.  Just like the ancient Athenians, we became wealthy because we are a democracy.  Our democracy is our greatness, our superpower, and our not-so-secret weapon.

But, like ancient Athens, we’ve become a nation deeply divided.  We have charismatic politicians spouting hate and anger, telling us to be cynical of government and institutions in general, sowing distrust in the very structures we set up to secure our safety, a decent education, our ability to choose what is best for us as individuals, and our ability to vote meaningfully.  Those same leaders refuse the olive branches of compromise and look to guns and other weapons to solve our problems instead.  This is the path of dictatorship.  Vengeance and retribution that may win a few battles but will leave us weakened and vulnerable in the end.

Our prosperity comes from everyday people with new ideas and old values, not charismatic politicians, and would-be dictators.  We can solve the many problems we face in the world today if only we take the time to listen and understand each other.  We need cool heads, understanding, and good strategies, not anger, accusations, and reactionary obstructionism.

We don’t have to agree with Americans who don’t share our ideology, religion, politics, sexual orientation, or lifestyle, but we do have to share our communities and our nation with them if we want to prosper.  That was the hope and dream of our forebears when representatives from thirteen separate individual states met together and created the Constitution upon which our country, our representative democracy, and our laws are founded.

Our best chances and hopes lie within ourselves.  But like the ancient Greeks, we must recognize and choose which philosophy we want to follow: the impetuous, vengeful approach symbolized by Ares or the sagacious, measured path of Athena.

James Fieseher MD, FAAFP

(Retired Student of Hippocrates)

Dover, New Hampshire