Take stock of the ideology energizing Trumpism
Pasadena, Calif.: Please be aware that fascist Donald Trump and his enablers have adopted the white supremacist “replacement theory.” Fascism is a political philosophy that exalts nation and often race above the rights of individuals, and supports an autocratic government led by a dictatorial leader. It’s about suppression that leads to oppression by white minorities.
White supremacy (Christian nationalism) has deep roots in anti-communism, antisemitism and isolationism. Since Trump’s presidency, its agenda has married with the religious right by ending same-sex marriage, banning abortion, and denying the existence of trans people. Part of the fascist effort is to turn our country into a theocratic state like Iran! By trying to force minority voters not to vote and election officials not to certify the vote, fascist Republicans inculcate an atmosphere of cultural panic over wildly exaggerated phenomena like “wokeness,” “critical race theory” and “cancel culture.” To make matters worse, two leaders of a white supremacist group have been charged after allegedly plotting assassinations and terrorist attacks they hoped would bring on a race war.
Fascism wants to control reproductive health care, religion and what you read, and it won’t stop there. The Southern Poverty Law Center breaks down the groups by category, noting that there are “at least” 99 neo-Nazi groups,100 white Christian nationalist or white supremacist groups, 130 outposts of the Ku Klux Klan, 43 neo-Confederate groups and 78 racist skinhead groups.
Patriotic Americans, this threat is real. Save our democracy from fascist, Trumpian autocracy and our partisan Supreme Court. Vote, then encourage your friends and family to vote! Richard A. French
Misattributed
Manhattan: Voicer Ben Lavorino claims I called Trump “orange man” in my letter of Sept. 10. He is wrong. Those words were written by Voicer Diane Diamond, the letter following mine. Facts matter. Paul Weissman
Pre-scheduled
Tomkins Cove, N.Y.: As usual, Trump gets wrong the analogy about a fighter who lost wanting a rematch. The debate on Tuesday was supposed to be round one of a three-round contest. He copped Roberto Duran’s “No más” from the 1980 fight against Sugar Ray Leonard. One could make the argument that Trump is behaving like the part of the female anatomy that he bragged to Billy Bush about grabbing. Doug Slotolowicz
Now do him
Hallandale Beach, Fla.: Thank you so much, Voicer Eugene R. Dunn, for using your “superior knowledge and memory of events” to inform me that Kamala Harris lied repeatedly during her debate with Donald Trump. Without your insight, how could I have figured that out for myself? Because you take great pride in what you see as your objectivity, I look forward to a follow-up from you in which you address her opponent’s veracity or lack thereof. Anthony Biancoviso
Suspicious scoring
Somers, N.Y.: To Voicer Eugene R. Dunn: As an “objective referee,” you scored Trump the winner of the debate by “an exceptionally large margin.” Obviously, you did not view this objectively. You flipped the script and said Harris told lie after lie. What about Trump’s lies about abortion, tariffs and millions coming into the country from prisons, mental institutions and insane asylums? We did not have the worst inflation ever under Biden/Harris. And last but not least, the insane idea that Haitian immigrants are stealing pets and eating them. How could you not say this is nuts? Every respectable poll had Harris winning by a lot. Trump even went into the spin room afterwards to try and clean things up. If you were an umpire calling balls and strikes, you would probably be fired. Michael Gold
Racist lie
Roosevelt, L.I.: During the presidential debate that he lost to Vice President Harris, Trump pushed the envelope of hate to intentionally spread the outright racist, anti-immigrant lie that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were catching and eating neighborhood pets — dogs and cats. This false claim against immigrants who legally moved to Springfield to work is proof that Trump must not become president ever again. He fails to embrace and enforce the truth that America is multicultural, multiethnic and multilingual right now. Even Taylor Swift is disgusted with Trump’s unpresidential, racist and rude rhetoric and with JD Vance’s mean-spirited, sexist and senseless statement regarding “a bunch of childless cat ladies.” Well, after the debate, Swift posted a picture of herself holding her cat, Benjamin Button, endorsed Harris for president, and signed it “Childless Cat Lady.” Arthur L. Mackey Jr.
Paramount goal
Manhattan: Is Steve Zeidman serious (“Dems err calling for tough prosecutors,” op-ed, Sept. 8)? Democrats should be concerned that their lurch to the right re criminal justice reform will cost them votes? At this point, nothing matters— absolutely nothing — except defeating Trump. Anyone who would seriously consider not voting for Harris, or not voting at all, in response to any political position is not tracking reality. It’s a total poseur’s position. Nothing less than the fate of the entire world is at stake. Via Ventana
Cyclical impropriety
New Hope, Pa.: It seems uncanny that almost once in every generation for the past 130 years, the NYPD has undergone a corruption scandal. We have known so many honest and dedicated members of the department, but still, the forces of dishonesty rise to erode the public trust in the profession we were once part of. Most of us are old now and can only wonder if this cycle of greed and dishonesty will prevail forever. It seems that time has a way of eradicating all efforts to reform after each scandal. Is there something in human nature and the nature of organizations that allows us to forget, or to forget to transfer the pain and shame of past events to our next generation? Peter Mancuso
So long
Bronx: A neighborhood institution for more than 75 years, Glacken’s Bar & Grill, is closing its doors for good on Sept. 30. James Ross
Unacceptable reality
Belle Harbor: As a 17-year-old student, the threat of gun violence feels devastatingly close. Schools that we’re supposed to feel safe and supported in are now filled with fear. Every time we hear about another school shooting, it makes us question our own security and not want to attend. It’s heartbreaking that our futures are overshadowed by violence. We need to tackle gun control head-on and deserve to learn and grow in safe environments. Our generation has the power to make change — at least I hope we can. Gianna Daugusta
Nutrition nudge
Manhattan: As a student who has experienced the NYC Department of Education food situation firsthand, we must address the issue of school meals promptly. Unhealthy food options endanger students’ wellbeing. It is vital to prioritize meal choices in schools. We need to do away with sugar and salt-heavy foods and incorporate more plant-based foods sourced from local farms. Our kids are our future. Tessa Ng
Peace is within our power
San Mateo, Calif.: Our mainstream media is asleep as usual. In Israel, former Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert have offered better answers than we’ve heard lately. Both stand for ceasefire and negotiations to end this spiral of murder. Olmert, with Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Nasser al-Kidwa, has a plan to move past the endless repetition of violence and occupation and toward mutual security and real peace. We need to stop the rogue Netanyahu settler regime and end his efforts to start World War III with us in the middle. The U.S. should sponsor a Security Council resolution mandating a permanent regional ceasefire, providing cover for Iran and Lebanon to not have to respond to Israeli provocations and to end the Houthi and Hezbollah actions in support of the Gazans. Sound difficult? It’s far easier than trying to weasel our way through this mess while ignoring world opinion aghast at our hypocrisy. Mike Caggiano
A better bridge
Manhattan: Why not consider making the Brooklyn Bridge completely auto-free? The remaining three bridges and two tunnels across the East River already invite more vehicles to the Manhattan core than its existing streets can handle. The 1883 bridge was built to accommodate elevated rail tracks and streetcars, along with a handful of horse-drawn vehicles. An auto-free Brooklyn Bridge could become a tourist attraction for pedestrians and cyclists and a showcase for environmentally sound transportation. A modern, low-floor light rail line could eventually link proposed restoration of streetcars in Brooklyn and Manhattan. George Haikalis