President Donald Trump claiming that the United States needs “to have Greenland” for our own security and ensure peace “for the entire world” and Vice President JD Vance arguing that we have “no other option” than to increase our presence there to counter the Russians and Chinese, sound eerily similar to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s pre-invasion rhetoric in which he labeled the Ukrainian government as Nazis.
Presumably, like Putin, Trump and Vance are only believed by their faithful followers. I wonder, though, if they will continue down Putin’s path and follow through on a hostile takeover attempt. Will they not be satisfied till the U.S. is reviled around the globe and hit with as many sanctions as Russia?
— John Podulka, Wolverine, Michigan
Thoughts of Greenland
Oh beautiful Greenland, keep your freedom.
A few years ago, as a United States citizen, I had the pleasure of visiting that country and learning a bit of the people and culture in cities such as Nuuk, Sisimiut and Ilulissat.
May your flag ever wave in freedom and pride.
— Madeline Waite, Chicago
Avoiding cost of tariffs
People willingly buying vehicles made outside the U.S. will be voluntarily paying the additional cost resulting from the newly imposed reciprocal tariffs. So they are helping to increase revenue to the Treasury, thank you very much.
No one forces them to buy those vehicles. These tariffs are functionally equivalent to self-imposed taxes on the individual.
People can buy vehicles made in the U.S. and avoid the cost from tariffs.
What’s the problem, as President Donald Trump emphasized?
— David N. Simon, Chicago
Reversal on Elon Musk
The protests and violence directed at Tesla dealerships and the cars themselves are clear signs of the sickness of the supporters of the far left in our society. Not long ago, Tesla cars and the company that produces them were hailed as the emblem of environmental responsibility, and Elon Musk was the darling of the progressive left.
The newfound hatred of Musk and the car brand he represents could not be because of his efforts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse within government spending, as even those on the left would support this aim unless totally irrational. This hatred has its source in only one thing: the almost insane hatred of President Donald Trump and anything and anyone associated with his administration.
The irony of those who claim to hate Trump because of his policies are directing their hatred at a recent idol merely because that idol is now working with our president. These are indeed crazy and dangerous times.
— David Howard, Rockford
Preserving democracy
Over the years, I have seen democracy in action but never the deliberate dismantling of our country using cons.
Many Muslim protesters have been silenced. Some Jews and Christians rejoice, but they don’t see what has happened to their right to free speech. They think they won, but they fell for his con.
President Donald Trump loves to create threats to keep people afraid, such as the threat of taking Canadian lands. He wants us and the world to be too scared to act. His con!
Regarding tariffs, we were told these would just be short term. Prices will rise. He is trying to make us so dependent on him so that we will be less likely to fight back. He will be our savior. Another con!
God loves us all, just the way we are, whether white or Black, man or woman, heterosexual or gay. He made us as he wanted us to be. Who are we to say he is wrong?
We have a choice. We do not have to allow Trump’s cons to continue. Our vote should not be about a political party. It should be about keeping our basic freedoms and the rights of all Americans. We the people hired him. We the people can fire him.
President John F. Kennedy said: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” Our country has always been a beacon of democracy. With your help, it will remain that way.
Vote. Write. March. Speak out.
— Maggie O’Brien, Roselle
Our fading greatness
Many years ago, while I was wandering Europe and the Middle East as a 20-year-old, the idea of the “ugly American” was limited to travelers who have no respect for local cultures. Today, as I read the news, I see that that sense of rude self-centeredness applies to our new government more than any individual traveler.
“What’s in it for us right now” are the buzzwords, with no thought of what’s best for the world community today and tomorrow. We once had respect as the world’s greatest country. Now we are no longer trusted as a viable partner that will stand by our word and our democratic principles.
All that is going on may add money to the bottom line, but I suspect that true American greatness is fading fast.
— David Kravitz, Chicago
Rich men unaffected
I’m 92 years old and think I can speak for a lot of elderly people who rely on their Social Security check and government health care to survive. With the Donald Trump-Elon Musk regime threatening to cut those benefits, many older folks can only hope they last beyond the next four years. Existing through the current dictatorship means trying to have lives that could be deprived of vital needs.
We are facing an oppression of vulnerable people, many of them Republicans, by two rich men who don’t need Social Security and can pay for their own health care.
— Ed Stone, Northbrook
We must keep the faith
How can Republicans sleep at night? How do they explain to their children that they took bread from the mouths of hungry children and medicine from the dying by cutting off the U.S. Agency for International Development? Don’t we want our grandchildren to breathe clean air and be safe from climate change-related storms? Don’t we all want to protect our health care and the Department of Education?
Who voted for Elon Musk to seize our private personal information and fire people?
How can we allow an unhinged, heartless bully into the cockpit of our country when he plans to crash it? Seizing Panama, Greenland and Gaza? Really? Don’t elected officials promise to “defend our country against all enemies both foreign and domestic”?
I am a grandmother who remembers marching for peace, civil rights and women’s rights. We cheered with hope when disgraced President Richard Nixon flew off in that helicopter, and the good guys won. Resist this madness before the unhinged, heartless bully and his spellbound thugs shred our Constitution and our future.
Keep the faith. Democracy will prevail.
— Joy Hamlat, Oxnard, California
When will spine appear?
I have a question for the members of Congress and the justices on the Supreme Court in whom the United States citizens have placed their trust and security:
If you would, would you please advise as to when you will grow a collective spine to stop this carnage of our beloved country before it is absolutely too late to save it? Just wondering.
— Harvey Orlov, Glenview
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