Letters to the Editor | Aug. 25, 2024

The first step in bringing relief to Palestinians is defeating Donald Trump in November. Trump moved our embassy to Jerusalem and bolstered Benjamin Netanyahu’s regime. The GOP has shown little concern for the suffering of Palestinians. Under Trump and the GOP, “regular folks furious about Gaza” (as columnist Will Bunch wrote) would have absolutely no political leverage. Indeed, as horrific as the current death toll is, under Trump and the GOP, the death toll could reach cataclysmic levels. I appreciated Bunch’s piece, but let’s focus on what matters most: defeating Trump.

Rosamond Kay, Philadelphia

Jonathan Zimmerman’s excellent column on the resignation of Columbia University president Minouche Shafik underscores a serious and troubling trend in public discourse: Americans have lost what former President Barack Obama frequently dubbed the ability to “disagree without being disagreeable.” The problem is not that people espouse firmly held beliefs. This is a core part of being American and of being human. The problem is that many activists have so closed their minds to the possibility they are wrong that they are unwilling to engage with others respectfully and listen to their perspectives. There are, undoubtedly, genuine hate groups in the world with whom civil discourse is difficult, if not impossible. But if you really believe that all people who disagree with you — who, in some cases, constitute an outright majority of the population — are beyond hope or not worthy of your time, you may want to rethink your approach to activism (and, indeed, to life).

Jesse Abrams-Morley, Philadelphia, jessedavidam@gmail.com

It is time for the mainstream media to hold up its obligation to publish all the news. At former President Donald Trump’s news conferences, if they are chosen to ask a question, reporters never follow up with additional ones to clarify the facts as Trump puts out false claims. When President Joe Biden held news conferences, there were always follow-up questions that put many of his answers in a new light.

Are they afraid of being excluded from future conferences? Do they even try to ask questions that would explore the falsehoods in many of Trump’s statements? If that is the case, they should all refrain from attending these conferences, the networks should not broadcast them, and on the air, they should let people know what was said, either truthfully or untruthfully. Freedom of the press requires the media to report all the news, including the lies told by political candidates. The media should not be an accomplice to a candidate who restricts access to the truth.

Edward J. Mathis, Media

A recent op-ed by Margaret Betz credits Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for starting the trend of applying the “weird” label to campaign pronouncements by Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance. Although this rhetorical barb is clearly gaining currency among Democratic politicians, it did not originate with the Dems, at least not as far as Trump is concerned. That distinction belongs to George W. Bush. After sitting through Trump’s 2017 inauguration address, including ominous references to “American carnage” and “America first,” the former president reportedly remarked: “That was some weird [stuff] there.” Say what you will about Bush 43, but when it comes to peculiar oratory, he knows of which he speaks.

Patrick J. Hagan, Ardmore

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