Letters to the Editor | Aug. 8, 2024

Kudos to President Joe Biden for his diplomatic success in bringing American captives Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan home from Russia. They were real hostages, deserving of their freedom, unlike the convicted rioters serving time for the attempted coup at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, that Donald Trump ludicrously refers to as hostages.

Vin Morabito, Scranton, vinmorabito8@gmail.com

President Joe Biden, through diplomacy, the aid of allies, and his focus on the job of serving the people of this country, was able to free hostages who were captured by Russia and its dictator Vladimir Putin. These individuals, who were guilty only of being American citizens or residents, are now free to be with family and enjoy the freedom that our country stands for. The normal reaction to this welcome turn of events would be to rejoice with them. But Donald Trump instead weirdly congratulated Putin, never mentioned the people who were freed by name, and failed to remember that he bragged that only he could get them home.

Trump’s behavior is consistent with his rejection of the bipartisan border deal that would have strengthened border security because it would not be in line with his personal goal, which is to win the election to stay out of prison. Trump fouls everything he touches, turning virtue into vice. He disparages the very ideas on which our nation was founded and will not relent until his corruption becomes normalized. This will not — this cannot — be a future anyone should want. President Kamala Harris will, with our help, make sure that the Trump vision never becomes reality.

Joe Sundeen, Yardley

As anyone who owns property at the Jersey Shore can tell you, Ocean County is a hotbed of political far-right enthusiasts. Regardless of children and grandchildren who might be visiting on a holiday or weekend, vulgar and often obscene large anti-Democrat signs, banners, and flags are ubiquitous on front lawns, cars, trucks, and boats. Those signs are purchased in stores such as the one highlighted on the Aug. 4 front page. I am disheartened and disappointed that The Inquirer would give credence to such a business. Crude hatred should not be presented as a quaint mom and pop entity.

Joan Fiorella, Cherry Hill, jmfiorella@gmail.com

I am an Indian American. I am Tamil. I am an Iyer, with all the problematic parts of carrying that surname. I can no longer claim Indian citizenship, but my dil is desi. Today, the identity that resonates the most with me is that of an American suburban mom. Vice President Kamala Harris identifies as Black and Indian, as she should. She decides what part of her identity resonates with her most at this moment in time. As she teamed up with Mindy Kaling and made dosas (that made me cringe), she owned her Tamil, desi roots. I am sure the Jamaican part of her will be claimed by people who see and identify her that way. Identity is just another tool to be used and disposed to fit agendas. Why are we so eager to slot people into boxes to claim and be claimed? We are all amalgams. We morph from day to day, owning and claiming parts of ourselves that propel us to the front at a given moment. Can we let Harris claim the parts of her identity on her own terms?

Lakshmi Iyer, Exton, glaksh@gmail.com

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