Letters to the Editor | July 8, 2026

The Inquirer’s recent editorial detailing the deficiencies of America’s current leadership was right on the mark. Donald Trump and the Republicans, including those on the U.S. Supreme Court, claim to be the avatars of American patriotism, but they continually undermine this country’s foundational principles.

The Declaration of Independence affirms that all men are created equal, while the Trump administration and its allies on the Supreme Court take actions that remove the cherished rights of select groups. The separation of church and state is something that makes America great and is spelled out in our founding documents, yet many Republicans want the United States to be declared a Christian nation. The Constitution makes the rule of law paramount, yet somehow this Supreme Court found a way to give the president immunity for official acts. Robust immigration also has been part of our heritage. But in spite of the fact that birthright citizenship is written clearly into the 14th Amendment, the Supreme Court last week came within one vote of overturning it.

The editorial asks whether we should fly the flag at half-staff to protest the current state of the country. No, the flag should be flown high, as it doesn’t belong to the current regime. Though it is under threat, we still have the right to vote for change in November.

Bill Fanshel, Bryn Mawr

Jonathan Zimmerman’s recent column gives a poignant view of his experience in the Peace Corps. He points out the real impact of the personal connections forming the grassroots of our government’s soft power.

Unfortunately, too few of our elected officials understand the reach and potential of soft power. This power cannot be overstated. Like the U.S. Agency for International Development, it is the positive face of America, working with communities on the ground to foster resilience and self-reliance. Communities are able to thrive, not simply survive. This enables people to stay on their own land, eliminating the need to emigrate. It thwarts the attempts of terrorists who infiltrate communities where people are food-insecure.

Pope Leo XIV has urged countries to take responsibility and address the root causes of migration. The Peace Corps and USAID-sponsored programs are on the front line of the battlefield of immigration crises. Soft power works.

We are spending $1 billion per day on wars of choice. Soft power delivers a means of eliminating reasons to emigrate while fostering our national security, at less than 1% of the federal budget.

I encourage all readers to urge their elected officials to support sustained funding levels for lifesaving humanitarian aid and development programs.

Catherine Poynton, Philadelphia-area chapter, Catholic Relief Services

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