Protest with purpose
There are people questioning the purpose of the “No Kings” protests, saying they don’t think there is anything to be accomplished. The answer is right under their noses. When Donald Trump wants to take the process of conducting elections away from the states so he can control who votes, that’s a king. When he wants to erase the histories of Black people and women from museums and memorials, that’s a king. When he bars journalists from press briefings because they won’t slant coverage his way, that’s a king. When he wants to control what is taught in schools and how it is taught, that’s a king. When he has people arrested or demands that talk show hosts be fired because he doesn’t like what they say, that’s a king. When he wants to discard constitutionally legal citizenship so he can pick and choose who gets to be American, that’s a king. When he declares that he plans to “terminate the Constitution” and sets about doing it, in violation of his oath, that’s a king. The protesters are standing up for the Constitution, the foundation that makes this country great. If we allow the Constitution and our rights to be dismantled by a power-hungry wannabe monarch and his willing accomplices, our freedoms and greatness are lost.
Jean A. Kozel, West Norriton
. . .
If you think showing up to express your anger doesn’t make a difference, remember how the Vietnam War protests helped change things, the civil rights protests helped change things, and the women’s suffrage protests helped change things.
If you have any faith whatsoever in this country, remember when a critical mass of Americans shows up, things happen. We make a difference whenever we’ve united behind a purpose.
Those millions of Americans who showed up, and even those who didn’t — but who still express their anger — are demonstrating their patriotism and faith in our country. Blindly accepting the obvious lies told by this president and his administration, without questioning or seeking the truth, is just the opposite.
Joseph Goldberg, Philadelphia
. . .
Service members’ lives, and their families, should be protected at all costs and not put in unnecessary danger by a president who didn’t even bother to explain to the American people the reason for going to war — or as he put it, “a little excursion.” Nor did he seek congressional approval. To him, it’s a game. In addition, the Pentagon wants a $200 billion budget supplement to further fund the war.
Prayers to keep service members safe are powerful, but what is also needed are tens of thousands of people across the country to take to the streets and pray with their feet, and say no to war and no to authoritarian rule. That’s what we did on Saturday at the “No Kings” march. Wars don’t decide who wins; they decide who’s left. The loss of life is final.
Peter Tobia, Philadelphia
The writer is a former visual journalist at The Inquirer.
Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.