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Letters: Trump's pick speaks volumes

Trump's pick speaks volumes In his victory speech, Donald Trump pledged to heal and bind the nation together. If we needed more evidence of the hollowness of those pledges and the true vision Trump has for our nation, we should look no further than his appointment of Stephen Bannon as his chief strategist and counselor.

Trump's pick speaks volumes

In his victory speech, Donald Trump pledged to heal and bind the nation together. If we needed more evidence of the hollowness of those pledges and the true vision Trump has for our nation, we should look no further than his appointment of Stephen Bannon as his chief strategist and counselor.

Bannon headed the Breitbart website, known for its anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, racist, and white nationalist content. He has no place in a government that must fairly and fiercely represent and protect all Americans.

As John Weaver, a Republican strategist, has said, Bannon's appointment puts racism and fascism just a few steps from the Oval Office. "Be very vigilant, America," Weaver said. I'd add that we must be very fearful, too, of what his new administration has in store.

|Beth Palubinsky, Philadelphia

Editorial unfair to Trump voters

I am offended by the editorial, "Be prepared for Trump" (Thursday), and your implication that Trump voters are racist.

Blue-collar workers are under attack by unauthorized immigrants who violate U.S. immigration laws and then displace American workers. Blue-collar work is dignified, and a man or woman attempting to preserve his or her livelihood should not be called a racist simply because they voted for Trump.

I overheard a woman in Queen Village call everyone else in America "insane" for voting for Trump. Urban liberals succeeded in intimidating people into keeping their opinions to themselves. Urban liberals failed, however, to intimidate people into changing their vote.

Liberals accuse conservatives of not being open-minded. Your failure to understand Trump's support and to insult Trump's supporters indicates your own failure to be open-minded and fair.

|John H. Morley Jr., Philadelphia, johnhmorleyjr@gmail.com

Will promises come true?

Donald Trump has already begun to waffle on his campaign promises. It is not too early for his supporters to insist that he carry out exactly what he pledged to do. If there are still 20 million people insured through Obamacare by March 1, he will have lied. If there are still illegal immigrants working in the cotton and tobacco fields of North Carolina and for the chicken processors of South Carolina and Georgia, or cleaning the toilets of his hotels, he will have lied. If work on "the wall" has not begun by June, supporters will know that it was just a worthless boast.

If the coal mines in West Virginia and Kentucky aren't up and running by the end of next year, his supporters will realize that his was just pie-in-the-sky optimism. There will be lots of new jobs in Michigan and Pennsylvania - or was that just another boast.

Trump won the first round; now it's time for him to "Name that Tune."

|D.J. McElroy, Philadelphia

Unite behind next president

Mike's Newall's column, "Waking up in Trump's America" (Sunday), was biased, disrespectful, and fuel for the fires of hate. Instead of trying to bring people together, even if it's just to show respect for the office of the presidency, the column was as bad as those denying that this country needs change.

Eight years ago, I was as opposed to Barack Obama as Newall is to Trump, but I accepted his win. Neither I nor anybody I know protested or said he wasn't our president. I did everything I could to vote him out four years ago, but I didn't protest.

It's time for people to lick their wounds and move forward.

We are now a red country, where things might get done. Hopefully, no more free rides, jobs to be had, and less government. Immigration needs to be overhauled immediately.

We must unite to bring normalcy to this great country, if that's possible. We need to go back to what this country stands for: one nation, one flag, and one language. We are supposed to be a melting pot, not individual servings for each group.

|Linda Platt, Plymouth Meeting

Time to help each other

Donald Trump could take a huge step toward healing the deep divisions in our country by simply asking Americans to be kind to each other ("Anti-Trump protests continue," Sunday). Ask us to treat each other with dignity and respect and stop spouting thoughts and slogans that are against anyone who is not a white male. Perhaps his flock would listen if it came from him.

Meanwhile, each of us must take a step to help fellow Americans -show kindness, compassion, and respect, especially to members of the minority groups that Trump has disparaged.

|Sandi Lichtman, Cherry Hill

Shock waves felt around the world

As an Australian, I congratulate American voters, who have put a psychopath in the White House. Unfortunately, you have saddled the rest of the world with a psychopath in the White House.

A major factor in Trump's election was anger about the "system," which has let people down, driven up inequality, driven down wages, concentrated wealth in the hands of a few, exported jobs, and been deaf and blind to the public interest. The tragic irony is that Trump IS the system. The system is driven by greed, duplicity, selfishness, ruthlessness, shamelessness, and Trump is the embodiment of those things.

You've been conned. The problem is that the whole world is the victim of this con game, and, for that, I am angry, too.

The best I can hope for is that Trump will find the day-to-day minutiae of the job too much and resign. But whatever happens, you have made your choice. You have to live with the consequences, and no amount of tantrums can change that.

|Michael Hinchey, Newcastle, Australia.

Muslims obey God's messenger

As a Muslim born in the United States, should I be concerned about the results of the election? Should I stand up in protests that state, "Not my President"? Islam commands Muslims to "obey God, and obey his messenger and those who are in authority among you." Obedience to the authority of our nation as constituted by our law is an extension of obedience to God and his messenger.

I will support any good policies enacted by our president, and when there are policies in which he seems to discriminate against any group, I will work within the lawful procedures to push back and protect the rights of all people. Instead of giving up and resigning to despair, I will remain loyal and an active member of American society and continue to pray for this country.

|Madeel Abdullah, Newtown Square, madeel1@gmail.com

Not my president

I respect the office of president of the United States - always have and always will.

Donald Trump has won the presidency, but I will not support his presidency. How could I? His win was based on racism, bigotry, homophobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and misogyny. America was already divided, but Trump deepened the division with his rhetoric, which the media helped germinate.

I wish no harm to come to Trump. Unfortunately, I fear his presidency will inflict great harm on many Americans - even the women, Latinos, and black people who voted for him.

Trump will be the 45th president of the United States, but he will not be my president.

|Anthony Johnson, Philadelphia, johnsonanthony99@hotmail.com