1 week Ago By Chicago Tribune
I heard Donald Trump’s comments during a recent engagement at the Moms for Liberty National Summit in Washington. The former president, for most of his rambling, appeared to be cogent and alert during the first part of his commentary and interview. He then said the following regarding transgender youth: “The transgender thing is incredible.
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Your kid goes to school and comes home a few days later with an operation. The school decides what’s going to happen with your child.” The moderator did not question this comment but listened attentively to his further discussion about transgender individuals in the sports world.
Trump proudly made a blatant statement that our educational institutions, without the permission of a parent, will surgically transition a child. We hear so much about “misinformation” and “disinformation” and blame social media for its bounty and scourge. However, when the former president of the United States of America can so ostentatiously and overtly state misinformation and disinformation, we should shudder and bring it to light as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
Those comments, which are meant to foster fear and disorder, are blatantly ridiculous and tyrannical. And yet, they get brushed under the carpet with the hundreds of other inaccurate and delusional statements the former president utters continuously with free reign and will. The lack of media attention to some of Trump’s most incendiary statements will enable him to ride his trajectory toward possible reelection.
If we can’t separate the nonsense and fitful speech of one candidate from one of reason, then the American people will not need to look for clarity and accuracy from the White House. Because it won’t exist. And neither will tolerance, hope or judgment.
— Barbara Metrik, Wheaton Please stop calling it a hush money trial. Donald Trump was found guilty of business fraud, not paying hush money. There is no law against paying hush money.
There is a law against having a business pay personal expenses. This saves the company on taxes, so it is a form of tax cheating. Paying a porn star to be hush about a sexual encounter is a personal expense, not a business expense.
This is what Trump was found guilty of doing. It was, at its core, tax fraud. — Craig Goldwyn, Brookfield As a senior voter — supposedly who has evolved to use insight, good judgment and wisdom — I’m stuck on some business folk, homeowners and voters.
I use those evolved qualities when I hire or refer a lawyer, plumber, electrician, dentist, etc. I insist on knowledge, honesty, accuracy in communication and reasonable cost. Imagine a lawyer telling you, “This is a slam dunk as you’ll make lots of money with me,” and the next day, the jury says “No cause, no damages.
” Or a plumber fills your head with long stories of his great work, then six hours later, he leaves with faucets leaking and drains still plugged. Would you rehire or refer either of the above ? I hope not; I think not. So why would anyone who values honesty, accuracy and knowledge vote for a bona fide pathological liar for president of the USA? — Michael Pavilon, Chicago Every dictator in history has been afraid of free elections where everyone’s vote counts.
Every dictator in history has believed that he stood above the law and could overturn an election result at his whim. Is America headed in that direction? — Richard J. Aronson, Highland Park Over the past 60 years, the Democratic Party has been backed by Black voters and, more so, Black women.
The party offered women the choices of reproductive freedom through the right to choose and contraceptives and freedom from abusive marriages through welfare for single mothers. However in 2024, the relationship between Black women and the Democratic Party has changed, and we Black women are exploring our political options. Under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ administration, inflation has soared, and costs of goods and services have gone through the roof.
Mothers are forced to use coupons and purchase generic products. Instructional time is allocated to migrant children who need to learn English. What about the reading deficiencies of Black children in Chicago Public Schools? Municipalities are pushing the costs of boarding and caring for migrant families onto taxpayers.
In 2024, we Black women are looking past political relationships and putting the health, safety and security of our families first. Supporting Democratic policies has made Black families unstable. Not only has the migrant situation brought the threat of harm to our communities, but also, the economic policies of the Biden-Harris administration are bankrupting us and leaving our cupboards bare.
If “being with her” means more of this, then Black women will treat our relationship with the Democrats like every other relationship that doesn’t serve us and walk away. Sharing collard green recipes and doing sorority strolls is not enough to convince us to stay. — P Rae Easley, chair, ChicagoRED, and resident, 37th Ward After reading Laura Washington’s column of Sept.
2 ( “Kamala Harris’ turn in 2019 debate signals a potent performance to come” ), it occurred to me that although Kamala Harris put Joe Biden in a difficult spot during the 2019 debate when she pointed out Biden’s opposition as a U.S. senator to a 1970s school busing bill, he obviously did not hold a grudge or pursue a vendetta against her.
Biden showed us how real leaders conduct themselves. — Warren Jernegan, Flossmoor In response to Cindy Sher’s essay, “We called him Hersh” (Sept. 4): Here is an ode to an imaginary but representative Palestinian young man.
We shall call him Ahmed. He lived in Gaza. Even for those of us who’d never met him, Ahmed was like a member of our family.
He was our son, our grandson, our brother. It’s hard to distill the horror of the carnage in Gaza into someone relatable. Ahmed was it.
Ahmed was kind, courteous and vibrant. He loved soccer. He had so much joy left to experience and so many more people to love and be loved by.
We prayed that one day Ahmed would get to escort his kids to their first day of school. We prayed that his mother’s dream for him to live a happy life would be fulfilled. We prayed that the daily waking nightmare of Ahmed’s misery in Gaza would end.
But these prayers were shattered. Ahmed was killed. Just one of the 40,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza.
We will miss Ahmed. — Blaise J. Arena, Des Plaines The news of the discovery of the bodies of the six hostages in a tunnel in Gaza is heartbreaking.
The parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin waited 330 days for news of their son. What was held within the hours, minutes, questions of those days? Carmel Gat taught meditation and yoga to fellow hostages to help them remain calm in such a frightening situation. Alexander Lobanov reportedly helped others escape before he was taken.
They have left a legacy by their actions that we can unite with to work toward a cease-fire and bring the other hostages home. We stand with those who are coping with these devastating losses and call to our leaders. Honor their legacies and bring peace.
— Mandy May, Skokie Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected] ..
