To the editor: If, God forbid, the former divider-in-chief is elected in 2024, we cannot say: “There is enough blame to go around.” The blame will fall squarely on those whom Erin Auby Kaplan describes in her apt article, “Why I Don’t Wish You Happy Holidays.”
She writes: “Without the adoring crowds and Republican Party sycophants following suit, [former President Trump] “He goes back to being what he is: a fake celebrity clown, petty, whiny and completely irrelevant.”
Let’s hope that next December she and all of us can say “happy holidays,” because enough people stepped back, paused, and saw Trump for who he really is.
For him, instead of “four more years,” the motto should be “not one more day.”
John Saville, Crown
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To the editor: From my point of view, there is a lot of joy and beauty in 2024.
Last weekend, I drove the route of the Rose Parade, my city’s annual tradition that brings together people locally and from across the United States to see floats beautifully decorated by volunteers. The marching bands are made up of young people who worked hard to come here, play their instruments, and march proudly down Colorado Boulevard. For many of them, it is the highlight of their lives.
I know people whose second child is due in February and they are full of anticipation and joy.
And then there’s me, an incurable cancer patient who has been fighting to stay alive since 2018. If it weren’t for the amazing doctors and nurses working hard to keep me alive, I wouldn’t be here to experience a new year.
I urge Kaplan to open his world and look for hope. Will outlive Trump in 2024; maybe even prosper.
Dana Pepper Bouton, Pasadena
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To the editor: Kudos to Kaplan for capturing my exact feelings. I’m not looking forward to 2024. This presidential election year will determine whether the United States can continue as a democracy.
It is somewhat gratifying to see some states invoking Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to keep Trump out of the polls for fomenting an insurrection even though he took an oath to protect the Constitution.
Some say we should stop the legal maneuvering and just let people vote. To them I say that it would be fine if we elected our president by popular vote. However, the electoral college allows losers to win (see 2000 and 2016) and completely makes a mockery of the “one person, one vote” mantra we learned in grade school.
It is plausible that the electoral college will give Trump another victory despite the majority of voters saying otherwise.
Alan Moghul, Cathedral City
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To the editor: As the saying goes, these are the times that test men’s souls. One way to cope is to accept that, as individuals, we have limited control over the big picture.
We can vote, contribute to candidates who reflect our values, and speak out. I do all of that, and given the turmoil going on in the world, it helps me avoid going crazy.
Do what you can and remember that the rest is out of your control.
Mark McIntyre, Los Angeles
