To the editor: “He just says things. He doesn’t mean it.”
So says a staunch Trump supporter from the San Joaquin Valley town of Hanford about the former president saying he wants to be a dictator on his first day in office. Similar defenses of Donald Trump that I've heard include: “he says stupid things but he's not afraid to say them” and “he lies and he's rude, but…”
The problem is that saying stupid, dishonest, and inflammatory “things” has real-world consequences. It can stoke white nationalism, sexism, and homophobia, and it can incite people to try to overthrow the government, which to me is pretty close to establishing a dictatorship.
It's Trump supporters who must be saying things they don't mean. Because if you don't believe what he says almost all the time, what do you believe?
These people would have to believe and agree with what he says to be so enthusiastic about a second Trump term, which could mean the end of the freedom they so loudly say they cherish.
Vincent Brook, Los Angeles
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To the editor: It is well known that the San Joaquin Valley is a conservative stronghold, but quotes from members of the Sons of Liberty from 1776 were still quite surprising.
They complained that their hospital is understaffed, which has nothing to do with a presidency. One said the country is not ready for a female president. They denounced government overreach into the lives of citizens, seemingly oblivious to the Republican Party's efforts to disenfranchise women and LGBTQ+ people, blacks and people of color.
One called the Jan. 6 attack a “tourist attraction gone wrong” and falsely said it was orchestrated by the FBI. Another said Trump is “brutally honest and speaks clearly.” My favorite was that Trump has been anointed by God.
It all reminded me of a Trump quote about how much he loves the poorly educated.
Brett Becker, Oak View
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To the editor: I was surprised by the man who said that Trump “just says things” and that if the former president became a dictator, he would be “the first to throw him out.”
What this person didn't understand is that if someone who says he would be a dictator becomes president, it will be too late to fight to restore democracy. That is why this election is so critical, because we must take seriously what each candidate says and believe them when they say it.
Would-be dictators and kings have no place in a democracy, and it's up to the voters to keep it that way. We have clear decisions to make about the future of the nation and the preservation of our rights in a democracy.
This is too urgent and important to pretend you can “fix” it later.
Betty Seidmon-Vidibor, Los Angeles
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To the editor: For those who see Trump as someone anointed by God to lead this nation, I humbly offer this prayer:
“Every day I thank God for the example he has given us through you. With your blasphemous behavior, your profane language and your hollow promises, you have shown us how imperfect man is, no matter how great he thinks he is.
“May the Lord continue to work through you in His very, very mysterious ways. Amen.”
Gil Marauder, Thousand Oaks
