To the editor: I'm a New York Angeleno who decided to see the biggest theater event in a city known for its theater: former President Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden. As a lifelong Democrat and supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris, I felt like I needed to see firsthand what we're up against.
It was terrifying.
In the 1920s and 1930s, disaffected Germans gathered to hear Adolf Hitler tell them that all their problems were because of the Jews. On Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, angry voters went into a frenzy when Trump told them that all their problems were because of immigrants.
Before taking the stage, a parade of people spewing lies and hate went on for hours. Among them was Dr. Phil McGraw, who gave a long speech about how Trump was not a bully and that somehow he was going to stop child bullying (what?).
It was a happy party where the theme was hate. “Tíralos” is the new “Encierlenla”.
Harris is not perfect, but after what I saw on Sunday, I am more convinced than ever that Trump is a danger to our democracy and our values.
Doug Jones, New York
..
To the editor: The speaker who referred to Puerto Rico as “trash” was simply channeling Trump, who a few days earlier had called the United States “the trash can of the world.”
I don't understand why some Republicans were offended by the speaker's comments but remained silent about Trump's.
June Thompson, Los Angeles
..
To the editor: I was hoping Trump would self-destruct before the election.
This shameful display of racism, misogyny, threats, and polarization could convince enough undecided voters to go for Harris. It was like a modern controversy about Hitler's Nuremberg demonstrations.
It would only take a two-point shift in the electorate to defeat Trump…for good.
Mark McIntyre, Los Angeles
..
to the editor: Columnist Doyle McManus makes the case for understanding Trump's threat to our democracy by listening to the former president's former aides.
To this can be added his current political advisor, Stephen Miller, who declared at Trump's rally in Madison Square Garden: “America is for Americans and only Americans.” This is a throwback to the Nazi slogan: “Only for Germans.”
Trump is indeed an existential threat to our country.
Matt Giorgi, Brea
