Does our American experiment — internationally admired and respected for our right to free expression, empathetic people and abundant opportunity — a rich tapestry of colors and kinds, really want to become a gated community? I hope not.
Steve Shaw
Santa Fe
Just asking
We need our politicians to provide leadership to stop the federal government from destroying our democracy. I think our senators, Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, have been absent in this endeavor and I wonder why. We would like to encourage both of them to hold town hall meetings here in Santa Fe; Luján has one scheduled Tuesday, apparently; more, please.
Keith Anderson
Santa Fe
A crime syndicate
The criminal conspiracy known as the Trump administration is the envy of mob kingpins the world over. Its deft use of bribery (offering ten thousand dollars to every citizen of Greenland to push for American annexation) and extortion (telling Harvard University to allow for essentially a government takeover or lose all federal funding and be subject to a variety of trumped-up government investigations) to get what the president wants is in the best tradition of criminal mobs everywhere.
Thugs of all stripes envy its ability to ignore the law without consequence by packing the judiciary with sycophants. The legislative branch rubber-stamping every move the president makes is frosting on the cake and, in fact, only exists for that reason — with the president ruling via executive order. Congress has become a vestigial organ that really is superfluous. Combined with the control of all federal law enforcement agencies and the world’s most powerful military to act as his goon squads, it is the most powerful force for evil the world has ever seen.
Some criminal organizations last for generations. Let’s hope this isn’t one of them.
Ira Agins
Santa Fe
Just orders
Perhaps in his actions as president, Donald Trump has no personal aim other than exercising power as a successful bully, with no regard for the consequences — gratified to have leaders from countries all over the world come begging to cancel destructive tariffs — and gratifying to this bully to see federal workers, scientists, teachers, academics, health workers, immigrants and poor families in anguish all because of his decisions. How powerful. How satisfying.
As to his accomplices in this thuggery, one wonders what can be motivating them other than a craving for power, self-enrichment and greed, having no threshold of satisfaction for the billionaires in this collection of miscreants. There is fascist ideology, of course, but I suspect that this is just a rationalization for self-aggrandizement.
The foot soldiers of this thuggery are obeying orders, as did the defendants in the war crimes trials following World War II. There must be thousands. Alas.
Hans von Briesen
Santa Fe
A sneaky sin
This may seem strange, but I believe our country needs to hear and consider what is happening with the term, pride. Pride is listed as the first of the seven deadly sins and is defined as an excessive believe in one’s own abilities, leading to a feeling of superiority. Reflecting on this character flaw, I realize that this form of pride is a sneaky sin, frequently masquerading as a positive trait while actually being detrimental.
When I experience a healthy sense of pride, I feel elated and want to share my joy with others, whether it’s celebrating a raise at work or my children getting all As at school. However, what I often see on the TV or in the papers is not a jubilant celebration, but rather a tendency to showcase accomplishments followed quickly by a denouncement of past efforts or failures. I believe that pride should have grace and integrity — being sincere; anything short of that is grandstanding and narcissism. Hopefully, everyone should be able to recognize the distinction for what it really is, not being fooled by the intent.
Roderick P. Hasson
Santa Fe
A loose nut
I am no expert, but it seems to me that someone on the helicopter maintenance crew (“Divers search for debris after NYC crash kills family, Navy veteran,” April 12) might have forgotten to tighten the “Jesus nut.” I mean, why else would the air frame go one way and the rotor blades go spinning off in another? If so, good luck in finding that “Jesus nut” in that muddy river bottom.
Russ Deal
Santa Fe
