Is America great when Trump politicians and Trump supporters deny that the COVID-19 virus is a reality, deny that the virus kills and deny that as human beings we have a responsibility to save lives? Presently 3,000 people a day are dying from an infection that can be mitigated by a simple compassionate action — wearing a face cover. Trump and his followers see such behavior as impinging on their civil rights and their right to have control over their own bodies. How ironic since these same people call themselves pro-lifers on the question of birthing but don’t transfer pro-life actions to protecting others from COVID. Does this make America great?
Is America great when people of color or of different ethnic backgrounds are treated as less valuable by Caucasians who call themselves the real Americans? Does denying people of color voting rights, taking children away from parents at our southern borders or committing violence against anyone who is different make America great?
Is America great when the Trump faction labels Democrats as socialists or even communists when in reality they support capitalism but moderated by social support programs? They support unemployment benefits, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, affordable health care and COVID relief programs. Do Trumpers care what would happen to people without such programs? Does calling these programs communistic make America great?
Finally, is America great when the president of the United States attacks the foundation of democracy — free and fair voting? He and 100 Republican House of Representative members and many Republican state leaders called for the Supreme Court to overturn the results of the national election. At the same time Republican senators stayed silent while the attempt to overthrow election results was made. Is it not their duty as elected leaders to defend and uphold the Constitution against all foreign and domestic threats? Isn’t overturning a free election a threat? Did they not take an oath of office to defend against such threats? Does forsaking their oath of office make America great?
I wonder if government leaders standing up for democracy, standing up for the rule of law, standing up with integrity and compassion for all our people rather than lying, being derisive and bending laws to maintain power wouldn’t bring us closer to making America great?
Sandra Belcher, Burlington
