Readers views: Draining the swamp + dangerous comment
Start with himself
In the Feb. 16 letters to the editor, Cecil Craft suggested Trump was draining the swamp.
I beg to differ.
If Trump is truly interested in draining the swamp, he should start with himself, “all” of his family members working in his administration and reaping benefits doing so. Then, add at the same time Mitch McConnell and William Barr.
The rest will start to crumble.
Patricia Harrien
Gulfport
Dangerous comment
The Feb. 6 Sound Off comparing Trump followers to Hitler enablers was not just extreme partisan nonsense, but a dangerous inflation of the current division in this country.
Despite some of the left’s rhetoric, there is nothing in our country comparable to Nazi Germany.
The post WWI removal of Kaiser Wilhelm led to a country and economy in shambles. There were two socialist factions competing for power, the communists and the Nazis. Yes, Nazis were a socialist movement.
Apparently Germans looked to the east and Stalin’s ruthless regime and succumbed to what they deemed the lesser of two evils. Nazis blamed capitalism in part for Germany’s problems. They indoctrinated youth groups that led to intimidation on the streets of non-conformists. They took control of the media to increase their power (National media is hardly controlled by Trump).
I won’t go on, but if you hate Trump or his policies, please don’t malign his supporters with such nonsensical hogwash.
Paul Stultz
Ocean Springs
A lot at stake
Big-name televangelists supporting President Trump have no shame.
Like Trump, they are self-centered, corrupt to the core, and lust after earthly wealth and power. Their Faustian bargain of backing Trump secures their own base, who were herded like sheep into the voting booth.
These Trump coattail religious leaders cynically stiff their impressionable flock for personal gain and riches in the earthly realm. They who cloak themselves in spiritual raiments, who profess to be called by God, who hold themselves up as the most pious, are actually the biggest hypocrites. Remember what Jesus thought of the Pharisees?
Meanwhile, Fox News’ Hannity and crew (part of Fox’s Entertainment division, not its News division) create fake narratives praising President Trump and Republicans. Knowing their glued-in viewers won’t check legitimate news sources, they push out misinformation and disinformation while stiff-arming pesky facts.
Fact: Informing yourself apart from Fox and other right-wing sources is not a sin.
Fact: Rejecting the political narrative pushed by corrupt evangelical leaders is not a sin.
But might willful ignorance be a sin?
Willful ignorance is a bargain bin overflowing with Trump-excusing rationalizations.
Republican lawmakers, panicky about their own re-election, sheepishly march in lock-step with a proven corrupt president eager to helm a Nazi-style authoritarian government.
Does this not dishonor the lives lost fighting to preserve our democracy? (In President Lincoln’s words, those who gave their “last full measure of devotion.”)
History’s warning bells are clanging.Carefully consider what’s at stake in the upcoming Congressional and presidential elections.
Richard Harkness
Ocean Springs