Sound Off: November 23, 2025

Sun Herald readers weigh in on local and national topics.

How convenient

What are the odds that: On Nov. 15, Trump suddenly discovers a burning need to launch a brand-new DOJ investigation into Democrats tied to Epstein, and then on Nov. 19, he signs a bill that just so happens to allow the DOJ to withhold Epstein files if there’s an active investigation? Pure luck! Total cosmic accident! Nothing to see here, folks. But yes, let’s all pretend this is perfectly normal and not the most transparent loophole exploitation since someone invented the phrase “I don’t recall.”

Illegal orders

As unusual with the right-wing media, it’s what they don’t tell you. The politicians in question, who are all veterans of the military or intelligence services (not draft dodgers), said that you don’t have to obey illegal orders. Not any order.

Unlawful orders

In response to all the letters from people who think the members of Congress should be prosecuted for their video. The UCMJ requires service members to refuse illegal orders. An illegal order is one that violates the Constitution, U.S. laws, international law, or military regulations, or directs a service member to commit a crime. What is it that the administration officials and the MAGAs leave out, is the word “unlawful” whenever they refer to what was said in the video.

Insurrection

I can’t believe those seven Democrats called for the U.S. military members to refuse lawful orders. Now that is pure insurrection. Brilliant.

Now it’s insurrection?

So telling troops to remember their Constitutional oath is insurrection, but telling a mob of people to march down to the Capitol and take back the government is not. Who is deranged?

Asking for trouble

I understand what the Congressmen and Congresswomen are saying, but what is the point of making that video? Do they think it’s going to do anything but cause friction?

Ukraine

I would love to see the Nobel Prize committee give President Zelinskyy a Nobel Prize. Also, NATO should demand that Russia pay restitution to Ukraine when the war is over.

FEMA resignation

So, the acting FEMA administrator resigned due to lack of experience for the job at hand. If all of President Trump’s appointees were held to the same standard, he wouldn’t have a Cabinet.

Where to start

First, it is impossible for some Americans to survive now. Just because it’s not happening to you, doesn’t mean that it won’t ever happen to you.

Gaslighting

Isn’t all this gaslighting and physiological manipulation ridiculous? If President Trump really wanted the Epstein files released, all he would have to do is tell DOJ to release the files. Done. That simple.

What is a human?

Bishop George Berkeley taught that the deepest truth about a human being is that he or she is a mind, a soul, a spirit. Hence, the truth to be honored most profoundly in how we understand and treat other people is not their skin color, bodily features, ethnic background, or natural gifts. The most important truth to be factored into our thinking and behavior is that every individual is a soul, a mind, a spirit. If we ignore that, then we are giving other people the right to ignore our mind, soul, spirit in how they understand and treat us. I don’t want that. Do you? And if there is a God, a supreme mind and spirit, who has created us to think, feel, and seek the divine, then in misconceiving and mistreating our fellow humans we are disrespecting God.

Illegal healthcare

If you don’t think illegal immigrants are receiving free health care, all you have to do is visit an ER any day of the week.

Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com.