Truth with Trump is relative

This letter is in response to Nancy Burlison’s “A letter I should not need to write” that appeared in the August 28 issue. First of all, our democracy depends on a free press that adheres to honest, in-depth reporting, fact-checking and the goal of presenting both sides of an issue. There are many hard working journalists and news agencies doing just that. I recently read that Trump is disappointed in Fox News for interviewing a Democrat on one of its shows. With his war on the media, Trump appears to be promoting state run news agencies that will cast him only in a good light.

Burlison believes that the news agencies are propaganda machines that know how to frenzy up the populous with their insidious slanders and suggestions. Has she never watched or listened to Trump at one of his rallies, or read his tweets?

Consider: The hatred and venom that comes out of his mouth when he implies that the immigrants at our southern border are all criminals and rapists. The insults and name calling directed toward his political opponents. And his refusal to take responsibility for any mistakes made by him or his administration. It is well documented that he lies. What about his promotion of conspiracy theories?

Trump’s statement following the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, that there were good people on both sides, has emboldened the far right. The El Paso shooter stated that he was targeting Hispanics.

Many American citizens are in favor of common sense gun reform. Universal background checks and outlawing weapons of mass destruction are a start towards preventing such weapons getting into the wrong hands and preventing future mass shootings.

Burlison believes that Trump’s opponents are promoting extreme climate change programs. Man-made climate change is real and evidenced by the frequent and extreme weather events that the world is now experiencing. We need to listen to science and take action now.

I love my country and am so thankful that I was born into a democracy. I look at my father’s photo as a young man in his army uniform and am so proud of him for putting his life on the line to protect freedom. I was five years old and remember the night that he left for Korea. I know that if he were alive today, he would be worried about the state of our country.

We have a president who defends dictators and insults our allies. I worry that our democracy will not survive.

Suzanne Kersikofski

Shelter Bay