Why Do We Need to Talk?

I would like to respectfully push back on the suggestion that we as a country need to try to better understand and consider different perspectives in our current political and social climate (“Hope in the Promise of Spring,” April 2025).

We are in danger of being overwhelmed by a toxic atmosphere led by Donald Trump, the Republican Party, Republican administration, and Republican Congress. That this is a real danger is demonstrated by Trump’s relatively steady approval ratings and Congress’s sycophantic behavior despite what has occurred since inauguration day. What frightens me is that these behaviors are being normalized and legitimized.

Be cruel — the erratic, callous economic disruption of the families of the thousands of workers abruptly laid off without cause, while using a broad brush to demean large groups of people, including veterans and senior citizens.

Be a bully — the use of our economic power to threaten to destroy the economies of others, and to take over other countries because we are militarily more powerful.

Lie — the persistent election denials and declarations of nonexistent voter fraud; pretending Pete Hegseth didn’t broadcast classified info on his illegal, nonsecure phone app; deporting people as “suspected terrorists” without due process, a judicial nicety that should be very familiar to Trump.

Intimidate — judges, lawyers, media, universities, corporations, activists, and immigrants to silence dissent.

I could go on. I am not clear why we need to accommodate these perspectives. They are being used to tear the country down and establish an autocratic government.

What a tragedy that the opposition party (the Democrats) is unable to state the situation in as clear and specific terms as Dennis Prichard does in his letter to the editor, rather than just ranting and railing in general talking points (“Dear Republicans,” April 2025). They are failing us.