‘Make lying wrong again’ during second Trump administration | Letters

Make truth, civility normal again

A friend reported that she had ordered a new T-shirt. It says, “Make lying wrong again.”

I cheer for the sentiment. I would like a week’s worth of T-shirts, each with a different phrase on it.

My friend’s can be the Sunday shirt.

• Monday could be: “Make infidelity shameful again.”

• Tuesday: “Make stupidity a thing of the past.”

• Wednesday: “Be proud of each other’s accomplishments again.”

• Thursday: “Protect our children from hatred again.”

• Friday: “Make equality an American goal again.”

• Saturday: “Make kindness and generosity normal daily activities again.”

We rightly celebrate the progress we have made as a country in anti-racism, women’s rights, fighting hunger and improving labor laws, but we must admit we still have a long way to go.

We don’t want to return to prejudice and violence carried out with impunity. But remember when the virtues of honesty and wanting what’s best for everyone were widespread?

People who behaved otherwise were considered abnormal, crude and petty.

We felt embarrassed for them.

Their behavior was unacceptable, which usually kept other people from following their behavior. If they did talk or act shamefully, they generally kept it private.

Let’s make civility normal again.

Rev. Mary Alice Mulligan, Sarasota

Wrong to back cold-blooded killing

A man gets killed and everyone blames him. The shooter gets accolades.

Where is the outrage over killing a man in cold blood? What is wrong with this country?

There is something wrong with these people who support violence over issues that can be resolved peacefully. What about the victim and his family? These people just don’t care.

What a shame for this country and good people all over the USA.

Saul Feldman, Sarasota

Don’t risk more deaths from polio

Let’s put politics aside and talk about an issue that affects all Americans: polio.

Recent reports that newcomers may push to eradicate mandatory polio vaccines are deeply troubling. Why?

I was one of the original polio “pioneers” from Pittsburgh. My retired grandfather took a job at the University of Pittsburgh taking care of Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine test monkeys.

My Catholic grade school and two others agreed to be the first large test group.

In fact, Dr. Salk gave me, my sister and others our first vaccine.

Papers were sent to our parents to sign because the polio scourge gripped America. Some children who were my age were in iron lungs; some died, and others were left crippled for life.

Those papers were signed ASAP because of the scare.

It is my belief that the polio vaccine was one of the greatest advances of the 20th century, and that Dr. Salk was a hero. Let’s keep it that way in the 21st century.

No matter your politics, let’s stand together.

Michael Collins, Sarasota

Senators: Say no to Pentagon pick

In early 2021, days ahead of the Jan. 6 insurrection, every living secretary of defense signed a letter printed in the national media. Their message: The military doesn’t determine the outcome of elections.

While the level of incompetence among Cabinet nominees currently being considered by President-elect Donald Trump and the incoming administration is without precedent in U.S. history, the nomination of Pete Hegseth to be defense secretary stands out as the most outrageous.

Hegseth has been accused of financial mismanagement of an organization a fraction of the size of the Department of Defense. Allegations have been raised of sexual assault, which he denies.

He states that he will address the tales of his drunken behavior by laying off alcohol if he is appointed defense secretary.

As each of the secretary of defense retirees indicated in their 2021 letter, one of the many things that is unique in the U.S. Constitution is that military leaders don’t work for the president.

There is every indication Hegseth would work to undo that so that Trump could use the military to round up his opponents. It’s time for our senators to stand tall and say “No” to Hegseth.

William Tucker, Punta Gorda

Time to end the fighting

In recent public statements, Vice President Kamala Harris has urged people to “continue the fight.”

But the questions are: Fight for what? Fight against what? Why fight at all?

Harris should have fought against illegal immigration. How about fighting against inflation, rising prices and out-of-control government spending? That fight would have been worthwhile.

Now let’s stop the fighting. Let’s stop the call to fight. Let there be a change.

William Wanner, Parrish

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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Stop the lying, stupidity, crudeness, incivility | Letters

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