Respect has to be earned

What really irks me are the complaints that readers have made about athletes and others refusing to visit the White House after being invited. They say that by refusing to accept the invitation, the athletes and others exhibit a lack of respect. Well, folks, respect has to be earned and this president has not exuded any qualities which deserve such respect.

He has denigrated over half our population, the Constitution and the rule of law. You think we should all respect the institution of the White House no matter who the occupant is and what that occupant does? I guess that would apply to people like Hitler or Stalin if they were in the White House. Balderdash.

All you need to know about the qualities of the person occupying the White House is shown in the clip of him walking down the tarmac to Air Force One on a rainy day with an umbrella followed by his wife and son who have no umbrellas. He is walking ahead of both of them as the rain is pouring on them and then, when he reaches the door of the plane he merely folds up the umbrella never offering to shelter his wife or son. Ask yourself, what kind of person does that?

Also ask yourself what one redeeming quality does that man possess that you want your kids to aspire to. We would all like to hear your response as there is none. So please, with so-called loyalists like you, we would all still be part of England. At this juncture, though, with him in that White House, that might not be so bad.

Rick Shopiro

Buffalo Grove

War as entertainment

In a recent interview Trump tried to justify his avoidance of the Vietnam War by claiming that he was not a big fan of it, a phrase he invokes as a judgment on ideas or people that he intends to denigrate.

Criticism of his choices during the Vietnam War, disparaging John McCain and more recently attacking a British diplomat are just a few of the many examples. A fan as defined by Merriam Webster is: an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or performing art) i.e. entertainment. By this definition, you can be a fan of Dancing with the Stars, Classical Music, Leave it to Beaver or the Chicago Cubs. But you cannot be a fan of war unless you reduce it to a level of entertainment.

Characterizing war as such belies the valor of those who, without the benefit of a deferment legit or not, had to endure it. Wars are fought for many reason; entertainment is not one of them.

William J. Sheridan

Arlington Heights