Free speech and American patriotism
In response to letters from writers who seem to take offense to anti-Trump opinions. First, please realize that Trump barely got 50% of the vote, which means 50% of American voters didn’t support him. Trump calls his 50% “a mandate.” Four years ago, Biden got over seven million more votes than Trump. Trump called that election “stolen.”
At this point, Americans know Trump well. Trump supporters seem to feel they must defend him. How? We all remember after his 2020 loss he refused to concede, (unlike Ms. Harris). Then he started the lies about the supposedly “stolen” election, which he still spreads today.
Remember the phone call to Georgia, “I just want to find 11,780 votes,” and let’s never forget the Jan. 6 insurrection he started. Trump used (abused) his supporters to fight to block Congress from following the Constitution. They fought the Capitol police for hours, and Trump calls them “patriots.”
For the past four years, I have read scores of anti-Biden letters in the Daily Herald. Writers have criticized and derided Biden’s appointees, his family and his character. Those opinions are called free speech.
When anti-Trump voters write letters that criticize and deride his appointees, his family and his character, it is called “unpatriotic.” What happened to free speech?
Now, are we to limit free speech if it criticizes Trump? Trump supporters now suggest we all work together for the best interests of America.
Have you forgotten Trump’s own actions?
Think about what true patriotism means. Donald Trump, in his words and actions, is the most unpatriotic politician I have ever witnessed. I hope that a new definition of patriotism won’t be defined by one’s loyalty to Trump.
That is not American patriotism.
Donna Ryan
Aurora