Donald Trump finally addresses the birthright injustice: Readers sound off

Letter to the editor:

I’m thrilled that President Donald Trump is addressing the birthright citizenship abuse that the long outdated 14th Amendment inflicts on our nation.

The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 to ensure former slaves and their children were granted citizenship. I highly doubt the Reconstruction Era lawmakers of the day had this institutional abuse in mind, which just weakens our sovereignty and makes us a laughingstock around the world.

Trump is right on this issue, and every sane American knows it. I fully support him signing an executive order that abolishes this long outdated amendment. If it’s legally challenged, I’d be happy to leave it in the hands of the newly updated Supreme Court to decide. Does anyone wonder why Trump didn’t back down on his pick of Brett Kavanaugh for the highest court? He already had this move lined up on his Make America Great Again agenda.

Eugene Dunn; Medford, N.Y.

Trump fears a free press, accountability

Letter to the editor:

As a political independent, my reaction to President Donald Trump’s behavior and rhetoric is based on simple decency. His tweets are truly tone deaf, given the recent tragic loss of 11 lives at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, and following multiple bomb mailings to top Democratic officials and CNN. In one of his tweets, he ties the “great anger” to our news media. His rhetoric is a steady drum beat to weaken a fundamental strength of our democracy: a free press. 

Talker:Donald Trump vs. news media is a fight we all lose

This constant focus to undermine the press has a well-developed strategy to sow doubt and distrust in the media, as they continue to report his actions. When you hear him at a rally complimenting a congressman for body-slamming a reporter saying, “He’s my kind of guy,” Trump’s promoting violence. When he continues to attack the news, he sounds like a person blaming his appearance on the mirror. 

You take away our free press and you remove accountability from our leaders. 

James Keough; Palos Heights, Ill.

A regulated marijuana market is safest

Letter to the editor:

USA TODAY’s editorial “On Election Day, will two more states go to pot?”, on the proposals to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota and Michigan is unsophisticated in its thinking. 

Our view:On Election Day, will two more states go to pot?

The Editorial Board’s argument presupposes that — what amounts to — prohibition is the best way to deter underage cannabis use. Many people disagree. One of the goals of legalizing and regulating marijuana is to ultimately undermine the illicit market. Dealers in the streets don’t card their customers; dispensaries do. A legal, regulated market will restrict youth access to cannabis more effectively than the status quo of prohibition. 

Marissa Medansky; Berkeley, Calif.

Send a message against hate, Trump

Letter to the editor:

Leave it to President Donald Trump to blame the victim. Only a few hours after stressing the importance of national unity, the president resumed his attacks on the news media and Democrats, accusing them of inciting the very crimes directed against them last week. Did anyone ever seriously doubt he would do otherwise? We’ve seen this pattern so many times before with Trump. And unless something changes, we’ll likely see this behavior many more times.

Talker:Donald Trump vs. news media is a fight we all lose

The sad truth is: Trump is too much of a moral coward and political opportunist to ever take a strong and consistent stand against such violence. One can only hope that, come Election Day, there will be enough American voters sickened by what they are seeing that they — unlike the president — are at last willing to send a clear, unambiguous message that hate, bigotry and irrational fear of the other will not long prevail in this nation.

Joe Elliott; Asheville, N.C.

The mentally ill have a right to live

Letter to the editor:

Once again, the police dropped the ball responding to a person living with a mental illness while experiencing what was believed to be a mental break outside San Francisco. I believe the underlying issue of such incidents as the death of Chinedu V. Okobi, whose sister is a Facebook executive, is that officers aren’t properly trained to address someone living with a mental illness. In most cases, an emotionally disturbed individual is likely to respond aggressively when being threatened.

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Officers should be trained to diffuse the situation by using tactics that promote self-defense, but don’t result in killing the victim. Perhaps there needs to be an amendment in the Americans with Disability Act that states when police are called under the assumption that someone is having a psychotic episode, a clinical professional should arrive on the scene with the officer. People are dying at the hands of unskilled officers with little justice being served. The mentally ill have rights. 

Shekiuna Oglesby; Conyers, Ga.

We have not advanced as a species

Letter to the editor:

Life is fragile, precious and fleeting. The tragic loss of life in the Pittsburgh synagogue is a prime example of this truism. God’s greatest creation is a miracle.

For one human being to snuff out this miracle of creation is an abomination. When it happens through war, hatred or an act of violence, it is clear evidence that we as a species have not reached a high level of development. We are still exhibiting primitive instincts such as racism, tribalism and mental instability.

Related:How do we fight anti-Semitism in 2018? Show up for Shabbat, stand with Jewish neighbors.

The loss of a life should only occur in a natural way. When it occurs through violence, of any kind, life is cheapened and indicates a disease of the spirit and soul. 

Ned L. McCray; Tinley Park, Ill.

Division is pervasive

Letter to the editor:

It is depressing to turn on the news and wonder which tragedy has the most casualties or is more sensational. What has this nation come to?

When I came to this nation, as an immigrant, I was welcomed and have been able to make a comfortable life for myself and my family. I always stood for what is right and lawful. I felt equal to everyone else. I could say what I felt, whether it was politically correct or not. 

As of late, I feel I have to be very careful and make only politically correct statements — which are not to express my true beliefs, if they’re contrary to those of whomever I’m talking to.

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The division in our nation is not only pervasive but deep rooted. But the fish rots from the head down. And the hatred seems to be based on color, gender, religion, ethnicity, disability, political power, financial means and loyalty.

Our situation is stark and inflamed by the president. But is the president the only leader the Republican Party has? He’s the one who made more than 12 campaign appearances in October. Isn’t there another leader who can speak or make campaign appearances? Or are these leaders unwilling to continue with the same vitriolic language as the president?

The elections are not going to solve this. What will?

Kunjitham G. Gauthaman; Hixson, Tenn.

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