Thursday, March 28, 2024

“Appalled” by President Trump’s language

I am appalled by the language used by our president describing Haiti and African countries in his recent meeting on immigration. His vulgar and racist comments are offensive and disturbing.
Trump demeans himself, his office, and our country. At the minimum, he must learn to control his language while he is holding the office of President of the United States.
His comments degrade our political discourse. How do you explain them to your young children? If it is acceptable for the president to say these things, then all is permitted. His racism reveals his ignorance: a Republican pollster tweeted “43 percent of immigrants from ---hole African countries have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 33 percent of the overall American population. Nigerian-Americans, for instance, have a median household income well above the American average.”
I am also very disappointed in those elected officials present at the meeting who cannot recall what was said by the president.
By not standing up for important American values of tolerance and respect for all they, too, are demeaning our country. As our elected representatives, they failed in their most basic duty of not speaking truth to power.
Racism is offensive wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head, whether it’s among friends, family, the workplace, the local bar or in the halls of power.
We need to come together as a diverse multi-racial, multi-ethnic country and respect one another. Only by treating others with respect can we be respected in turn.

Kathleen Ralph
Columbus