Trump’s profanity
Norway?
Regarding “Trump’s vulgarity alarms parties” (Page A1, Friday), the most alarming thing here is that anyone would still claim to be “mystified,” given Trump’s long and sorry track record on the subject. His vulgarity is getting the attention; his denial is worthless, but that is actually the least of it.
What is most telling is Trump’s question, “Why can’t we get more people from places like Norway?” Well, Norway, like all Scandinavia, enjoys a strong democracy with an enviable standard of living, including very low unemployment and poverty rates, not to mention a very low crime rate. Do we really look so attractive these days?
But the real giveaway is in the nature of the question. Trump did not ask “Why can’t we get more people like Ademola Fabayo and Juan Rodriguez-Chavez (immigrants from Nigeria and Mexico decorated in 2009 for combat valor in Afghanistan)?” While he claims to want a “merit-based” system of immigration, he clearly identifies “merit” not with talent, skill, work ethic, moral character, etc., but only with place of origin, i.e, with ethnicity.
And that, dear reader, is the very definition of racism. John Snyder, Houston
Port-au-Prince
I’d like to more intelligently characterize Haiti as I saw it. In 2011, I went there on a mission trip a few months after the earthquake and while the cholera epidemic was in full swing. Port-au-Prince was full of struggling people, but the countryside where we worked was in the shadow of beautiful mountains and not far from a lovely beach. Despite their poverty, most of the Haitians I met were happy and determined to rebuild their lives.
Haitians are our global neighbors. They suffer from lethal natural disasters and controllable disease. They work hard, love their children, bury their dead and make the best out of their humble dwellings. They need our empathy and economic support, not shameful words from a man unfit to be in any public office, let alone president. John T. James, Houston
No surprises
First of all, why anyone is “alarmed and mystified” that Trump used the word ‘s--thole’ when talking about Haiti and Africa hasn’t been paying attention. This president, essentially a jumpedup used-car salesman, known for crude, elitist, profane and ignorant statements, does scary things every day. This quote is just another example of his narrowminded view of the world and its people.
Secondly, I don’t believe his remark is racist; rather, it reflects his elitist attitude concerning other nations. His binary world view is segregated only into rich and poor, and guess which group he champions.
My third point is the use of the whole word in the paper. No asterisks? I noticed this in one of Lisa Falkenberg’s columns but thought it was an error. Evidently not. Which entity using the word is more profane? Bob Gayle, Houston
Proclamation
Regarding “Trump partly denies, defends vulgar remarks” (Page A16, Friday), the juxtaposition of Donald Trump’s crude words on immigration on Jan. 11 and his speech on Jan. 12 honoring Dr. Martin Later King Jr. takes irony and the ludicrous to a whole new level.
That many leaders of our government defend the indefensible where Trump is concerned or perhaps worse are silent dishonors them and disgraces the office they hold.
Just when one thinks that Trump could not say or do anything worse, the sun rises on a new day, and he does! Fran Dow Friedman, Houston