This editorial was written by Arthur C. Donart, Ph.D.
Dear Aunt Rita,
In your last letter, you said that you had worked hard to get [President Donald] Trump re-elected, because he was clearing out the corruption in Washington, D.C. I didn’t know whether I should laugh or cry.
I’ve known you all 84 years of my life; you are a good, kind person. At age 98, you remember the Great Depression better than I do. We both remember World War II, when your two older brothers fought in the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. My Uncle and my Dad were not “suckers,” as President Trump described them. Perhaps you did not hear about that [remark]. Perhaps you simply did not think it was true, that it was just “fake news,” as Trump calls it.
Unlike you, I do not watch Fox News, because it was run by Roger Ailes, a GOP operative who was very biased. Nor have I listened to Rush Limbaugh, because he is simply an opinionated loud mouth. That may explain why you and I view things differently.
You might remember that I am a Korean Veteran; my brother is a Vietnam Veteran; my son is a Worldwide War on Terror Veteran. So, I do not think much of Trump’s “patriotism,” because he basically dodged the draft, during the Vietnam era. I know you are proud of your brothers who served in World War II and your son and nephews who served our Country in the military. So, I cannot understand why you supported draft-dodger Trump for reelection.
We do agree that corruption in Government must be eliminated. However, Aunt Rita, I could not vote for Trump to do that. Donald J. Trump was a failed businessman who had declared bankruptcy seven times! He would not reveal his taxes. How could he be trusted to fight corruption? However, he probably knew corruption inside-out.
He charged our Government’s Secret Service members (who are provided to protect him) $600 a night to stay with him at Mara Logo–which he owns. That was a bit much, don’t you think? Plus, he picked his Cabinet members from lobby firms and donors–not because of their experience in governing. That seems pretty decadent to me.
Still, we have a lot in common aside from politics: dinners on Sundays at your parents’ home; good times at the beach; staying in your dad’s cabin. We just have a very different view of Trump.
I also think we can both agree that our new President, Joseph R. Biden, is an improvement–as a man of integrity, compassion, and moral character.
Divided in love,
Your nephew, Pat