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In recent comments, former President Donald Trump has demonized immigrants, praised insurrectionists and expressed his intention to become a dictator if re-elected. All this and more he did with the apparent blessing of Christians across America. Trump promised to be their “punishment”: restoring America to traditional values and punishing those who stand in the way. Although Trump’s rhetoric is hypnotic, it is misguided and misleading. Its stated values are anything but Christian. He cloaked his political ambition in religious jargon, righteous indignation and a distorted sense of patriotism. Unfortunately, many Christians have been deceived.
It is time for the Christian Church in America to wake up! Christians of all stripes should focus on Jesus’ call to welcome the stranger and love our neighbor. Pastors and priests should publicly condemn Trump’s seductive rhetoric. Donald Trump is not the savior; he only pretends to be.
The Rev. Alan C. Bray, St. Peter, Minn.
The writer is a retired pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
COLORADO DECISION
The featured letter December 22, in response to Colorado’s Trump ruling, affirms the constitutional right to vote for literally anyone (even a Nazi, I suppose), and anyone who disagrees is a Nazi. This is more of a schoolyard chant than an argument, but I am most troubled by the writer’s disregard for the legal process. A state Supreme Court carefully read the text of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and concluded that these facts – Donald Trump’s attempt to stay in power despite numerous court rulings that he lost the election – fell under the influence of the text of this text. The Court concluded that our constitutional right to vote is limited: we cannot vote for someone who tried to overthrow our government.
This is not an extremely partisan view of the law. Its most prominent defenders are two jurists from the very conservative Federalist Society, who surprised themselves when they studied the subject and came to what they believed to be an inescapable conclusion. Members of another state’s Supreme Court – ours – determined that it was not appropriate to make this decision at the primary stage, when it is not clear that Trump will actually be the nominee. (So, no, the court didn’t “get it right” whether it thinks Trump should be allowed on the ballot — it just deferred the decision.)
My point is not that Colorado got it right. (I’m still on the fence about this.) That’s because much of the invective coming from the right is aimed at the legal systems we rely on to resolve our disputes. As a retired lawyer, I know these systems are not perfect, but I fear even more the prospect of a world where they are ignored every time the outcome is not to our liking.
Stephen Bubul, Minneapolis
HELP TO DIE
Concerning “Counterpoint: Heed history’s warning on assisted dying” (Exchange of opinions, December 14):
I agree with the 73.2% of Minnesotans surveyed at the State Fair who said they support medical assistance in dying as an option for mentally competent, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live for peacefully end unbearable suffering. I have witnessed the relief that palliative care can bring to most, but not all, dying patients.
My grandmother was an extraordinary person, with a sarcastic sense of humor that made everyone laugh. On his 94th birthday, we found out he only had a few months to live. Two months later, I asked her if she was worried about the ending. “I’m not – I’m worried about being able to handle these last few days. That’s what I’m afraid of.” The anticipation and not knowing what death would be like kept him from enjoying his final days. Anxious and preoccupied, she spent her time in her chair, quiet, with her eyes closed. In tears, she asked me for medical assistance in dying, but, unfortunately, that is not an end-of-life care option in any Midwestern state.
Three agonizing weeks later, she looked into my eyes, begging me over and over, “Please. She was scared. The hospice managed his physical suffering as best they could, but there are other types of suffering. Three days later we had the gift of being with her when her heart stopped beating. A better end-of-life outcome would have been months of connection and shared laughter (instead of incessant anxiety), which might have been possible if she had known she could die peacefully.
Angie Sovak, Eden Prairie
HOMELESS
The growing homeless encampment dilemma confronts us with two contradictory realities. The first is that most homeless people are innocent victims and, second, the encampments cause real and unfair harm to nearby residents. Often, these residents are struggling themselves or, at least, do not benefit from the exploitative economy that creates homelessness.
The bad guys creating this mess live far away. It took years for private enterprise to completely take government out of the hands of the people. Government decisions after World War II ceded control of middle- and working-class housing to private developers. Housing has been reduced to a commodity like televisions. If you have money, you can have a house. Otherwise, you join the ranks of the unprofitable disposables.
Mental health and addiction are also not profitable in a profit-driven health care system. In the 1960s, psychiatric hospitals were closed with the promise of community facilities that were quickly abandoned. Public housing and encampments have become our non-treatment treatment facilities.
Fair labor laws and minimum wage requirements have also been attacked by private companies in their race for profits. Homelessness comes with other problems, but money is a major factor. Job loss and a frayed safety net produce homelessness in a low-wage tech slavery economy.
We could solve homelessness with enough money. But those who have money live far away. Homeless encampments are no closer to them than their flat-screen televisions. These are higher taxes that seem unfair to them. Meanwhile, the rest of us are faced with this tortuous problem with no good solutions.
Tim Mungavan, Minneapolis
The writer is a non-profit real estate developer.
TOU GER XIONG
Tou Ger Xiong stole every scene he starred in (“Hmong American activist, speaker kidnapped and killed in Colombia”, December 13 and other covers).
Like the rest of the world, I first encountered him in a play put on by Hmong youth, in which he represented the thoughts of a Hmong child stuck in an awkward social situation. While the boy muttered conventional bromides, Tou Ger, supposedly visible only to the boy and the audience, screamed, tore out his hair, and danced around the stage.
Later, during Mee Moua’s campaign for State Senate, Tou Ger and I stood outside Metropolitan State University, holding up “Vote for Mee” signs, with Tou Ger wearing a ridiculously large Uncle Sam hat and dancing before the astonished eyes of students, teachers and the public. .
Then one day, while at the state fair, I sat in on a concert where a catchy Hispanic tune was playing. Suddenly, a crazy idiot comes down the aisle to the rhythm of the music, arms and legs waving: Tou Ger. He comes on stage and continues dancing while the audience laughs and applauds.
He came to our Hmong Troop 100 scout meetings, where he regularly did his stand-up performances. He received a good response from the boys because, like him, they struggle to fit in and be part of this American society.
They broke the mold by creating Tou Ger Xiong. There will never be another.
David L. Moore, Minneapolis
The writer is a retired Minneapolis Public Schools teacher and longtime scout leader with Hmong Scout Troop 100.
