To the Editor:
I ran for City Council in 2003 as a Republican, and since that time, I have rarely voiced my opinion in public. Recent events, however, compel me to again cast my views into public life, if only for a particular purpose, explained below.
If Hitler were alive today, every one of us would oppose his words, policies, and actions, I believe. And yet somehow we are living with a fascist and not enough of us are speaking out.
Donald Trump wants to forcibly deport 11 million Hispanics living in the United States. Round them up and deport them, split apart families, etc.
He wants to bar any Muslim from entering the U.S. Tourists. Businessmen. Immigrants. Orphans. Anyone. He wants to create a database of Muslims.
If you take the word "Hispanic" and "Muslim" in the sentences above and replace them with the word "Jew" you will have Hitler's program. Round them up. Export them. Monitor those that remain. Exclude them from daily
life. Stigmatize them.
Mr. Trump wants to deny citizenship to those born here, despite the fact the 14th Amendment makes that the law of the land. He wants to impose a religious test on entry to the U.S., which is against international law
and the 1st Amendment.
He apparently believes it’s OK to beat up protesters at his rally, in fact he seems to encourage it. He bullies opponents from Fox News to John McCain, whom he called "not a war hero" because he was captured.
Incredible!
Speak up, please, my fellow Americans. Let your friends know it’s not OK to accept bigotry and hate in the United States. What unites us is far more important than what divides us. Don't let fear and bullies become the future of our country.
Stand up! Speak out!
If every one of us reaches out to 10 others, and convinces them to spread the message for love and against hate, we can achieve amazing things. Like a spider web, the message will grow and increase.
We need to exercise our common concern to discredit this megalomaniac, while we still have a voice to do so — before it's too late.
John Reardon
Alexandria