Letter: The emperor’s new clothes
Donald Trump’s bid for the White House has provided an updated version of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes” — with a twist. To be sure, the Donald wears clothes — expensive clothes made under his label and sewn on the other side of the world. But despite the clothes, he stands naked before us.
Perhaps Donald’s purpose is to hide behind his clothes and his billions hoping we won’t notice his pompous, prejudiced, insensitive, narcissistic tirades. Too well-known are his shameless mockeries and degrading comments directed toward our nation’s leaders, war heroes, service men and women, physically challenged persons, and all women. All are unforgettable and unforgiveable — and oft-repeated in other scenarios.
Further, Trump’s clothes and upper 1 percent lifestyle can’t conceal other egregious mindlessness and gaffs. Laid bare is the yawning chasm that exists where a comprehensive grasp of the world’s complexities should be. Shouldn’t the emperor parading before the people be more credible than to spout his knowledge of ISIS exceeds that of our generals, his solution for the Middle East is to usurp sovereign nations’ oil supplies, and his admiration of Vladimir Putin stems from Putin’s avowed admiration for him?
In the fairy tale, the emperor’s subjects saw plainly that he wore no clothes but were afraid to tell him. One honest child broke the spell. Let we, the voters, follow a little child in telling our Donald, sorry, he is not cut from cloth that can lead our nation.
Wanda Lane
Sun City Hilton Head
This story was originally published September 30, 2016 at 1:07 PM with the headline "Letter: The emperor’s new clothes."