All too eager to blame Trump in COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic | Letters
Dinner conversation quickly turned to politics. Auntie Bobbie lamented about the latest controversy:
“You must be incensed by Trump calling COVID-19 a Chinese virus. I’m telling you. Trump is a racist!”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far. You didn’t criticize Obama for calling the 2012 flu ‘Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.’ Racism is bigotry against people, not viruses. Trump was calling out the Chinese government for covering up and mishandling the outbreak.”
Unsatisfied, Bobbie continued, “CNN just reported that America surpassed China in COVID-19 cases, and we are months behind schedule in providing PPE and hospital beds. Trump has failed the American people in a time of crisis.”
Never a fan of political propaganda, I responded:
“We are barely two months into a war against a virus that even the best medical minds couldn’t fathom. No government has the foresight to stockpile hospital beds or N95 masks to deal with a once-in-a-century pandemic.
“The follies of mainstream media lie in their holier-than-thou hypocrisy, their 20/20 hindsight, and their myopic distrust of Trump’s motives. Closing borders to hotspot nations? Xenophobic. Pushing relief funds through Congress? Corporate welfare. Holding the WHO accountable for mismanagement? Shifting blame.
“Instead of celebrating the unity of our nation, the heroic sacrifices of medical workers, the unprecedented mobilization of public and private resources, and the random acts of kindness by ordinary citizens, the media and its liberal cohorts are too eager to declare Trump’s defeat. We’re all in this together, so you wonder where their loyalty lies.”
Xiaodan Li
Hilton Head Island
Trump doesn’t trust the people
“This is not the end. This is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
In November of 1942 when Winston Churchill offered these words, England had been at war for over three years, London had been laid waste with Nazi bombers, thousands of British soldiers had already been killed, and the country was scraping the bottom of its food supply.
Winston Churchill understood human nature far better than President Donald Trump. People will endure any hardship if they are given the unvarnished truth and their sacrifices end in victory, no happy talk about when the victory will be won, no cheerleading about unproven cures, and no casting blame on others. Just the truth.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is getting high marks for laying out the facts as they are. During the pandemic, often those facts are discouraging, but he has trust in the American people to rise up and to meet the challenge.
Trump does not trust the American people. During his daily press conferences, he appears to believe this pandemic is a public relations crisis rather than public health crisis. He believes if he can just obscure reality with his vague blustering, the crisis will pass. It won’t.
Trump needs to tell Americans, as Winston Churchill told the British, that there is a long slog ahead of us, but we will achieve victory.
Gene Blanshan
Beaufort
The modeling we don’t want: Trump
During the coronavirus pandemic, the American people have been shown models that serve as a basis for making decisions for containing COVID-19. Graphs based on data collected and analyzed by institutions with impeccable credentials have been displayed during President Donald Trump’s daily briefings, in New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s updates, and by others.
But other models have also been displayed, these based on egotism, fear, diversionary tactics and retaliatory vendettas. Callous disregard for human life and suffering, for those grieving, and for medical care providers have been illustrated along with overt political partisanship.
Innuendo and comments meant to undermine confidence in leaders and containment measures have been modeled.
Only Trump continued to shake hands, stand shoulder to shoulder and declare before a nationwide audience that he would not wear a mask. Acknowledging that he is no doctor, he nonetheless dispenses medical prescriptions as in hydroxychloroquine. (What have you got to lose?)
Lastly, a total lack of presidential leadership combined with a finely-honed mastery to cast responsibility for his stuttering response on others – on anyone else – has been modeled.
As the struggle to contain COVID-19 continues, despite the dearth of leadership from the president, let the voters also do modeling with far-reaching impact. In November, let’s “model” that we want a president with a view beyond his own nose, who demonstrates integrity, and who accepts responsibility for the ideals he swore to uphold in the Constitution.
Wanda Lane
Bluffton
Protect the vote this November
The low percentage of the population that casts votes in an election has always been somewhat of an embarrassment for our country.
Over the years, efforts to make voting more convenient and accessible have been implemented to increase this percentage.
Until now!
President Donald Trump has openly admitted that an increase in voter participation will be detrimental to his and the Republican Party’s future. So now his strategy is to encourage the suppression of voting by any means available. I wonder how such a strategy feels to my democracy-loving and patriotic Republican friends and neighbors? Does this “win at all costs” make American great? How do we explain this to our children and grandchildren?
The November general election will be a critical one for the future of our country. It is very likely that, however rapidly our country is able to return to normalcy from the COVID-19 pandemic, there will remain difficulties for many to be able to safely cast their ballots.
Proposals to expand early and mail-in voting need to be put in place as soon as possible to ensure our November election results truly reflect the will of the people.
Frank Sincaglia
Bluffton
Support U.S. Foreign Service
As a retired member of the United States Foreign Service, I was proud to represent American interests and values in seven countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East over my 20 years of service. I write this as Foreign Service Day approaches on May 1, intended to honor our active duty Foreign Service members.
Members of the U.S. Foreign Service are dedicated, hardworking public servants whose mission is to promote American interests, values, and national security. As the new coronavirus pandemic continues its march across the world, members of the Foreign Service have been working around the clock to bring home thousands of Americans stranded abroad.
My colleagues are proud to serve their country. This global pandemic struck at a time when the Foreign Service was already overstretched and understaffed. Numerous critical positions in Washington and at embassies abroad remain vacant.
I hope that something good will come out of this frightening time, including the support the Foreign Service needs to best serve America’s interests abroad.
William Patterson
Hilton Head Island
Do we really have a leader?
Someone who realizes that the problem, not self, is what is important.
That is someone who realizes that he or she is not the brightest person in the room.
That opinions and facts from others, not yourself, is what is critical.
That the leader listens and is open to other ideas and respects what others bring to the table.
To surround yourself with people much brighter than yourself.
That your job is to bring people together not tear them apart.
That your words need to be chosen carefully because they are critical and can mean that others may die as a result of what you think and say.
That working together matters most.
That you have respect for others and it is reflected in your deliberate choice of words.
That you have a keen understanding of what really are the issues.
That the leader does not worry the masses.
Now that we have lots of time to think about such things, what is it that we really have?
Raymond Dias
Bluffton