Trump supporters reveal their ignorance

If you’re wondering who the masked, private ICE army includes, just remember the 1,500 insurrectionists Trump pardoned and those who were rejected from police and armed services jobs due to their violent behavior. How sad.

Trump’s latest diversion from his immigration deportation plan was trying to buy Greenland or take it through conquest. Unbelievably stupid.

The few letters endorsing senile, Russian-agent Trump’s daily anti-American actions are embarrassingly ignorant. These writers evidently approve this continuing disaster because his rants echo their bigoted and racist hatred of immigrants and anyone whose culture and looks are different than their own. Or they think undocumented immigrants get undeserved medical or Social Security benefits (they don’t). Or they believe Trump is heaven sent (laughable). Or they support a foreign country that Trump favors militarily. Or all of these.

These people will never change their minds. We need to make sure they are a minority.

Stan Strauss

Niskayuna

Diversity – an essential part of life

This letter is in reference to John Figliozzi’s Jan. 18 column, (“What’s happening in Minnesota could come to New York.”) The column states that, “Contrary to the articulations by current national leadership and Project 2025, diversity in all its forms - political, philosophical, religious, demographic – is an essential strength of the American experiment.”

Bravo! Mr. Figliozzi makes many other important points in his piece, but I would like to focus on his defense of diversity.

Diversity is an essential strength of democracy, of community, of life for many vital reasons. It is woven into the very fabric of the cosmos and creation. If we consider how the universe is put together, how ecosystems function, how our very bodies work, we find diversity. Life depends on it.

The geologian, Thomas Berry, has written about the three principles of the Universe: interiority (the uniqueness of each thing), differentiation (diversity) and communion (nothing can function alone). To deny diversity is to deny the very functioning of the cosmos.

The problem is that diversity frightens people. Differences call us to self-awareness, to understanding, to curiosity about the “other.” It is much easier to try and snuff out the diversity.

All through history, autocratic groups and governments have tried to do it. That route often leads to violence and certainly stifles the gifts and creativity of people. Take a close look at dictatorships. But diversity, when embraced, can lead to cooperation and flourishing of society.

Sister Linda Neil, CSJ

Schenectady

America needs to return to the truth

What is truth? Truth is the property of being in accord with fact or reality.

Truth is continually being challenged. Do we know what is true and what is false? We are a culture where facts aren’t always sought, quick judgements are made without thought or study.

Vice President JD Vance, speaking out about Renee Nicole Good, who an ICE agent shot three times, killing her, acted as judge and jury before the dust had settled. He defended the ICE agent without regard to the facts. Perhaps Vance and Trump thought there would not be blowback.

Our president’s social media platform, Truth........

© The Leader Herald