Broken-hearted
I often say, “I was raised in Allensville, Ky., but I grew up in the U.S. Air Force.” If I had to choose one word to describe the USAF that I grew up in, that word would be integrity: integrity of character, honor, dignity and respect for the institutions built on the sacrifices of those who came before us.
Former FBI Director James Comey recently lamented that his heart was broken for the Department of Justice. After hearing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s and President Donald Trump’s speeches to our military generals and senior enlisted advisers Tuesday, I saw a stark betrayal of the values I once lived by. My heart is likewise broken for our proud and honorable men and women in uniform and our military institutions.
Our men and women in uniform are required to maintain conduct beyond the impression of impropriety. Yet today they must serve under leadership that fails to meet even the minimum standards: a secretary of Defense with a history of sexual misconduct and drunkenness among other things, and a commander in chief convicted of 34 felony counts who attacks the very Constitution he swore to protect and defend.
In support of our troops, I pledge my support to candidates who are proven defenders of democracy, who honor their oaths and who work in the spirit of the preamble to our Constitution: “to form a more perfect union.”
Robert L. Ligon, Carrollton
First Amendment
News media are being routinely denigrated and threatened by President Donald Trump when he doesn’t like the questions they ask or imply anything that is critical of him. Television networks are silencing people on the air that the president feels do not portray him in a positive light. Our basic freedoms, at one time guaranteed by our Constitution, are disappearing.
I am appalled by the people who are apparently complicit with the idea of throwing out our First Amendment. Where are our elected officials who should be forming a united front to defend our democracy and freedoms? Of course, that would take courage. It would take a love of what this country once was, and what we stood for. It would take a desire to see your children and grandchildren living in a future of freedoms that we all enjoyed without question. Now there is only fear and uncertainty about what to say or do to make sure we won’t be yanked off the street and imprisoned with no legal recourse. Those of you who agree with what is happening or are just too cowardly to speak up.
I hope you are ready for a future where your children and grandchildren will live in an authoritarian regime because that is exactly where we are headed.
Pamela Hammer, Chesapeake
Stop the violence
Can we stop reacting with fear and violence to everything? We are all human beings. We are more alike than we are different.
Don’t we all want our children to be safe and receive a good education? Don’t we all want to have control of our bodies and choice of the medical procedures we might need? Don’t we all want to be able to express ourselves freely? Don’t we all want to be able to protect ourselves and our families? Don’t we all want to feel safe in our homes, jobs and religious places?
It doesn’t matter if we are Democratic or Republican; Black, white, Hispanic or Asian; Christian, Jew, Pagan or Muslim; male, female or transgender; gay or heterosexual. We all want the same things in life. Look around and stop the violence. Stop the hatred and vitriol. Be an example of tolerance. Demonstrate your faith by your actions. Show your children differences can be handled with discussion.
Toby Pennell, Portsmouth