The irony of the juxtaposition is strikingly clear as I write this letter on February 14, the day of love, in a country shattered by hatred.
The Senate vote by Republicans to acquit Donald Trump of insurrection on February 13 is one of the darkest days in American history, perhaps the very darkest. It has taken its place in the pantheon of the most egregious events this country has ever experienced.
One can point to the secession of the Southern states and the Civil War, the bombing of Pearl Harbor and World War II, or the attack on 9/11 as infamous moments framing our history. Now, we have February 13, 2021, to add to that list.
Donald Trump has developed a cult, and the Republican leadership is happy to genuflect at his altar. In my opinion, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, Ron Johnson, Josh Hawley and Mitch McConnell, as well as 37 other sycophants, will find their names written in blood in the annals of American history forever. Democracy as we knew it no longer exists.
The various attempts by these Republicans to justify their cowardly, amoral vote to acquit Donald Trump takes numerous forms: “A vote to convict will anger Donald Trump, and he would mount a campaign to primary me. I need the support of his base. Perhaps if I vote to convict, Trump supporters will come after me and my family. I am frightened of them.”
The reality is that you have nurtured the Trump supporters by, for four years, refusing to expose Trump as a liar. Now, you are afraid.
A coward is a coward is a coward, and we all saw it in full view by the 43 on Saturday, February 13, 2021. I fear the fallout is, and will continue to be, the destruction of democracy as we knew it.
Michael Alestra
East Quogue
Invest in TeachersIt has come to my attention the possibility of losing great teachers at the end of the school year [“Teachers and Parents Speak Out About Elementary Position Cuts in Adopted Westhampton Beach Budget,” 27east.com, April 17]. Teachers like Miss Gomez...
Literary HomePlease help to keep Canio’s Books from moving [“Canio’s Books, Long a Sag Harbor Cultural Icon, Faces Uncertain Future as Lease Is Not Renewed,” 27east.com, March 20]. In this changing world, the good people who visit this iconic establishment need...
Umatched SupportFor the last three years, i-tri, a local youth empowerment nonprofit that trains girls to complete a youth distance triathlon, has met at Southampton High School during the month of April to host our annual Mentoring Day. During this event,...
Not for SaleThe American idea that giving money to political campaigns is free speech means that the very rich have far more speech, and so in effect far more voting power, than other citizens. We believe we have safeguards and checks, but...
Distorted PictureThanks to Kathleen Boziwick for her “The Big Picture” letter [April 18] reminding us of Earth Day, a time for reflection and action on our environmental stewardship responsibilities. As a past president of the Science Museum of Long Island, I...
Stepping Over Poland“Ukraine is the corpse over which we have to step to conquer the West.” A Vladimir Putin quote? Almost right, but not quite. The actual quote was in the Moscow newspaper Pravda (“The Truth”), and it concerned Poland in 1920....
Defining the FuturePaula Angelone’s recent Letter to the Editor [“Sound Familiar?” Letters, April 11] was extremely disturbing, as she blamed Benjamin Netanyahu for the recent problems in Israel, not Hamas. Let me remind Ms. Angelone that Israel is currently in a war...
It’s Not PrettyHate has talked so loudly for so long. Greed has talked so loudly for so long. Liars have talked so loudly for so long. LOVE has got to stop whispering. Those words, by Marianne Williamson, have resonated with me since...
