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Donald Trump is his own worst enemy

President Donald Trumps most dangerous adversary in the November election is not Joe Biden.

Its Donald Trump.

Trump just cant resist shooting himself in the foot. (Perhaps his bone spurs are acting up.) His wholesale negativity, impulsiveness, inattention to detail and love of personal insults, taunts and conspiracy theories aimed at nearly everybody and everything have eroded his chances to win reelection.

Obviously, he is losing women, African-Americans and immigrants, particularly Hispanics. Even younger evangelicals are having their doubts.

But his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic and the general chaos of his presidency have alienated the particularly vulnerable elderly (23% of voters), who yearn for safety and stability.

His base is estimated to be 40% to 43% of voters. So he needs non-Republicans (read disenchanted Democrats), independents and other swing voters who helped him win in 2016.

But last time, voters who disliked his opponent, Hillary Clinton, helped tip the scales. Biden seems far more popular than Hillary. So, to coin a phrase, 2020 is a whole new ballgame. Or, as former Rep. David Trott, R-Mich., has said, 2016 was a perfect storm, meaning unlikely to reoccur.

Gordon Rowley, Wakefield

MLK would endorse message of Black Lives Matter

Since the death of Martin Luther King the white establishment has very effectively bastardized his message.

The message, often kept under wraps, is that racism, militarism and capitalism are the root causes of the darkness that has engulfed the United States of America. Until we address these issues there will only be more darkness.

King also spoke of urban riots that have and continue to engulf our country when he quoted Victor Hugo who said: "If a soul is left in the darkness sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but he who causes the darkness."

King also spoke to non-violence when he said "If you want Peace then work for Justice."

He also said, "Peace is not merely the absence of tension, but the presence of Justice."

Martin Luther King's message knows no time period, and if he were alive today he would be in the streets in the name of "Black Lives Matter." He would be calling out to the powers and principalities that spread the darkness. He would be shining his light.

Just as Martin Luther King, ours is to cast out this darkness. It's not too late, but only if we are willing to act.

Martin Lepkowski, Wakefield

Threat to teachers jobs is being forgotten

Hundreds of public school teachers across Rhode Island are facing layoffs as the coronavirus pandemic threatens to wreak havoc on state and local budgets, and state leaders are offering few clues on how much aid districts should expect for the fiscal year that begins next month.

These are the people who sacrifice their lives for our children and they can expect no help at all from the inept individuals who run the state.

We have a governor who praises demonstrators for not rioting, an inept mayor who cant control his own city, and United States senators and congressmen who are hiding.

It seems that these people are able to provide funds for everyone else in this state except for the people who can help control our future. And judging by what has taken place this past week, we need our teachers very badly. Our so-called governor and the rest of our local political leaders should be ashamed of themselves, and by the way, where is the outcry for justice for these wonderful people? Do they have to take to the streets looting, burning and attacking police officers to be heard?

It seems that is how we express our feelings today.

John Cervone, North Providence

Provocateurs, including Trump, to blame for violence

Much of the violence accompanying the legitimately angry demonstrations protesting racial discrimination in major cities across the country is attributed to hooligans and provocateurs, who undermine the legitimacy of otherwise peaceful, albeit angry, demonstrations. I experienced this in the 60s, participating in multiple demonstrations that were co-opted by extremist fringe elements, to the point that I became reluctant to participate in mass demonstrations.

However, provocateurs in particular typically operate under a cloak of secrecy not so our provocateur-in-chief, President Trump. His actions throughout this crisis have not only lacked compassion for the victims of discrimination and empathy for the anger of the African-American community, but have shamefully inflamed tensions. Why are our elected officials, especially Republicans, so accepting of his divisive behavior?

Martin Huntley, Providence

Woodrow Wilson doesnt deserve a glowing tribute

After watching the events of rage which have been unfolding over the past few days in America and then reading Daniel Harrington's glowing My Turn commentary on former President Woodrow Wilson (Woodrow Wilson radically transformed the nation, May 31) it led me to wonder just what kind of a rock has Mr. Harrington been living under?

Perhaps Wilson was not the most virulent racist to ever occupy the Oval Office but he's in the top two. When Wilson took office in 1912 there were numerous federal positions being held by African Americans. They were quickly cashiered. If in fact Wilson did not give the order to fire them he was most certainly complicit as most of them were terminated. In one instance a black man who held a critical job and could not be fired was forced to work in a cage so no white worker had to come in contact with him.

It was not only blacks Wilson despised. He also described Poles, Hungarians and Italians as "men of the lowest class." I guess Wilson must have thought so little of Jews and the Irish that they weren't even worth a scant centimeter of his bile.

Wilson was a true "Son of the South." He was a descendant of a Confederate soldier. When he was elected president there was jubilation in Dixie and huzzahs of "the South shall rise again."

Is Mr. Harrington aware that at Wilsons alma mater, Princeton, students have been agitating for his name to be removed from all buildings on campus? I am not attempting to be a revisionist and try to rewrite history but at some point, the sheet has to be taken off the looking glass and historical figures must be seen warts and all.

We are all entitled to our opinion on what constitutes a great man, but how prophetic the headline over Mr. Harrington's article "Woodrow Wilson radically transformed the nation."

Charles Sinel, Pawtucket

Read more from the original source:
Letters: Trump's worst adversary; MLK and Black Lives Matter; and more - The Providence Journal