ENEMIES: No, see world differently

Mr. Quinn, I am not your enemy. And I am not the enemy of the United States of America because I do not believe as you or your anonymous author. I am a born and raised American citizen. I do not hate anyone.

For myself, I observe Mr. Trump’s fear, distrust, a willingness to alienate and divide people among other distinct characteristics that do not show any confidence in himself.

Mr. Trump has never shown himself to be a patriot. He avoided the draft, more than once; he brags about how much he supports the military and says in private that the dead veterans are “…losers…” for dying in a World War; in addition, Mr. Trump states that the late John McCain, an honored POW, and MIA’s were “…losers…” for being captured or never found.

Mr. Trump inherited a flourishing economy when he was elected in 2016. He has ridden on its coattails for the time he has been in office, until he ignored COVID’s potential lethality for the benefit of his narrow world view in the hope to capitalize on his re-election. His braggadocio approach is costing our country when it did not have to be this way.

And to finish, the United States of America has always been the cradle of peace, justice, and safety for the world’s “huddled masses” searching to be free. Mr. Trump’s policies toward these immigrants can only be described as unconscionable and reckless.

Again, Mr. Quinn, I am not your enemy. I am, like you, a citizen of this great country. We are watching our culture being dragged into the swamp that Mr. Trump promised to eliminate.

RALPH D. SHAY

Coeur d’Alene