My letter to the editor was written several days ago. Since then Trump gave lip service to a meeting with Schumer and Jeffries that included Trump 2028 caps displayed in the Oval Office, followed by an AI racist and mocking video. In addition, he and Hegseth insulted our generals this week at a called meeting. I am glad to be in the company of our military as well as a multitude of Americans that Trump considers the enemy within. THIS IS NOT NORMAL!

My late husband was Jewish. When he moved to the mountains of NC at age 10 his classmates used to feel his Jewish head for horns. After all, they had been taught that Jews were devils. 

Appalled? You should be. Yet in 1998 he was asked at a county-wide Rowan PTA meeting what country he was from. And the woman was so surprised to learn he was an American. He was a veteran, his brother was a veteran, and his father an Army Ranger in the Pacific during WWII. 

Ignorance. Yes, it is different from stupid.Yet how long can people continue to say, “I’m just not interested in politics. It’s so distressing to me that I don’t even pay attention.” 

Duh.

Fast forward to 2025. How much have we changed when the president is saying that all Democrats are evil and hate their country? A president who now refuses to meet with and negotiate with the opposing party to try and avoid a government shutdown? A president who tells Congress not to speak with Democrats and his (note, “his”) House Speaker Mike Johnson acquiesces and sends everyone home rather than allow discussion about the looming health care crisis that Democrats are trying to avoid as the deadline for funding the government ends on Sept. 30th. As I write this, we have yet to see what Senate Republicans will do.    

Sometimes things should be obvious. Things are not normal in our United States. Do Republicans in Congress remain quiet because Republican Party voices were among the first ones who lost their freedom to speak? 

I offer this opinion in support of my friends and neighbors who don’t “look” American. Because according to POTUS, neither do I in 2025.