Editor’s note: The following four letters are in response to a Wednesday letter in which the author expressed fatigue in reading both anti-Trump and left-leaning letters to the editor.
No Mr. McLaughlin, you are not the only one tired of those endless streams of delusional hogwash being perpetrated on Dispatch readers. I am in total agreement with you. I have reached the point of just ignoring them. They are so full of “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” that they are blind to all the accomplishments of his presidency. Typical liberal thinking in my opinion. No positive ideas on how to make things better…just bashing! Thanks for letting us know that there are other Dispatch readers who feel the same.
Kudos also to Mr. Lautzenhiser. I have no doubt most Mississippians like having the motto of “In God We Trust,” on the state flag. I can’t see how anyone can complain about that. I want God’s blessings on Mississippi, and acknowledge it or not, non believers benefit from his blessings. That phrase is on our money, but I haven’t heard of anyone refusing to use it because it’s there. None of us are going to be happy with everything, and just because a few people want something changed isn’t in my opinion a valid reason for change. Case in point: One atheist sued to have prayer removed from schools, and look at all the chaos that followed. Relax, take a deep breath and vote for Trump. You will feel better.
Roger Wade
Columbus
I am heartily glad to read all the opinions of our local writers, whether I agree or not. If everyone I read agrees with the way I think, I would never know that there are people out there who think differently. It really is important to know that there ARE people who think differently. Sometimes, they change my opinion. Sometimes, I try to change theirs. Often, I learn that some fact is being treated as an opinion. This debate informs the rest of my social interactions, such as they are in these times. For those of you who may not know, “Trump derangement syndrome” is used to discredit the thinking of people who disagree with President Trump and his policies. This seems repetitive, since there was also George W. Bush derangement syndrome. I’m amused by this conception that someone who disagrees with a Republican president must be ill.
Bonnie Oppenheimer
Columbus
In his September 2 letter to The Dispatch editor, Mike McLaughlin wished that “certain self-appointed left-wing political experts” discontinue voicing their opinions in The Dispatch. I assume I am among those to whom he refers.
Mr. McLaughlin, sir, I respect your right to voice your opinion here, sarcastically or not, but I’d still like to make a couple of my typically misguided points first before honoring your request straight away.
First, a point of logic. If left-leaning writers are “self-appointed” may I ask, please, who selected the writers of letters with the conservative opinions you desire? Did I miss something or were their letters submitted at the request of some higher authority? Please explain.
I, too, have grown tired of something – tired of having fellow citizens tell me to shut the hell up when I have not made the same request of them. Neither I nor anyone else of my viewpoint in these pages ever does so. How you and others doing the same see this as consistent with the core values of our democracy escapes me. But there it is. Still, I will never understand it. Anyway, no, I don’t think I will shut up.
But I will take you and yours one further. Unlike you, my deep love of this democratic republic does not include a desire to stifle debate. I implore motivated and patriotic conservatives to please continue writing – always. It is not only precisely what you should do — it is vital to our nation. You want censorship? There is always Russia or North Korea. That’s not what we’re about here in the United States.
In any case, like all contributors here, including those who you wish to silence, I am a citizen of this city, of this state, and of this country. I also pay both my taxes and my subscription to The Dispatch. As Ronald Reagan once famously said, “I paid for this microphone!”
Lastly, regarding your letter’s final sentence, “…perhaps one day they will look back on these submissions and ask themselves, ‘What was I thinking?'” When hell freezes over, sir. Not that I have much to worry about there. President Trump’s disastrous 50’s-era environmental policies have made it clear that will never happen.
The real solution? My first thought: Mr. McLaughlin should just avoid the Opinions page rather than censoring liberal voices. But then I had a better idea – why not retake high school American civics, instead? Just a suggestion.
Paul Mack
Columbus
Trump today asked the FCC to look into the social media networks because they have been deleting Trump’s lies, lies, and more lies and conspiracy tweets.
He wants them to relax their rules about false information so he can continue with his.
And now, you want The Dispatch to stop printing my letters because you don’t like them.
You do know Trump is a pathological liar, don’t you?
Even Ted Cruz compared him to the fascist leader Mussolini in the primary.
Rick Perry said, in the primary, that he was a cancer on the conservative party. Since he is president, I say he is like a cancer on America.
All of the above gives me a lot to write about. I will not be called a “sucker” for believing Trump’s lies.
I’m trying to save our democracy from Trump.
Trump calls a QAnon GOP primary winner a future Republican star. Do you know that the FBI calls them a terrorist group?
DHS withheld July intelligence bulletin calling out Russian attack on Biden’s mental help.
And Trump is doing it now. See how Russia and Trump are working together to defeat Biden.
No more intelligence meetings with congress if our elections are being interfered with by foreign countries.
You do know in the primary, Trump promised to make America great again. Do you think he has? AP fact check: Is Trump America great again or hellscape?
Four years ago, candidate Trump promised that if he won, the crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end.
Beginning on Jan. 20, 2017, safety will be restored. Another failed promise, on top of many more.
Please, if you are tired of reading my letters to The Dispatch, vote for Biden.
James Hodges
Steens
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.