By Laura Ainsworth, Staff Writer
July 9, 2019
|
|
A lengthy response came in from the reader who had criticized Trump’s tie and his failure to move his lips during the Battle Hymn.
From Gary:
I believe you missed the whole point here. I voted for this man. I want the swamp drained –- it can't come fast enough.
At least I was able to elicit a response.
TO READ LAURA'S ORIGINAL RESPONSE PLEASE CLICK HERE
I do not care about the past Presidents' policies –- whether they did or did not do thus and such. The man needs to understand that most true Americans agree with this. Americans don't need to see the red power tie –- we already know the thrust. This is an "art of the deal" tactic that should be reserved for negotiations with others –- not your own country. I expect our President to sing our praises (which he did), and I definitely expect the man to at least be moved enough to mouth the words of some of our most patriotic songs--it's the little details that tell.
This is NOT "The Apprentice" –- or maybe it is? You have a President of the United States witnessing a Fourth Of July celebration, and the guy can't sing????? I don't give one rat's ass what the detractors say –- and he shouldn't either. If he cared, he would have sung. It's gotta come from your gut.
And the tie?? Maybe you missed the book THE ART OF THE DEAL.
Nothing new about the use of military hardware??? Am I to expect that just because it happened in the past or happens with regularity that it is ok? People are murdered with great regularity in our country –- does that make it "ok"? If you don't see the connection here, you should be a contributor to CNN.
The majority of your reply wreaks of media bias rhetoric; most of the criticisms are inferred based on your point of view. Take [the] viewpoint of the opposition and you will find some serious inequities.
I did spend four years in the Air Force during Vietnam, so don't give me rhetoric about war. I lost too many friends in that one, ok?
The economy is in good shape –- but at what cost? The guy reduces our national parks by 50 percent so they can be opened up for ecologically disastrous mining operations (absolutely unacceptable). Coal power plant limitations [have been] rolled back to stimulate that dead industry instead of $ spent to retrain the coal miners in newer tech, which gets them out of the mines (saving their lives) and infuses the workforce with new ideas. There is NO logical argument that can compete with this.
My granddaughters' future is being mortgaged for quick spurts in employment and dead-end construction in the present. The man appears to have no vision –- at least the actions he has taken to date do not demonstrate this. Maybe he does, but it is not apparent, and it needs to be.
Global warming is a fact. We live in a closed system on our planet; you can't put a refrigerator in a sealed room and expect the temp to go down. Can't happen –- wake up, dude!
I will give you this –- there is no viable Democratic candidate that can beat this man at the present. Every one of them is [an] absolute nutcase. The real criticism is that he didn't dump the barrel full of them two years ago.
--------------------------
From Laura:
My reply addressed the points you made in your initial letter. Now you’re bringing in quite a few additional points, some of which have nothing to do with the “Salute to America.” On the bright side, I’m glad to hear that you share the President’s vision --- yes, he does have a vision --- of draining the swamp.
But please excuse me if I assumed you were a reflexive Trump-hater, as your first letter read exactly like one written by such a person. (Your second letter just reads mostly like that.) You should know that many “true Americans” wrote to say that they’re just fine with the President wearing a red tie on this occasion, and I’d be willing to bet that quite a few are familiar with THE ART OF THE DEAL and the concept of the “power tie.” They are also fine with Trump moving his lips or not. As you rightly pointed out, the President did “sing our praises.” His fine speech did that.
Thank you so much, Gary, for your years of service in Vietnam. I am sorry for the losses you undoubtedly suffered, but that doesn’t mean you get to dismiss my strongly held personal feelings about the symbolism provided by magnificent military fly-overs and a couple of tanks as mere “rhetoric.” Also, giving consideration to tradition and historical context is not anything like giving the thumbs-up to murder because it has happened a lot. And to suggest that if I don’t see that bizarre comparison I might belong on CNN...well, them’s fightin’ words.
We’ll have to leave it at that. But I would like you to see this moving letter from another Vietnam vet, Bradley:
“As a Vietnam vet, I served in an unpopular war and came home to an ungrateful country that vilified me and my brothers-in-arms. I felt a stranger in my own country. After years of not talking about my service, at 49 I bought a buddy poppy and mentioned I was a Nam vet. The person selling looked me in the eye and said welcome home. At 49 years old, I burst into tears and I felt I was finally home.
“Trump's honor [of] America and our military and veterans [on the] 4th made me feel the same way. I saw my country again. After years of belligerent bias and radical rule against all that makes us the free nation we are, the fog lifted and there it was, wonderful.”
……………………...
Oh, and here’s a thought-provoking letter from Christine, who sounds like me:
“Laura, thank you for your response to this gentleman; it was spot on. One thing I would add: I wonder if he's aware of the origin of the 1812 Overture at which he so patriotically "tears up" and was seemingly offended that the President did not. The music was composed by a Russian [Tchaikovsky –- LA] in commemoration of a Russian military victory (against Napoleon's invasion attempt). Can you imagine the comments from Trump's critics...[if he had teared up at that “Russian” music]? Assuming, of course, that they even know any of that. And what about the cannon fire at the end? How aggressive! Is he trying to start a war?! They would've gotten at least a week of Trump-bashing out of that one.”
Finally, this gem from William:
“Next time, he should wear a red tie with gray M1 Abrams tanks, white minuteman missiles and black m16s on it.”
From Laura:
Go for it, Mr. President!
Leave a Comment
Note: Fields marked with an * are required.