Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally with his sycophants on Sunday evening was repulsive and disgusting and reminds me of when my parents, my brother and I had to flee from such a dictatorial autocrat.
We were forced from our homeland in Cuba when Fidel Castro came to power in 1960. We came to America to start all over again and became (proud) U.S. citizens thereafter. I am certain Trump’s ways have been seen throughout the globe, certainly in Germany circa 1930s when Adolf Hitler rose through the ranks and conned German citizens of that era into vilifying those of the Jewish faith (of which I am also one).
When I heard Trump and his guest speakers use guttural language about my fellow Hispanics, describing, for example, the island of Puerto Rico as a garbage dump, with the crowd crowing in delight, and when Trump told everyone that our country was equally a distasteful waste bin of throwaways, I was ready to puke.
Young people know not of what my family and I had to endure. Trump’s promise of the mass deportation of immigrants is a five-alarm fire to be avoided at all costs by ensuring he never becomes president again!
— Elena C. Zaremski, Highland Park
Reminiscent of Rush Limbaugh
Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday was vile, nauseating and frightening. It was a total freak show.
The anger and hate on display at the rally have been stoked for decades. I ought to know. I got caught up
in Rush Limbaugh’s verbal bilge in the 1990s. On Aug. 18, 1995, the Tribune published a story in its Tempo section about Rush Limbaugh written by Ted Gregory and titled “Right and wrong: Rush Limbaugh’s critics want to set the facts straight, but it’s not easy.”
Gregory interviewed me for the article and was kind enough to record my thoughts about Limbaugh. What I said then about Limbaugh holds true today for Trump and his media apologists. To quote myself: “I found that the more I listened to him, the angrier I got, and I don’t like that in myself. I think he tunes in and hits a chord with a lot of people’s beliefs, and he articulates them in an amusing way, but he also exploits a lot of anger unnecessarily.”
There is a direct line from the rhetoric used by Limbaugh to that used by Trump and his media apologists. At least Limbaugh could be amusing. Trump is not. He’s a dangerous demagogue who is using anger and hate to stoke a pernicious political movement. This movement flouts the rule of law and threatens the stability of our republic. Just look at what happened on Jan. 6, 2021.
Wake up, Americans, and look up from your phones. The fate of our beloved country hangs in the balance.
— Gary Tucker, Orland Park
The time to speak up is now
After the Madison Square Garden rally, where we heard Trump and his allies make insulting and threatening remarks about groups such as Puerto Ricans, let us recall past disparaging remarks that he and his followers made about Hispanic immigrants, “—-hole” African countries, legal Haitian immigrants, etc.
Before we vote, let us remember the words of Pastor Martin Niemoller about the Nazi regime:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.
When we enter the voting booth, let us think about our own particular group.
— Jack Lieberman, Morton Grove
Trump’s management style
It is very disheartening to see a distinguished journalist such as Clarence Page write a column suggesting Donald Trump is a fascist (“Is Donald Trump a fascist at heart? Close enough for me,” Oct. 28). Page has an obvious dislike for former President Trump and does not want to see him reelected. However, to categorize Trump with the same term used for Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini is not only unfortunate but also wrong on so many levels.
First and foremost, Trump has a proven track record as president. During his four years, there was not a callout by people in the administration that Trump was acting as a fascist or desiring the posture of a dictator. It is disturbing to see retired Gen. Mark Milley and former chief of staff John Kelly, well after the fact, express their opinion that Trump has fascist-like tendencies.
Trump spent years as the CEO of his organization. That position and experience certainly led to the development of a style of managing that is much different than how a government position is handled, but I’d be willing to bet that in Milley and Kelly’s tenures as generals in the military, they both approached their role and responsibility in an “authoritarian” manner. In the military and in business, the people in the top positions have the authority but, most important, the responsibility to make the decisions and see that they are carried out accordingly.
It seems in business, we call that “effective,” but in government we call that fascism. Trump was accustomed to making decisions and expecting them to be carried out. He brought that style to the office of the president. I am not at all sure if he engaged with his advisers and Cabinet to listen to what their thoughts were on any specific matters. Most leaders will hear out views of trusted advisers, evaluate the circumstances and then make the decisions that he or she believes to be the best. It would be my guess that Trump disregarded both Milley and Kelly’s advice on many occasions, resulting in a high level of contempt.
Trump’s style is very aggravating to many and frustrating to many more. He seemingly cannot control himself and allows his emotions to override his intellect by saying whatever crosses his mind in the moment. That is unfortunate. However, it is more unfortunate to see the charter members of the loyal opposition force-feed the term “fascist” on a former president. What effect could this have should he win reelection?
— Dave Roberts, Frankfort
Is Trump a role model for kids?
I’m curious. How many people see Donald Trump as a role model for their sons or grandsons? Can you imagine your daughter or granddaughter coming to you in tears because a man groped her as the former president bragged about doing to women during an interview for “Access Hollywood”? Would you encourage your sons or grandsons to treat women that way? If you are a World War II veteran, I’m sure your heart has swelled with pride when your grandchildren referred to you as a hero or a member of “the greatest generation.” But can you imagine them looking at you and calling you a “loser” or “sucker,” as the former president has done toward veterans? The devastation would be unbearable.
If you saw the rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, which featured vulgarities and racial slurs, did you think to yourself, “Yes, that is the man I want my children and grandchildren to emulate”?
Throughout our history, we have elected candidates of questionable character; however, we have never elected a convicted felon to the presidency. If you haven’t voted yet, I hope you ask yourself: Which candidate is most likely to call for a repeat of the turmoil we saw on Jan. 6?
Better yet, as you vote, picture the faces of your children and grandchildren and ask yourself: Is this the role model I want for them?
— Arlene R. Jarzab, Hinsdale
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