Thank you for the op-ed by Eboo Patel in Saturday’s edition (“U. of C. religious scholar showed how pluralism is the way”). It is my wish that all Americans and in fact everyone worldwide would “risk hospitality” with one another. For each of our beliefs to thrive and be widely embraced by others, our words and deeds must be ones that attract others. Expressions of love and kindness and demonstrations of expertise and accomplishment are among the many positive attributes that attract others. Embracing differences in experience, background and opinions and recognizing the value that those differences bring to the table are key to building harmonious and successful enterprises and countries.
Will the many people of the Middle East learn to accept and respect those of other religions and ethnicities and learn to collaborate and leverage their many strengths in my lifetime? Maybe not, but what can we do to encourage that outcome? It won’t be with the barrel of a gun. When will Russia accept that the greatest impediments to releasing the enormous potential of its country are not embracing freedom, encouraging the ingenuity of its people to thrive and building partnerships with the rest of the world rather than threatening its neighbors?
Unfortunately, in the United States, our leadership believes that differing points of view should be silenced, that journalists with differing opinions should be fired. There are some in this country who feel the beliefs of their religion should govern all 340 million of us. That is not true. Freedom of speech, expression, association, the press and religion and many more freedoms are the bedrock of this country. The strength of this country lies within our 340 million individuals.
Democracy is messy. The 340 million individuals across this country all have varying opinions. We are not always going to feel that our voice is being heard. What we can do is work toward a society in which everyone believes that the American Dream can be reached.
We need the most successful educational system in the world to help everyone reach their potential and have an opportunity to exceed their expectations. We need to work efficiently and within our budgetary constraints reducing costs through a rational, thoughtful approach.
We need to embrace and leverage the incredible strength within the vast diversity of our country and risk hospitality in our daily lives.
— Boyd Black, Skokie
Democrats’ struggle
Regarding the March 9 front-page article “Frustrations expressed to Democratic lawmakers,” indeed, frustrations were mentioned, but all are tertiary items, none of which will assure victory in the future.
Regarding their 2024 election loss, the Democrats complained they did not get their message out. Nonsense. They had more money than ever to get their message out. Perhaps they didn’t have a message, or more likely they did not have a strategy.
Donald Trump won in 2016 on the words “build the wall,” “drain the swamp” and “Make America great again.” Trump is again pursuing those issues. The Democrats’ 2016 slogan was “Stronger together.” That was not sufficiently compelling to deliver supporters to the voting booth and victory in battleground states. Joe Biden won in 2020 because of the horrors of Trump’s first term. Kamala Harris was faced with a very weak position when Biden waited too long to withdraw in 2024. The Democrats also waited much too long to read the tea leaves and deal with immigration issues. Then they mumbled about the bipartisan legislation nixed by Trump, which was not a powerful campaign slogan.
Democrats need to develop a strategy and tactics to win. When they do win, they must react more quickly, with Elon Musk-like urgency. The failure to convict Trump on charges related to Jan. 6, Georgia election interference and confidential presidential documents was abhorrent. Develop a strategy and stop obsessing about drag queen bingo being canceled.
Furthermore, Democrats should stop asking for money. I get daily requests by phone, text and junk mail. Show me you can win, and then maybe we’ll talk about money.
— Ed Lawlor, Chicago
Postal Service losses
I find it curious that in his op-ed on March 10, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi ignores the fact that the United States Postal Service has lost billions of dollars year after year (“Trump’s plan to privatize Postal Service should be stamped ‘return to sender’”). His discussing the elimination of this yearly loss, and how it would be accomplished if the USPS were not privatized, would bolster his position immensely.
— Alan Hracek, Miramar, Florida
USPS incompetence
I think it is a pity that President Donald Trump wishes to privatize the Postal Service.
However, the lack of reliable postal delivery in my ZIP code should be examined. Many letters addressed to me correctly have been returned to sender as addressee unknown. I can’t speak to other ZIP codes, but 60660 is problematic.
Returned mail has included payment checks. I’ve actually had to argue with firms to get new payments issued. So, while I hate to see the USPS go away, perhaps this is a good thing.
— David Williams, Chicago
House of the people
Heidi Stevens’ column “Access not a trophy for favorite reporters” (March 9) was a rather interesting piece on who can be present and ask questions of the current administration. It got me thinking, as all good articles do. Does the president own the White House and thus can decide who can ask questions? Isn’t the president a guest in the White House?
There is an educational museum in Washington called The People’s House: A White House Experience. So since I have a vested interest in this “People’s House,” I vote that The Associated Press should have access to the same White House functions as all other representatives of news organizations.
— Sandra Taeuber, Burbank
Editorial board’s failure
Regarding “Trump’s executive orders are nothing new. Neither are the court challenges” (March 9): While this editorial is accurate, it is also a blatant attempt to try to normalize President Donald Trump’s administration. There is nothing normal about the executive actions being executed by Trump. They are aimed purely at destroying the lives of people from the LGBTQ community to education to the health of those most in need, including our veterans.
The Tribune’s mission is “to deliver the truth every day.” It is failing in this mission when the editorial board writes editorials to normalize a man trying to destroy the Constitution and become America’s first dictator. Actions include closing consulates, threatening universities over their curriculum, cutting aid to veterans, allowing a noncitizen and his entourage to view the personal and confidential information of all U.S. citizens, destroying our alliances built over years, turning our back on Ukraine and insulting a true leader such as Volodymyr Zelenskyy, not to mention issuing lie after lie after lie.
It is demoralizing to realize that the editorial board of a paper I once trusted is using its power to spread information of a biased, misleading nature.
Letters to the editor remain one of the more honest sections, as the opinion team allows all viewpoints to be shown.
— Charlotte O’Donnell, Mount Prospect
Boycott of Target
Target is one of my favorite places to shop, but I am participating in the boycott during the season of Lent. Over the years, I have had a fun and fulfilling sense of community while shopping at our local Target. The well-trained, friendly, competent and diverse staff members are neighbors. One young woman in particular, born with a developmental disability, for years has aptly worked at the cash register. It was a joy to observe the line of customers at her register was always longer, despite staff trying to direct people to shorter lines. People opted to stay in her line just to see her.
Target seems to have turned off its shining light that promoted such good when abandoning diversity, equity and inclusion.
— Mary Voiland, Naperville
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