Letters to the Editor | March 20, 2025
Inquirer readers on Donald Trump disobeying the courts, anti-DEI efforts, and growing uncertainty.
Ignoring the courts
President Donald Trump is intentionally ignoring court orders and is making a mockery of the rule of law. His recent deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members is but one example. His use of a wartime authority for immigration enforcement is both unprecedented and unlawful. This behavior cannot be allowed to continue if we care about our democracy. The president should be held in contempt, and the U.S. Supreme Court should be prepared to affirm such a finding. His blatant disregard for the law and continuing overreach of power should result in impeachment, conviction, and removal from office. No one is above the law, including Trump or anyone in his administration. He is putting our democracy in danger, and we should not remain silent.
Anne B. Zehner, West Chester
Heroes targeted
Regarding the removal of names of our military heroes because of some irrational backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. We have a despicable president — who never provided military service — deciding that nurses, people of color, and Navajo code talkers should have their names removed from publicly available government websites. I suggest that all the spineless Republicans who refuse to oppose this should have their names removed during the next election cycle. Vote them out.
John Boyce, Audubon
. . .
As someone who has an extended family member buried at Arlington National Cemetery, I question President Donald Trump’s obstruction of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Yes, in the past I did hear Trump’s remarks stating one America for all. And, as an African American myself, I somewhat agree with that statement. However, in America’s past, minorities endured such discrimination that it prompted the start of DEI. Even in the military. At one time in American history, minorities were not permitted to engage in combat.
Wayne E. Williams, Camden
Real uncertainty
I have attended several protest rallies at City Hall recently, and invariably I meet an older person who says, “This is not how I envisioned spending my retirement.” There are Americans out there who love what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing, but everyone I meet is frightened and feels their lives and the country are out of control. Older people fear possible cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Philadelphians with family members who have lost their jobs with the federal government are in a daze about their lives being turned upside down so quickly. Government workers struggle to do anything productive because of disruption to their agencies and fear their jobs will be next. Even Trump-appointed officials must look over their shoulder to make sure they have gone far enough to please him.
Trying to relax and enjoy life has become a challenge amid the backdrop of uncertainty and the atmosphere of threats, intimidation, conspiracy theories, and craziness created by the president. The days when government services were taken for granted, even if not perfect, seem like ancient history now. Keeping up on the news is a civic duty, but it’s hard to do so without bringing on anxiety and depression. Trump says disruption will be temporary, and everything will be great eventually. Most people I meet at rallies simply want a return to normalcy and an America they can be proud of.
Mary Black, Erdenheim, molog1117@msn.com
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