Below you will find a letter that was written in March of 2019. By that time my fears that President Trump had neither the intelligence nor temperament to be president were fully validated to me. I did not send the letter at that time not because I did not believe the sentiment expressed, but because I did not want to believe it.
Despite his obvious shortcomings I had the futile hope that his remarks were the hollow rantings of a bully. I did not want to believe that a president of the United States was serious in threatening those who disagreed with him. I was tragically wrong and feel some responsibility for my silence.
A line has been crossed
President Trump must be removed from office. Disagreements about policy are understandable and desirable. That is not the issue. The president recently warned that he controls the police, the military and has the loyalty of “Bikers for Trump.” He further said that if things get out of control it could “get very bad, very bad.” It is clear to me that he is inciting violence against people who disagree with him and his policies. That is a step along the path utilized by Hitler when the SA stormed the meetings of rivals and assaulted opponents.
Thomas Paine wrote in 1776, “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country...” That crisis has returned.
It is not about partisan politics. It is about the freedom to disagree without the threat of violence.