As a Jew, I’m offended but not surprised: Readers sound off

As a Jew, I’m offended but not surprised

Letter to the editor:

At a news conference in the Oval Office Tuesday, President Donald Trump said Jewish Democratic voters show “either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.” Last week, Israel, encouraged by Trump, feuded with Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich..

As a loyal Jew, I am deeply offended but not surprised. I dare say I know far more about Judaism and Israel than our ignorant president.

Moreover, not all Jews agree with Israel’s policies; we understand that Trump is trying to divide us and weaponize religion — all for personal political gain.

Poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou correctly warned, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” As for my response to the president’s statement, any Republican who continues to support and vote for Trump should have no qualms about allowing their children to emulate his rhetoric.

Richard Cherwitz; Austin, Texas

What Trump meant to say is that anyone who doesn’t vote the way he wants is showing disloyalty to him.

— David Hoeltje

Given the past anti-Semitic comments from Omar and Tlaib and congressional Democrats’ overwhelming support of them, I think Trump is right.

— Jon Gilbert

‘God doesn’t care about dress’: We need the younger generation back in church

Letter to the editor:

In Stacia Datskovska’s column, “Churches could win back teens like me if they were more welcoming and less judgmental,” she called on churches to modernize.

In Datskovska’s column, the woman who approached her mom to scold her church outfit was completely out of bounds. I am 64, and I’ve been in church since my mom and dad took us. In the younger years, it may have been a struggle. As an adult, I look forward to Mass.

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Now, in my southern church, attire is a wide range of styles: Shorts, T-shirts, sweatpants and business casual are the norm. God doesn’t care about dress. He cares about community and love. My church, St. Matthew Catholic Church, was touted as the largest Catholic parish in America with over 35,000 parishioners. At St. Matthew, The Charlotte Observer reported in 2017 that faith formation class attendance is about 3,700 children, and that over 600 children are confirmed in one weekend.

We need this younger generation back at church. Church helps the mind and soul; it is energy boosting. The dress is open to your own thinking — the people just show up.

Mark A. Mazzone; Charlotte, N.C.

Jay-Z shouldn’t be given a break on NFL

Letter to the editor:

Rapper and business mogul Jay-Z partnered with the National Football League for entertainment advising and social justice advocacy.

Mike Jones’ column, “Jay-Z deserves the benefit of the doubt as he joins forces with the NFL,” says Jay-Z should be given a break for working with the NFL — but he shouldn’t. Jay-Z, a would-be warrior in the struggle, is co-opted by the dominant culture. And while his “we’ve moved past kneeling” statement is great verbal theater, we aren’t past doing all we can to support the good and to assist those who stand up for justice.

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It’s astonishing that Jones seeks to defend the indefensible. Colin Kaepernick, former NFL player and leader of the kneeling movement, makes the point that our system of justice disproportionately and unfairly targets people of color. It doesn’t matter what community one comes from if you support oppression. No one gets a pass. Jay-“Me” should be calling for a boycott of the league until Kaepernick is calling plays.

Alonzo C. Pruitt; Chicago, Ill.

Republicans, help ban assault rifles

Letter to the editor:

Anyone who doesn’t believe the Republican Party is controlled by the National Rifle Association must look at the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019. The bill makes it illegal to “knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer or possess a semi-automatic assault weapon or large capacity ammunition feeding device.” After recent mass shootings, one Republican, Rep. Pete King, N.Y., signed on.

The GOP is apparently taking its cue from President Donald Trump, who said there isn’t a “political appetite” for an assault weapons ban.

But according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll this month, 70% of voters want an assault-style weapons ban. The poll also found that 64% of GOP women support it. Trump and the GOP are in lock, stock and barrel with the NRA.

Walt Zlotow; Glen Ellyn, Ill.

This Republican will also vote Democrat

Letters to the editor:

I’ve been a Republican since the days of Barry Goldwater, but no more. Like Tom Nichols said in his column, “Why this Never Trump ex-Republican will vote for almost any 2020 Democratic nominee,” I’ll vote for any Democrat in the primary because Donald Trump is a danger.

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From what I have heard from our president, he is a demagogue and a compulsive liar with a monstrous inferiority complex. He must go. The Republican Party has accepted this to advance their own, nearly as dangerous, policies that will divide the nation.

Tom Hardy; Broomall, Penn.

Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of the Citizenship and Immigration Services, said Emma Lazarus’ sonnet on the Statue of Liberty referred mostly to immigrants “coming from Europe,” and he suggested changing the poem seemingly along financial lines. He is echoing Trump’s rhetoric. This shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Hopefully after November 2020, Trump will have lost the election. And instead of rewriting the poem on the Statue of Liberty, his administration will be focused on rewriting the statute of limitations. That would be his one final parting shot at an executive order, serving himself first, as always.

Norman L. Bender; Woodbridge, Conn.

Trump ruined my Party: Republican activist who ran for Congress: Trump stole my Party, and my heart is breaking.

I couldn’t agree more with Montel Williams’ column, “Trump has gone off a narcissistic cliff. Does anything matter anymore?” As a Never Trump conservative, I’m shocked to witness Republicans putting party before country. Trump has destroyed the conservative brand for years to come. The incompetence, corruption and demonizing he spreads is like a cancer.

Greg Wissinger; Simi Valley, Calif.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: As a Jew, I’m offended but not surprised: Readers sound off