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Trump’s carelessness put U.S. military in jeopardy, letter writer says
Classified or not, storage unsecured
If we accept former President Trump’s contention that all the documents he took to Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster were declassified, his actions should still frighten all Americans. Listed in the indictment are items that compromise national security and our men and women in uniform, and that endanger assets. Why would anybody, especially the commander in chief, declassify sensitive information like this? What purpose would it possibly serve?
Then when we learn how haphazardly and insecurely these documents were stored, it is enough to send shivers up the spine of any patriotic American. Someone with a standing order to declassify information that he moves without any thought or merit as to whether the items should be declassified does not deserve to ever serve as commander in chief of our proud men and women in uniform. Conviction or no conviction, this is a bridge too far.
Warren Council, Escalon
Witch hunt? More like Halloween
Since very few people believe in witches, the term “witch hunt” has little relevancy. But, then again, when one uses the term hundreds of times in defense of one’s actions it could be that there really is a witch, cleverly disguised as an orange pumpkin.
Jim Hoagland, Ripon
Heed Truman’s words
Harry Truman said, “Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.” We’ve reached that threshold or are damn close. If you are ignorant enough to endorse a two-tiered justice system being established right now, you will be sorry.
Richard Oliver, Modesto
To Congressman Tom McClintock
I strongly disagree with your recent June 9 tweet where you said, “Obvious double standards and glaring political agendas have clearly corrupted our justice system and are now turning it against our democracy. This is a hallmark of leftist regimes and it won’t end well.”
Indicting anyone, especially a former U.S. president, is a serious matter. However, the judicial process has been clearly laid out, and the indictment was returned by an impartial grand jury after a rigorous investigation into alleged misconduct. To say that this process demonstrates double standards and glaring political agendas that are a hallmark of leftist regimes is to discredit the entire judicial process and our democracy. Your statement is not true and could encourage extremists to commit domestic terrorism.
Please rethink your position and align yourself more closely with your moderate Republican colleagues. Many of your constituents disagree with this and other statements you have made and will work in the 2024 election to seat a new member of Congress whose views are not so extreme.
Anita Young, Modesto
Catholics should give grace to LGBTQ+
The California Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement condemning the Los Angeles Dodgers’ plans to honor a group of drag-queen nuns (Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence) who mock Catholicism. I’m glad the bishops issued the statement. It is also imperative they denounce bigotry and violence toward the LGBTQ+ community.
Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto held an ecumenical prayer vigil in response to the state Senate’s plan to honor them. I encourage the bishops to have a prayer vigil to denounce homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. This way, we will show that, as a church, we consistently repudiate hatred and bigotry and don’t have a double standard.
I have a friend who was thrown out of the confessional and was told he was going to hell because he was gay. It is profoundly hurtful for them when they are not welcome in their own church and when their leaders don’t speak up for them. It is essential for the Catholic church and other communities of faith to humbly acknowledge the pain they have inflicted on the LGBTQ+ community, for healing to take place. We must show LGBTQ+ people what the catechism clearly states: “respect, compassion, and sensitivity.”
Fr. Misael Avila, Riverbank
Offended by drag
How is drag any different from other insulting forms of cultural appropriation such as blackface or dressing as Native Americans or Muslims and mocking that culture or religion? Drag is an insult to women. When drag queens dress as Catholic nuns and engage in blasphemy and vulgar displays of sexuality, it is highly offensive to anyone with consistent moral values. But drag practitioners and supporters are anything but consistent in their moral outrage.
One day we will look back at drag as we look at blackface, and be equally ashamed that we ever allowed this mockery to take place in America.
Marian McNicol, Modesto
Stanislaus should be ashamed
Re: “Couple battles Stanislaus County’s eminent domain action” (Front page, June 9-10): I am ashamed of my county for using eminent domain to push out Victorina Bach and her elderly husband. Dr. Bach has done so much for our community. She was my doctor as a child as well as my children’s doctor. We are suppose to care for our elderly and not throw them out of their homes.
The money that is being offered is spit, and even if it was enough no amount of money is worth throwing elderly people off their property that they raised their children on and created memories.
Josephine Lambert, Modesto
Can we trust foreign meds?
Across America, I understand there is a shortage of certain cancer treatment drugs. The fact is that the pharmaceutical companies no longer find these medications profitable.
It has been announced by the FDA/government that they will be obtaining these drugs from China. We’re not on the best terms with China. Have we forgotten Dr. Fauci and Wuhan?
Arlene M. Avila, Turlock
