Letters: Trump's speech dwells on fear; at least he'll try to fix nation

ISSUE | CAMPAIGN 2016

Trump dwells on fears, not fixes

Donald Trump's unconventional acceptance speech sounded more like an address tailored for a boisterous professional-wrestling crowd - an invocation to the gods of fear ("Trump: 'Safety will be restored,' " Friday).

In trying to capitalize on voters' psychoses, which have propelled his unprecedented success, Trump - with zero experience in public office - left no room to assure Republicans and Americans that his strategy of isolationism, authoritarianism, and self-righteousness - reinforced by bigotry and divisiveness - is a winning potion.

The speech was vagueness and pugnacity, absent specifics to address America's problems. What's next?

|Atul M. Karnik, Woodside, N.Y.

Never was scared before

I went to bed after Donald Trump's acceptance speech totally depressed. I had not known I should be scared, terrified, and living in fear.

I have been enjoying a suburban life, taking my grandkids on walks around the neighborhood, going on hikes myself, my garage door sometimes open all day. Smiles are exchanged with people on the street. I joke and laugh with those I encounter during the day. Not one day of my life have I felt scared for myself or my children.

God forbid I do that anymore. I will lock my doors, keep a baseball bat near me - I refuse to buy a gun - and keep my home alarm on all the time.

Thanks, Donald, for telling me how I should live.

|Sunita Gupta, Voorhees

President should inspire us

As an avid student of politics, I have seen my share of convention speeches, and even when I disagreed with the candidate, the speech was usually upbeat and positive. Not so with Donald Trump - that was a very dark speech that played to many Americans' fears, which is very sad. It appealed to the worst of us instead of the best.

I expect those who seek the highest office in the land to strive for better.

|Steven M. Clayton, Ocean, N.J., Sclayton24@gmail.com

Hardly the road to safety

Once again, the Republican nominee is trying to convince us of how much danger we are in and that only he can save us from certain death. Last time this happened, we got George W. Bush and his two wars. Talk about safety.

|David Plasket, Willow Grove

Trump will try to get things done

Daniel Pipes' commentary missed the point ("With Trump as nominee, it's time to quit the GOP," Friday). Americans have already quit the GOP; that's why Donald Trump won the nomination. They may be Republicans in name, but by voting for Trump, they have shown they no longer care for the "business as usual" approach of their party.

The GOP has spent nearly eight years obstructing everything President Obama tried to do while doing nothing itself. People know Trump can never do all he claims, but he'll try. That's all most of us want - someone who tries. Bernie Sanders tried to do the same thing with the Democrats, but he was too radical.

The political establishment, both Republican and Democratic, from local to national, has created the mess we see everywhere. So I'm not shocked by Trump's emergence - just surprised it took so long.

|Joe Jaworowski, Wyndmoor

A candidate of chaos, not unity

Donald Trump and his staff were unable to present a cohesive, organized convention. How could they run a country? The convention resembled a three-ring circus Wednesday, when former opponent Ted Cruz was imploring Americans to vote their conscience while Trump was upstaging him.

Trump does not understand that running a party or a country is not like running a business. A business leader has absolute authority. A political leader must respond to numerous constituencies and power bases to bring them together for a common goal. He has not done that in the Republican Party, and it is doubtful he will be able to do that for America.

Trump is an expert in creating chaos. His presidency would divide America and create divisions with our allies. More than ever, we need a president who will try to unify us.

|Earl Choldin, Philadelphia, echoldin@hotmail.com