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Letters: Trump's folly in criticizing slain soldier's parents

ISSUE | CAMPAIGN 2016 A fool's errand to blast hero's kin Donald Trump's response to the stirring Democratic National Convention speech by Khizr Khan - a Pakistani immigrant whose son, a U.S. Army captain, was killed in Iraq - once again demonstrated the Republican presidential nominee's ignorance ("Trump: He is criticized over soldier's dad," Sunday).

Khizr Khan holds a copy of the Constitution of the United States with his wife Ghazala Khan during the final day of the DNC at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia on Thursday, July 28, 2016.
Khizr Khan holds a copy of the Constitution of the United States with his wife Ghazala Khan during the final day of the DNC at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia on Thursday, July 28, 2016.Read moreMICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer / File

ISSUE | CAMPAIGN 2016

A fool's errand to blast hero's kin

Donald Trump's response to the stirring Democratic National Convention speech by Khizr Khan - a Pakistani immigrant whose son, a U.S. Army captain, was killed in Iraq - once again demonstrated the Republican presidential nominee's ignorance ("Trump: He is criticized over soldier's dad," Sunday).

Khan pointed out that Trump has "sacrificed nothing and no one." Trump responded by saying he has made a lot of sacrifices by working "very, very hard" and creating "tens of thousands of jobs."

Sacrifice means losing or surrendering something. Khan's son surrendered his life for others. Trump worked hard to make lots of money, but he did not lose or surrender anything. Becoming rich is not a sacrifice.

Trump is compelled to respond immediately to anyone criticizing him. Once again, he has made a fool of himself.

|Bernard A. Mason, Philadelphia

Trump's default is bully mode

I am amazed at Donald Trump's continual success in exposing himself as the loudmouthed bully that he is.

In response to the speech of a Muslim father who lost his Army captain son in the service of our country, Trump, rather than expressing his sympathy for the family's loss, chose to attack. On Saturday, he wondered who had written Khizr Khan's speech at the Democratic National Convention and why his wife, Ghazala, did not speak - trying to bring attention to the fact that she is a Muslim woman.

On Friday, Trump called retired Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, who endorsed Hillary Clinton at the convention, a "failed general. He was the general fighting ISIS. I would say he hasn't done so well, right?"

I find it hard to believe that Trump is the Republican candidate for president - shame on him.

|Ken Davis, Elkins Park, ken@thetaxdog.com

A matter of security

Pakistani immigrant Khizr Khan's address at the Democratic National Convention was poignant and sincere. Who would not be moved by his remembrance of his son, Army Capt. Humayun Khan, 27, who died on June 8, 2004, after telling his men to take cover and trying to stop a suicide bomber? With his wife at his side, Khan said their son "never would have been in America" if it had been up to Donald Trump.

As touching as Khan's words were, it has been 36 years since the Khan family arrived from Pakistan. Since then, American and Pakistani terrorists have unleashed attacks on the American public in the name of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Pakistan hosts camps that train terrorists who strike around the world, including the United States.

Would Khan and his wife be admitted to the United States today? Probably, because they would provide reliable credentials. Unfortunately, some refugees from terrorist nations lack reliable credentials and could pose a danger to U.S. citizens.

We need to be concerned about protecting our families, homes, and country from terrorists, who have shown they mean to do as much harm as possible to the United States in the name of Islamic jihad.

|Barbara K. Clement, Berwyn

Quitting GOP because of Trump

I am horrified at what came out of Donald Trump's mouth regarding the Russians and hacking Hillary Clinton's emails ("Trump urges Russia to find emails," Thursday).

I have been a Republican for more than 40 years, but I have just printed the form to change parties. I don't want to be even remotely connected with this Republican candidate. The party has let us down by nominating such a brash, inexperienced, self-serving candidate.

As for Trump's explanation that he was being "sarcastic," sarcasm is the lowest form of humor, and I am not laughing.

|Therese Garbett, Cinnaminson

Breaking another gender barrier

When my daughter opened the paper and showed my 5-year-old granddaughter that a woman might be president of the United States ("Clinton's call: A nation united," Friday), my granddaughter's response was priceless. "OK," she said, "but there is a boy in my class who said that girls can't be Ninja Turtles, but that's not true. Yes, they can."

Thank you, Hillary.

|Barbara Golden, Philadelphia