Trump repeating Nazi talking points

“Nobody has any idea where these people are coming from, and we know they come from prisons. We know they come from mental institutions and insane asylums. We know they’re terrorists. ... It’s poisoning the blood of our country ...” Lies, fear and hatred, as told to a right-leaning website The National Pulse, from the master of unaccountability.

Here, the toxic words are topped off by imagery plagiarized from fascists who promoted eugenics, racial superiority and “blood purity.” A spokesman suggested the former president’s use of “poisoning of blood” is “a normal phrase that is used in everyday life. For anyone to think that is racist or xenophobic is living in an alternate reality consumed with nonsensical outrage.” Such “gas-lighting” and excuses for overtly racist, fascist tropes made by the leader of the Republican Party is as shameful and dangerous as the imagery. Today, within an ocean of subterfuge, disinformation and resurgence of previously reviled ideas, white supremacists can feign being “outraged at the outrage,” as they object to being labeled as racist or Nazis. In a nation where young men buy assault rifles to slaughter Latinos at a Walmart in El Paso, Black shoppers in a store in Buffalo, or Jews praying in a synagogue in Pittsburgh, should this ever be a “normal phrase?” You may not wish to hear it, but words like “poisoning the blood of our country” is unmistakable Nazi symbolism.

Too many aggrieved Americans fail to recognize that relentless fear, hatred of the other and false narratives are means of manipulation. When the Republican front-runner references Nazi theory of “purity of blood,” enough is enough. A red tie should not be worn over a brown shirt.

Kenneth Dolkart

Grantham

Memoriam criticism is barking up the wrong tree

After reading Pat Halpin’s comments regarding the memoriam for Lucy K. it only strengthened an opinion I’ve had for years. That being, I would much rather be in the company of my dogs than some people! Dog owners go to great lengths to keep their pets happy and healthy and to us, they’re much more than “just a dog.” Many obituaries include beloved pets among those left behind. That shows the love that person had for their furry companion. Kudos to you for printing such a heartwarming tribute to Lucy. Ms Halpin was barking up the wrong tree this time!

Liz Bunten

Canaan

Paws up for pet obituaries

Until Feb. 20, 2023, I might have sided with the “shocked” Pat Halpin (“Pet obituary in poor taste,” Oct. 8) on the matter of the pet obituary. However, last February, I became the owner (in point of fact, he owns me) of a 12-year-old cat, Brady, both of whose “human” parents had recently died, and he needed a home. I have never really been a huge pet lover nor ever a cat owner, but this cat has improved my life dramatically and if he goes before I do, I will be bereft and would similarly want to honor my cat like William Koppenheffer and Ellen Gitomer did their beloved, Lucy K.

Why does Pat Halpin feel it denigrates or lessens a human being’s memory to have such an obit? Why is honoring a beloved pet of another person in any way disrespectful of the persons who are on the same page? Would placing it on the opposite side of the fold make a difference? The pet obituary was tasteful, heartfelt and for me totally appropriate to honor a dog I wish I’d had the good fortune to know.

Honoring one species does not take away from love felt for another. I suspect it also could bring in needed revenue (since it is paid content) to keep the Valley News the excellent community/regional newspaper it is. So if we are allowed to weigh in, I vote with Natalie Lounder of Canaan who was similarly moved as I was.

Barbara H. Jones

Grantham

The memorial to Lucy the dog that appeared in the Sept. 29 edition of the Valley News was a paid advertisement.

Stahler’s egregious cartoon

In a recent Sunday edition (Pen & Ink, Page C3, Oct. 1) The Valley News printed a cartoon by Jeff Stahler, purporting to illustrate Trump and Biden as equivalent grandstanders at the United Auto Workers’ contract strike. Yes, Biden and Trump both showed up in Michigan, supposedly in support of UAW strikers, but Biden was on the real picket line with the workers, whereas at Trump’s rally, the holders of picket signs were not actually auto workers or union members at all. Of all the news headlines reporting Trump’s bogus union support (The Guardian, Newsweek, The Atlantic, The Nation, and more) I think this little YouTube headline says it best: “Trump gives fake staged speech to imaginary union workers.” Stahler’s cartoon is the perfect example of the false-equivalence, lazy, “balanced” journalism that is so common now. And the Valley News magnified the falsity by printing the cartoon.

EmMar Richardson

Hartford

Cartoons by Stahler a fine choice

I am very glad the Valley News has made Jeff Stahler’s political cartoons a regular feature. His recognizable and now-familiar style is pleasant and clear, and his jabs are never mean, unlike those of two predecessors. All in all, an excellent choice by our paper.

Thank you, editors!

Michael Whitman

Lyme