Valley News Forum for Sept. 10, 2023: What’s the racist bone connected to?
Published: 09-11-2023 3:59 PM |
In a recent story in the Valley News (“Trump pulls from familiar racist script,” Page B3, Aug. 23), Donald Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung was quoted as saying, Trump “doesn’t have a racist bone in his body.” This led me to wonder what is the ‘racist bone?’ Is the racist bone something people are born with? Can people have it removed? Did Donald Trump have his racist bone removed? There is definitely evidence of Donald Trump acting in racist ways. For example, as a landlord back in the ’70s, Trump was sued by the government for violating the Fair Housing Act of 1968. For years he and his father refused to rent apartments to African Americans. The Trumps were forced to sign a consent decree. Perhaps that is when Donald had his racist bone removed.
But more recently, in kicking off his first presidential campaign back in 2015, Donald said, “They’re rapists,” when referring to Mexicans coming to the U.S. Many people thought this generalization of Mexican people was racist. Many other people didn’t think so, and as Trump might say, there were “some very fine people” in that group. Regardless, Trump got elected with or without his racist bone intact.
I generally think of racism as something that comes from someone’s mind, or more specifically, the workings of their brain. When he says, “Trump doesn’t have a racist bone in his body” is Mr. Cheung actually referring to Donald Trump’s brain? Perhaps we should examine the messaging of the Trump campaign more closely. In light of all his recent indictments, are they laying the groundwork for a defense of mental defect by suggesting the former president is bone-headed? Considering the power and success that Donald Trump has enjoyed, it’s hard to imagine such a defense could work.
It’s true, though, that everyone does stupid things from time to time, even rich and powerful people. However, you might say being racist is a more calcified level of ignorance than just being bone-headed. Either way, Donald Trump’s racist bone is something worth watching out for, lest he hit you or one of your friends with it.
James Graham
Lyme
After reading the article on the challenges of providing disposable diapers through a diaper bank (“Donated diapers in short supply following Vermont diaper bank closure,” Sept. 1), many factors point to a timely reconsideration of returning to cloth diapers, for at least some of the time. I was struck by the expense, the logistics, and the need to support families. Cloth diapers could help!
Even more than 40 years ago when I was changing my babies, it was remarked upon that I “still used cloth diapers!” (Disposable diapers were used for travel or day care.) Once you’ve got the routine down, using cloth is not a big deal. You will not run out, not have the expense or the trash. One does need a washing machine of course.
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Perhaps it is time to plan and invest in a cloth diaper bank. I would contribute to such an endeavor. In addition to new diapers, parents can pass on cloth diapers when their children have grown. This could be a whole new trend that makes so much sense especially for financial cost and cost to the environment.
Best wishes to parents, their babies, and those that help them in many ways.
Diane Kemble
Springfield, Vt.
Such an apt person to portray in your Labor Day story, “Older adults in Upper Valley keep working for money and purpose.” Evelyn Adams is an amazing human being. For six years, while living in Wilder, I cherished every interaction with her at the Co-op. Because of her (and other co-workers of hers), I continue to shop at the Co-ops in the Upper Valley. Administrative bean counters, take note.
Two years after moving to Hanover, I stopped in to the WRJ Co-op to pick up a few items and sought out Evelyn’s register so that I could say, “Hi.” I was astounded when she asked if I was still using my same member number, and then proceeded to recite the number from memory.
Lorraine J. Harriman
Hanover
Sadly, I just had to replace four nearly new tires due to a second large construction nail found in one of my tires. The first nail was removed and tire able to be patched, but the same tire with another nail lodged in it a few weeks later could not be saved. Please, if there is construction going on, it would be most appreciated if the roadways were cleared of nails or screws that a tire might pick up. I am sure I am not the only one to experience this unexpected expense.
Megan Culp
White River Junction