Opinion | Trump’s Shadow Over the Republican Debate

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To the Editor:

Re “What I Noticed on That G.O.P. Debate Stage Was Full and Utter Ethical Cowardice” (Opinion, nytimes.com, Aug. 24):

Frank Bruni is on track concerning these candidates who raised their fingers in help of a Donald Trump candidacy, even when he’s convicted. It was astonishing to see individuals prepared to indicate fealty to a convicted felon who refused to signal a pledge to help them in the event that they have been nominated.

Sadly, those self same candidates have a sensible understanding of the management cult that’s as we speak’s Republican Occasion. Donald Trump is a superb admirer of the vindictive Vladimir Putin, who calls for unconditional, one-way loyalty. Who amongst them would need to be metaphorically blown out of an airplane in the course of the major season?

Stephen Sander
Pennsbury Township, Pa.

To the Editor:

Re “Ramaswamy Seizes Highlight as DeSantis Hangs Again: 7 Debate Takeaways” (nytimes.com, Aug. 24):

Vivek Ramaswamy’s efficiency on the first G.O.P. presidential debate confirmed that he discovered a lesson from the success of Donald Trump in capturing the Republican Occasion nomination in 2016: The extra outrageous you’re, the extra consideration you’re going to get. The cheers from the viewers demonstrated that.

John A. Viteritti
Laurel, N.Y.

To the Editor:

Re “Trump, Throughout Tucker Carlson Interview, Belittles Republican Rivals” (nytimes.com, Aug. 24):

Throughout his interview with Mr. Carlson, Donald Trump repeated his view of the Jan. 6 Capitol rioters.

“Folks in that crowd mentioned it was probably the most lovely day they’ve ever skilled. There was love in that crowd. There was love and unity,” he mentioned of his supporters. “I’ve by no means seen such spirit and such ardour and such love.”

Mr. Trump was clearly watching a unique riot than we have been all watching. If his perceptions of Jan. 6 are that distorted and delusional, what can we count on from a second Trump time period as president?

Mike Barrett
Ashburn, Va.

To the Editor:

Re “We Preserve Getting Madonna Flawed,” by Mary Gabriel (Opinion visitor essay, Aug. 17):

The issue with Madonna is that she made a profession by promoting her sexuality, and that’s not so outstanding. Her true skills have been advertising and exposing her physique, not musical proficiency.

Her lack of artistic and emotional authenticity is why she will by no means be in the identical league as different feminine musical artists equivalent to Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Lucinda Williams, Billie Vacation and Aretha Franklin. She was, at finest, a passing social phenomenon on the cusp of dance tendencies.

Madonna’s complaints of sexism and ageism miss the mark, too. We might scoff on the sight of former male teen idols donning horny garments of their smooth center age. Joni and Lucinda and Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney, for that matter, stay lovely and related at any age due to their musical legacy, not cosmetic surgery and pores and skin publicity.

And they’re nonetheless producing significant music.

Christopher Wanjek
Baltimore

To the Editor:

I’d like to notice one different occasion of Madonna’s willingness to combat in opposition to bigotry. In 2009, Madonna toured the world with a bunch of Roma musicians, with tour stops that included nations the place anti-Roma racism nonetheless runs rampant.

As head of the European Roma Rights Middle on the time, I reached out to her via her publicist and thru one in every of her band members and inspired her to talk out on behalf of Roma, the biggest and most oppressed minority in Europe. I received no response and thought it a wasted effort.

Then in August, at a live performance in Romania in entrance of 60,000 individuals, she spoke out in opposition to anti-Roma discrimination. A small gesture, and never one more likely to promote tickets. Certainly she was roundly booed on the live performance for her remarks.

Nonetheless we will solely hope that, within the phrases of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, “the arc of the ethical universe is lengthy, nevertheless it bends towards justice.”

Rob Kushen
South Orange, N.J.

To the Editor:

Re “We Already Know What Works on the Border,” by Andrea R. Flores (Opinion visitor essay, Aug. 12):

Ms. Flores is right that the humanitarian parole packages for individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela symbolize a vibrant spot in President Biden’s immigration coverage portfolio. These packages are of crucial consequence on the border, the place many people have witnessed the devastating penalties of punitive deterrence insurance policies.

However this vibrant spot extends into the inside of the U.S. as properly. This week we’re representing seven U.S. residents in court docket to defend their freedom to sponsor these searching for to enter the U.S. via this program, which the state of Texas is making an attempt to dam.

Our purchasers span the political spectrum; they’re Black, white and Latino, with various causes for sponsoring their world neighbors. They’re united by one factor: They acknowledge that communities have as a lot — or extra — to realize by welcoming newcomers because the newcomers themselves.

Monika Langarica
Esther Sung
Ms. Langarica is a senior employees lawyer with the Middle for Immigration Legislation and Coverage on the U.C.L.A. Faculty of Legislation and Ms. Sung is authorized director of the Justice Motion Middle.

To the Editor:

Re “New York Metropolis Shelters Are Overwhelmed by Flood of Animals” (information article, Aug. 13):

Thanks for the heart-rending descriptions of a few of the pleasant souls in jeopardy on the New York shelter system’s current “emergency placement” checklist. In Texas, the place I’m now, issues are not any higher. The shelters are bursting.

As an animal-rights activist, I hope to see all sentient beings handled with compassion and respect. I understand that if society can’t handle that kindness even towards the species we supposedly care about most, then there’s not a lot hope — however this paper’s willingness to concentrate on the problem offered at the least a bit.

Maybe your protection will wake individuals up and persuade them to undertake moderately than store for his or her subsequent furry member of the family.

Karen Daybreak
Austin
The author is the manager director of DawnWatch, an animal advocacy nonprofit.