In his Feb. 19 Thursday Opinion column, “The 2020 ‘stolen election’ obsession,” George F. Will referred to “Donald Trump’s belief in widespread fraud in the casting and counting of 2020 ballots.” Will credits Trump with sincerely — if deludedly — believing he won the 2020 election.
Nonsense. In light of the thousands of lies Trump has told over the years, shouldn’t we start with the presumption that Trump’s baseless “stolen election” claim is simply a conscious lie?
Will sees the seizure of 2020 ballots in Georgia as the FBI placating Trump’s delusion. It is just as plausible to see it as a dry run for a future Trump effort to steal an election by impounding ballot boxes.
Calling Trump delusional risks underestimating the danger he poses.
Mitchell Zimmerman, Palo Alto, California
When is a president — or any person, for that matter — morally justified in airing grievances?
Philosophers have wrestled with this question for centuries. Aristotle did not condemn anger outright. In fact, he argued that resentment can be virtuous — but only when directed at the right target, for the right reason, in the right measure and for the right duration. Excess, misdirection or persistence beyond proportion reveals not strength but imbalance.
Immanuel Kant was less sympathetic. Habitual grievance, for Kant, suggests a failure of moral self-command. Friedrich Nietzsche went further, warning that chronic complaint can become “ressentiment” — a posture in which individuals derive a sense of superiority from perceived victimhood rather than pursuing constructive action.
In a democracy, grievance is often necessary. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” was not whining. It was a moral indictment aimed at awakening the conscience of a nation. Abraham Lincoln confronted the nation’s profound injustices while urging “malice toward none” and “charity for all.” In the aftermath of the Challenger disaster, Ronald Reagan addressed a nation in shock: “We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.” He emphasized shared sorrow rather than blame.
These figures did not deny tragedy or wrongdoing. But they modeled a language of moral steadiness — acknowledging suffering and responsibility while calling Americans toward reconciliation, dignity and common purpose. When grievance becomes a governing style rather than an occasional response to genuine wrong, it risks deepening division and weakening the very institutions it claims to defend.
Kenneth Zagacki, Raleigh, North Carolina
Richard Cherwitz, Camas, Washington
Kenneth Zagacki and Richard Cherwitz are professors of communication at North Carolina State University and the University of Texas in Austin, respectively.
Turn off, tune out, drop in
Regarding the Feb. 22 letters package “Here’s how to help Gen Z conquer its fear of talking”:
I’m a Gen X parent of two kids, ages 8 and 12, and smartphones are an ever-present topic of conversation in our household. Due to their negative impacts on children’s mental health, physical health, social-emotional skills, cognitive abilities and academic performance, I long ago decided to never give my kids a smartphone. More recently, however, I’ve reflected on my own use of smartphones and how much my own skills have eroded: ability to stand at a Metro station and just think, ability to talk to strangers, ability to navigate by my own sense of direction. Because of that, I deleted all social media accounts, started turning off my devices at night, leaving my phone in my backpack and not in my pocket when commuting, and purposely not using the GPS during my daily driving. It’s been incredibly empowering to regain the skills I’d lost, reduce my dependence on devices and model this for my children.
Betsy Tao, Rockville
Getting people off their phones starts with redesigning default habits, not relying on willpower. I use a simple RESET framework that shifts attention back to real conversations.
Reward real life: I intentionally build offline hobbies and social rituals that feel more rewarding than scrolling.
Ease down digital use: I add friction and boundaries — keeping my phone in another room, using a grayscale color palette and defining clear no-phone zones.
Switch off defaults: Notifications are off and autoplay is disabled, so apps don’t decide when I pay attention.
Engage with intention: When I unlock my phone, it opens to a notes or to-do app, forcing me to act consciously rather than drift.
Team accountability: I exchange weekly screen-time screenshots with friends and family — not for shame, but as a light, fun, competitive check-in that keeps us honest.
When phones stop hijacking attention by default, conversations reemerge naturally. The goal isn’t abstinence; it’s intention.
Rijul Arora, New Delhi
As a literature professor, I am fortunate to teach on a college campus that borders a retirement community and is only a short walk from a home for men transitioning out of incarceration. My most rewarding teaching takes place in these settings, where my undergrads learn with and from neighbors whose life experiences differ significantly from theirs. One of my most memorable post-covid experiences has been witnessing the transformation of an especially anxious student as she ventured out of virtual learning into our community classroom.
Such opportunities have helped my students not only engage our texts but also develop intergenerational relational skills, confidence, empathy and civic identity. I feel privileged to accompany them.
Marti Eads, Harrisonburg, Virginia
As a history professor in the 1970s, I told my students to talk about the subjects we were studying because only then would they truly have a command of the material.
William Dudley, Easton, Maryland
Since December 2018 and through the pandemic, my church has offered a dinner-and-dialogue group on the first Tuesday of each month. It is supported by “seasoned adults” — we call them the Kitchen Crew — and is open to any interested young adult. In addition to a hearty meal, we have a discussion prompt that typically leads to meaningful conversation. The intergenerational nature of the group is mutually beneficial.
We certainly see deficits in people’s ability to initiate and sustain conversations. Though they may be more notable among younger adults, those losses are also found among middle-aged and older adults. Over time, we have seen beautiful growth in conversation skills and a deepening interest in the common good. Some of our most reluctant folks are now engaged in regular community service and a much broader social network.
Elizabeth Hardin, Charlotte
Is a passerby reacting to the weather? Share the experience with them. “Pretty wet today! Take care.” Camaraderie makes both of you feel more comfortable.
Are they struggling to get through a doorway with bundles, kids or a hot drink? Hold the door and encourage or praise their effort.
Ask for directions or help when needed. Even an aloof fashionista with earbuds will open up and be helpful.
Ask to pet a dog. Ask the dog’s breed, how old the dog is and how much it weighs.
Hear music? Dance. See a caterpillar? Share the joy with a passerby.
Pam Michaud, Iowa City
Volunteer with a 12-step program. At age 82, I have six sponsees. That will get you talking!
Marian McDonald, Sebastopol, California
Following Neal Katyal’s Feb. 25 op-ed, “Tariffs were illegal. Now Trump wants to delay refunds.,” Post Opinions wants to know: If you run a business, what opportunities did your company lose because capital was redirected to tariffs? Send us your response, and it might be published as a letter to the editor. wapo.st/tariff_costs
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