To the Editor:
Re “5 Takeaways From Trump’s Address on Iran” (news article, nytimes.com, April 1):
President Trump claims to be winding down his ineptly executed, unpopular war, but his rambling speech to the nation on Wednesday, which included nothing new, and the pace of combat, clearly indicate otherwise. The Iranian regime, after all, is still in place.
In the space of a few weeks, the war Mr. Trump started has not seemed to impede Iran’s nuclear efforts — the leading stated motivation for the conflict — and has instead resulted in the destruction of a substantial amount of Middle East energy facilities and production, upending the global economy. All this is sure to make life far more difficult for the American consumer, whose approval of the president — already at record lows — is sinking fast.
And most egregiously, Mr. Trump has now abandoned our allies, leaving them with the daunting task of opening and managing the Strait of Hormuz — to release the oil they depend on, which had flowed freely before the president began his needless destruction in the region.
Mr. Trump launched his war with great sacrifice by Americans, driven by personal ego, misplaced optimism and unrealistic expectations. His incompetence, coupled with Iranian resilience, has led to far-reaching and dangerous consequences that will not soon or easily be reversed even if, as he maintains, the fighting ends within weeks.
Roger Hirschberg South Burlington, Vt.
To the Editor:
I watched President Trump’s speech on Iran and had a reaction I did not expect. I got a lump in my throat and felt like sobbing. Why? Because he humiliated me as an American with his arrogant boasting of our invincibility as a military power.
I was embarrassed at his bombast and bragging about our ability to destroy. He relished in our capability to decimate. He did not use the words of a president who understands the responsibility of a world power. His speech was one of might and threats.
He does not represent the values of the America that I know. Our country is led by a crude and ignorant power-pleasured strongman. I feel disenfranchised as an American. I don’t feel a part of our country anymore. I’m sad. My country has left me.
William Goldman Los Angeles
To the Editor:
I was eager to hear President Trump’s speech on Wednesday night, and I wasn’t disappointed. He let us know that his “excursion” in Iran would soon be concluded.
Over the course of the war, he’s provided a series of estimates on how long our brave men and women would be carrying out his plan: In early March it was “four weeks or less” or “four to five weeks.” Since then, he’s said the war would continue “for a little while,” “a couple of weeks” and “a few weeks.”
Asked on a Fox News broadcast in mid-March when the war would be over, he said: “When I feel it. I gotta feel it in my bones.” In Wednesday’s speech, the mission was “nearing completion,” and he promised to hit Iran hard over the next “two or three weeks” to finish the job. Finally, we have some definition.
It reminded me of my high school concession stand, where we’d gather during breaks between classes for a snack. There was a sign, prominently displayed, that always got my attention: “Free Ice Cream. Tomorrow.”
Geoff Bates South Bristol, Maine
To the Editor:
When President Trump addressed the nation about his war with Iran, he was so sure that his carpet-bombing of the truth would be supported and amplified by Congress and the press that he didn’t even bother to put energy into his mendacity. He was lackluster, half-asleep and visibly bored — all tells that he is in the midst of a marathon of lies.
Scott Jones Valley Village, Calif.
Calling All Teens: Are you a teenager with something to say? The New York Times’s Learning Network invites you to write a public-facing letter about an issue that matters to you. The Open Letters Contest runs until April 8.
Asian Americans at Risk if Birthright Is Overturned
To the Editor:
Re “Overturning of Birth Rule Would Affect Many Asians” (news article, April 2):
The research is clear: President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order, if upheld, would disproportionately deprive Asian Americans of citizenship. Under the executive order, children born to undocumented immigrants and to people on temporary visas, including large numbers of students and people on employment visas from countries such as India, China and the Philippines, would not be U.S. citizens.
Asian Americans are among the fastest growing racial groups in the United States, and approximately two-thirds of Asian Americans were born outside the United States.
As a racial justice organization, we’ve long advocated immigration reforms that prioritize family unity and pathways to citizenship. Our country is stronger when we have a system that allows all immigrant communities to thrive. We will accept nothing less.
Marita Etcubañez Martin Kim Washington The writers are, respectively, the vice president for immigrant and racial justice and the director for immigration advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC.
Civic Education for the 250th
To the Editor:
Re “U.S. Anniversary Plans Emphasize Religion” (Arts, March 21):
America’s 250th anniversary is not just a historical milestone; it also constitutes a momentum builder for civic education. This once-in-a-generation moment offers a powerful opportunity for students to explore the meaning of their American identity and understand our nation’s founders.
The federal administration understands that faith also provides an important window into understanding America’s founding generation. While not all the founders were religious people, faith deeply informed their outlook and aspirations about what they hoped to achieve in this new country, what George Washington called “the great experiment.”
In addition, the Hebrew Bible, one of the most read and quoted books in the 18th and 19th centuries, was part of the cultural conversation and occupied an honored place on contemporary bookshelves next to Hobbes, Locke and Montesquieu.
If we use this moment to deepen civic education, embrace our highest values and foster a renewed sense of shared responsibility, we can help ensure that the next 250 years will be shaped by informed and engaged citizens prepared to sustain and strengthen our democracy.
(Rabbi) Charles E. Savenor New York The writer is the executive director of Civic Spirit, which works with faith-based schools nationwide to enhance civic knowledge and engagement.
A Veteran’s View
To the Editor:
I am thankful to be living safely in a Texas veterans home, where a wheelchair takes me around to visit other veterans, a few from World War II and groups from the Korean and Vietnam Wars. We are proud of our service to our country.
Yet I remain concerned for the future of my five dear granddaughters, whose lives remain uncertain because of an enemy from within, which our veterans pledged to resist.
We swore to defend against enemies both foreign and domestic. The inept and often cruel White House is ignoring our laws and willfully destroying our democracy.
We did not serve and suffer for an autocracy that values only cash and gold. I know that things change, but I don’t want my grandchildren to grow up in a devastated land ruled by selfish men.
Semper Fi — always faithful to our Constitution and the rule of law.
Bruce W. Rider Floresville, Texas The writer is a retired Air Force captain and a Vietnam veteran.
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