What about other terrorists?
If Donald Trump wants to temporarily ban all Muslims from coming to the U.S. because of the San Bernardino, California, shooting, what does he propose to do with the young white Christian men who have accounted for many of the other mass shootings in the U.S. so far in 2015?
Patricia Schroth
Sedgwick
Trump right on restricting Muslim immigrants
In 1952, the Democratic-controlled Congress passed a law, over President Harry S. Truman’s veto, that would allow the “suspension to entry or imposition of restrictions by the President. Whenever the President finds that the entry of any alien of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the U.S., that the President may by proclamation, and such period of time as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens or immigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he deems necessary.”
Trump is right on, and if he became president, he would use this law to protect the lives of Americans. The protection of U.S. citizens is a president’s first job. Anyone can see that the recent mass murder of innocent citizens here in the U.S. was the result of one class of aliens — Muslim.
Yet President Barack Obama ignores this fact and, following his political agenda, blames the lack of gun laws. His politics are and have put all Americans in danger. We are not safe as long as he is in office. Allowing our enemies into the U.S. is detrimental to our interests.
It is interesting that the media, the Democrats and even some Republicans seem not to even know this important law exists. Just listen to them spew their ignorance at Trump. The law needs to be used.
Howard Cutler
Dixmont
Protect our environment
President Barack Obama was correct to cite Martin Luther King Jr. in his comments last week in reference to global climate change: There is such a thing as being too late. Leaders from more than 180 nations came together for the Paris climate talks. There is now global consensus that we are in the midst of a global climate crisis, and that comprehensive reform is imperative to stave off increasingly severe natural disasters. Yet, Congress voted to use the Congressional Review Act to prevent the implementation of the Clean Power Plan despite the fact the U.S. is a major carbon emitter. Obama has pledged to veto the resolution.
The Clean Power Plan sets the first-ever federal limits on carbon pollution from power plants and encourages investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The plan also will provide Americans with concrete health benefits by preventing thousands of asthma attacks and premature deaths. Sitting at the end of the tailpipe of coal-burning states to the west, Maine has one of the highest asthma rates in the county. It is disappointing that Congress passed the resolution because it shows a lack of commitment to do our part in the fight against climate change.
Thankfully, our Maine delegation wisely voted against the resolution and defended the Clean Power Plan. I want to thank Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King for their leadership on this issue, and I hope our leadership continues to do the right thing on the hill and in Paris to protect our clean air and water for future generations.
Emily Eschner
Portland
Trump is ignorant
When I was in college I finally learned about how we treated Japanese-Americans during World War II. This is an awful chapter in our history, and it is astounding that Donald Trump is touting that as a model for how Americans should behave now. Particularly since the Japanese-Americans who fought and died in Italy were the most decorated troops in the history of our country.
There is a monument in Washington, D.C., that is worth visiting devoted to the World War II experience of Japanese-Americans. To my mind, Trump is not only a bigot, but ignorant.
Jim Owen
Belfast