To the editor:
What the hell is wrong with America?
No one can’t argue that the current administration has been very chaotic. A country run on executive orders, many
which are likely unconstitutional, cannot stand. The Constitution has very clear separations of powers, Executive,
Legislative and Judicial. Clearly the Legislative Branch has abdicated much of their duties so far.
I remember a line from one of my favorite movies, American President. At a press conference President Shepherd
was questioned about his membership in the ACLU. He responded in part "You want free speech? Let's see you
acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of
his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. Show me that, defend that, celebrate
that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and be free."
The deportation of someone to a foreign prison in El Salvador with NO NOTIFICATION, CHARGES OR especially
NO DUE PROCESS is a direct assault on our Constitution and rule of law. No matter what you think or feel about
alleged criminals or undocumented people in our nation, they are people. You can and should be outraged with
the actions of this administration. There are so many things coming at us in the last 90 days, some I can agree
with. But to ignore our founding principles, our laws, our humanity leads us to a place no one wants to be. The
cruelty underlying these policies has led to a bubble of fear and anger that I fear will soon boil over.
Last Sunday we celebrated Easter. A time of hope and renewal in the Christian faith. It is ironic or maybe prophetic
that it is also the 100th day of this administration. Can we all attempt to come together with a spirit of possibility?
This is America. We are Americans. We have always lived with more things we agreed on than those that divided
us. Can we get back to that? Is it possible? I sure hope so, as the alternative is worsening chaos and disruption.
Mary Nehring
Hastings