Letters to the editor | Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019: Jesus, Trump and impeachment
Kindness during Christmas
I read today that when Jesus was born, he and his family were first sort of homeless. Then they became refugees. They had to leave their home and live in Egypt for some time, or Jesus might have been killed. I didn’t read about any wall, or any detention camp where Jesus would be separated from his parents.
Today, in Turlock and Modesto, we have refugees, many of whom can use help and a friendly welcome. In this season in which even people who are not necessarily Christian celebrate the love that appeared on earth with the arrival of Jesus, we might pause to appreciate the value of all human beings. This includes people who are so desperate that they find a way to get across the walls we build.
We may not be able to accept them all, but the least we can do is to treat each other with respect, and maybe a little warmth.
Randy Huth, Turlock
The meaning of Christmas
Jesus is not the reason for the season. Jesus is the season!
Stephen Reddy, Modesto
A perspective on impeachment
I was 11 years old when my mother made me sit and watch President Nixon resign the presidency. That event was a “where were you” moment for me. I remember how disgusted I was when President Ford pardoned Nixon. I didn’t buy the explanation Ford gave. He essentially said presidents are special, and should receive a pass for criminal behavior. And, “to put this behind us.”
President Obama famously said about possible crimes of the Bush administration: “We don’t look back. We look forward.”
Each generation of president has gone just a bit farther. A little more criminal. Each one was given excuses why it’s all right for this one to do whatever they did. At some point, this behavior has to stop. We must hold our elected leaders accountable.
The science fiction writer Isaac Asimov made some startling predictions in 1964 about 50 years in the future. I certainly don’t claim his level of intellect. However, I have a prediction: If we don’t hold our elected leaders accountable, in 50 years we won’t be talking about impeachment. Because we won’t have a presidency.
Gary W. Kinard, Gustine
It’s about what he did
I am perplexed by people suggesting that impeaching President Trump is an attempt to remove a duly elected president, a coup or undoing the will of the people. The Founding Fathers included presidential impeachment in the Constitution because they wanted to ensure that the president was not above the law and there was a process to bring charges against a duly elected president.
Only two presidents, Johnson and Clinton, have been impeached, and one president, Nixon, resigned to avoid impeachment. Each one of these won by a much greater percent of electoral votes than President Trump (Johnson was the VP candidate). In fact, Richard Nixon won by one of the greatest landslides in our history. Additionally, unlike President Trump, each of them won the popular vote. But, these facts don’t matter because impeachment is about actions taken by the president while in office and by definition, impeachment brings charges against a duly elected president.
It is completely understandable that there are many people on both sides of impeaching President Trump, but please make your arguments based upon his actions and not ridiculous sound bites such as “it is an attempt to remove a duly elected president.”
Warren G. Council, Escalon
This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 10:46 AM with the headline "Letters to the editor | Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019: Jesus, Trump and impeachment."