Letters to the editor | Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019: Christmas, Trump, impeachment, Harder

Showing gratitude warms hearts

At this time of gift giving, and considering the simplicity of exchanging gifts Amazon has brought into our lives, it is easier now than ever to give a gift without ever seeing the recipient. The giver is notified that the package was delivered, but no notice is received that testifies that the gift was opened.

Back in the day, a phone call, or hand-written note sent in the mail, was how we gave notice of opening the gift. It was called saying thank you.

Today it is easier than ever to notify a gift giver that their gift was received, opened and appreciated — email, text, Facetime, etc. I encourage the adults in families to remember how much happiness a thank you gives back to the giver.

Parents, grandparents, siblings one and all, always appreciate a thank you. Maybe adults can agree to bring back this little bit of nostalgia and ensure our children say, “Thanks.” It’s a gift that warms a person’s heart and is appreciated and remembered long after the decorations are put away.

Trying to pick a fight?

While attending the “No One is Above the Law” rally at Briggsmore and McHenry the other night, it occurred to me that rather than left vs. right, it has become lawful vs. lawless. The in-your-face attitude exhibited by the president every day has permeated the ranks of his sycophantic base and was on full display at the rally. While impeachment supporters were on three corners, a small group of Trumpsters from the fourth corner decided to march, with their capes and bedsheet-size flags, through the other three corners, sparking a minor but totally unnecessary confrontation.

Mr. Trump would have been very proud.

Showing love and respect

I had the honor of participating in this year’s Modesto Pride. It was the first time in 13 years that the Catholic Church participated. In general, it was a very positive experience except the 100-degree temperature.

I had the opportunity to talk to several gay Catholics who left the church because they didn’t feel welcome. I am very happy that Bishop Myron Cotta is very interested in reaching out to LGBT Catholics. His message is very simple: “The Church is here to welcome you, and to call you to the fullness and holiness of life in Christ Jesus.”

Some people were concerned that my participation might cause scandal. But why should we ever be concerned about scandal for doing the right thing? Jesus scandalized the “righteous” for being loving and compassionate. He ended up on the cross for causing scandal but thanks to that scandal we were saved.

We should be scandalized for covering sexual abuse of minors, for not speaking up for the poor, for making money our priority, for clericalism. The list could go on. This Christmas can we really say that we’ve welcomed Jesus if we are not able to welcome one another?

Keep the spirit of Christmas

Record numbers this year at Modesto’s own Spirit of Giving 5K run. Thanks to all for your kindness to my wife and me, your DJs. Thank you to the sponsors, volunteers and all who attended this amazing holiday run. Because of your support, many of our local friends in need will get some help from the charity you provided.

This holiday season I’d like to invite you to keep that spirit running. Please remember the clergy in all faiths, all our Christmas delivery drivers, the elderly, our homeless pets and our children’s teachers. These teachers most likely spend as much time with your kids educating and caring for them as you do. Even the smallest holiday well wish to any of these folks above can be extremely meaningful in their lives. From our family to yours, merry Christmas and happy new year.

God only knows Jesus’ return

According to purported experts and their believers, the world is going to be destroyed within the next 10 or 12 years, depending on which one you ask. Amazingly, these people have the ability to foresee the future. What a wonderful Christmas present.

As a practicing Christian I totally believe the Bible’s teaching that the earth will be destroyed. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus that the Bible teaches. Every event leading to and around his birth came true. As such I think I’ll put my trust in the word of God over a bunch of experts, especially when the world won’t end until Jesus comes again and the time of his return is unknown to everyone save God himself. I think the experts need to have another look in their crystal ball.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

What a waste of time

Two articles of impeachment, namely abuse of power and (obstruction) of Congress, have been filed against President Trump. Democrats have lurched from charge to charge over the past three years, none of which stood any reasonable scrutiny. These latest amorphous, ill-defined charges are the best that Pelosi and her cabal could generate. They, too, will not stand the meekest smell test, and if submitted to the Senate, will easily be shot down.

The ultimate objective of this latest move is to negate the will of the people, 63 million of whom voted Trump into office. The process of impeachment was never intended to dismiss a president merely because you do not like him. If that is the new criterion, every president in the future could be subject to impeachment by a rebellious, partisan House of Representatives, making the president — a co-equal branch of government — subordinate to the House of Representatives.

Why overlook his faults?

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that letters in support of President Trump occasionally appear in The Bee. One recent letter writer explained that he thought Trump was the best president this country has had for decades without any supporting evidence for this statement.

To Trump supporters I would ask, “Is it OK that Trump was court-ordered to repay the $2 million he stole from his own charity to use for his own benefit? Is it OK that over 20 women have accused Trump of sexual assault and at least two have been paid hush money? Is it OK that by changing the rules on who is eligible for food stamps, over 700,000 Americans, including veterans, will now be food insecure or hungry? Is it OK that Trump has made the United States a laughingstock in the international community? Is it OK that Trump lies on a daily basis? Is it OK that Trump makes fun of the disabled? Is it OK that Trump is a misogynist, a racist and a homophobe?”

If you are OK with all these things, what kind of person does that make you?

Keeping local priorities straight

(To Rep. Josh Harder), I see you have disregarded my request and the Heritage Foundation’s objective common-sense advice not to vote for HR 3, 5038 and 5331. But the cherry on top of your cupcake was your votes for the two articles of impeachment for President Trump.

Your actions have led me to the understanding that you are more attuned to the ideology of the Democratic Party in their quest for power at any price then you are interested in helping to provide for the economy and safety of Stanislaus County. Any future marginal improvements that the party allows you to vote for will be viewed from this prospective for the remainder of your tenure.

Comparing presidential qualities

Is Trump the best president we ever had? Not even close. We can’t put Trump in the same class as Kennedy, Johnson, Reagan, Carter, Clinton and Obama. I am in my 70s and these prior presidents were honest, compassionate and worked for our country. You will notice I didn’t mention Nixon. He was dishonest and a liar, as Trump is.

Sure, job growth is good. Our economy is doing well. I believe these positive numbers are the result of good Americans and companies that are producing, not because of Trump.

Now, one thing I can’t understand is why Rudy spent a week in Ukraine as Trump’s personal lawyer. Rudy doesn’t work for the State Department, so why was he in Ukraine?

We shall see what 2020 brings. Hopefully not four more years of dictatorship.

Dire prediction for House Dems

A letter from Josh Harder states, “I believe we have to have a non-partisan, fair investigation into this matter.” This investigation is neither non-partisan nor fair. If he and his fellows in Congress proceed to impeach the president, he and Nancy Pelosi will rue the day President Trump is re-elected, and Harder will be out of office.

This story was originally published December 27, 2019 at 11:42 AM with the headline "Letters to the editor | Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019: Christmas, Trump, impeachment, Harder."