This week, we've got another Letter to the Editor but with a more American twist.
Background: Donald Trump is a millionaire/businessman currently in the running to become the Republican candidate for the US Presidential Election which will take place in November 2016. The American electoral system involves a series of pre-election votes (known as primaries or caucuses) that are held in each state in order to narrow down the candidates. Essentially, citizens nominate which candidate from the two major parties they wish to represent their party prior to the official election where the two candidates go head to head. Thus far, Trump has won a majority of these primaries and caucuses leading many to assume he will be the official Republican front-runner. He has also become infamous on a global stage for his incendiary remarks and no-nonsense rhetoric regarding world issues.
The following was published in an American newspaper following Trump's victories in multiple states.
Trouble with Trump
Similar to many citizens, I dislike contemporary political campaigns. But this year one candidate has dragged the debates through a gutter.
The world about us is already burning with terrorists, mass murders, drug abuse, groups that lie in wait to invade other nations, entertainment that promotes anger, hatred, destruction of society, including dialogues with such limited language that one wonders how it could be considered a story.
Candidates were always educated and appeared to research issues impacting domestic and foreign events, and an unspoken respect for each other was evident. Donald Trump has degraded the campaign and I pray the public will wake up and ignore him.
Don't vote for him.
Instead of discussing political situations, laws, finance and domestic/foreign situations that impact our daily lives, he only offers ridicule and insults. He has yet to discuss current events, and at this time has only convinced me he seeks the office of POTUS* to satisfy his narcissistic personality. All elections are important, we need a president prepared to meet the challenges ahead, and not waste precious time with adolescent pettiness.
- Eileen Corrigan-Smith, North Carolina
*Note: POTUS = President of the United States
Pieces welcome below! There's quite a bit of good language to unpack in this letter, and I might stop by later in the week to point out a few of those opportunities.
Happy writing!