Letters: Danger in Trump as nationalist; Trump not elected to be a moralist

Nationalism not patriotism

Nationalism implies a cultural background, a principal language and a “national” heritage. So following that definition President Donald Trump defines himself as someone who believes in the unification of a nation based on cultural and linguistic equanimity. It is all about winning on those terms.

Patriotism is not just about standing and loudly singing the national anthem. It is about the love of nation and country based on values and beliefs all bound up in democratic principles. These principles imbedded in the Constitution have to be legitimate to all groups. Race, religion, ethnicity, gender and cultural heritage do not matter.

What does matter is that these differences and principles form the connective tissue that have a place in a patriot’s shared goals and love for the same nation.

Can Trump’s heralding of “I am a nationalist” be called patriotism? His actions as the leader of the free world define the national interest in autocratic terms: reject globalization, emphasize skepticism of international institutions and treaties, show complete admiration for foreign despots and incite tribalism towards immigrants.

I will defer the answer to a greater mind: Albert Einstein said, “Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.” Even under the guise of patriotism.

Morality not his job

Donald Trump was not elected to be a moralist for America. As president, he took a solemn oath to “faithfully execute” the nation’s laws, as passed by the Congress, including those on immigration. In protecting the southern border against illegal crossings, President Trump is doing exactly what he was sworn to do.

Museum trips illegal

In a recent column, scientist Dan Phelps objected to the use of public funds to take public school students to visit businesses promoting a narrow and controversial Christian view of Biblical and natural history.

Answers in Genesis has every right to build and promote museums promoting its ideas about creation, Noah’s Ark or anything else. But Phelps correctly points out that the use of public funds to take public school students to businesses that promote the organization’s form of Christianity is neither legal nor academically responsible.

I further object to AiG’s distortion of evangelism by its discovery of a means to monetize Christianity in the way that Ark Encounter and Creation Museum do. Public funds should not be used to support scientifically and academically irresponsible ideas such as young-earth creationism.

Prather’s take correct

Herald-Leader columnist Paul Prather didn’t demonstrate a “judgmental attitude,” as characterized by a letter writer, when he wrote about Brett Kavanaugh’s appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Prather, and other Americans, simply observed “Kavanaugh’s belligerent, evasive, self-pitying, weepy performance.”

Kavanaugh could have chosen another way to defend himself and his reputation from the harm he feels sexual assault allegations brought upon his family. I wonder how the country would have responded if he simply told the truth, quietly and humbly, even if that truth was that he had no recollection of such an encounter and he deeply regrets some of his teenage behavior. But regardless of how you feel about Kavanaugh as our newest Supreme Court justice, it’s precisely his demonstrated lack of restraint and lack of what some call “judicial temperament” — combined with his political partisanship and slipperiness with the truth — that to me disqualified him to serve on the Supreme Court.

Renewables smart move

Recently I noticed a Lexington office building with a roof full of solar panels. The building houses an investment firm. If investors are investing in solar, it’s probably a good idea. Companies want to rely on energy they generate from renewables in response to customer and employee requests, and to bolster their bottom lines. Renewables give them the ability to know what their bills are going to be in the coming years.

Bulleit Distilling uses solar energy to power forklifts. According to Shelby Energy Cooperative, “If there is excess power, it will be back on the grid. So far, there hasn’t been any excess.”

Big tech companies such as Google are beginning to move operation centers closer to sources of renewable power so that they can use and store it directly from the source. Renewables prove themselves to be a smart investment for our collective future.

McGrath flew the missions

There are those who accuse Amy McGrath of “stolen valor” because she used the phrase, “I flew.”

Any B-17, B-24, B-29 combat aircrew — gunner, radio operator, navigator, etc. — during WWII and Korea will say, “I flew 25 missions.” They will not say “I was a crew member of a plane that flew these missions.” The pilot flew the plane but every crew member flew the mission.