The My View, “The words we use make a difference” (River Reporter, May 7-13), is a confused and confusing word salad. Instead of picking it apart, I will just quote from the Conclusion of Perspectives on Terrorism (Volume 14, Issue 5) in “Donald Trump: Aggressive Rhetoric and Political Violence”:

“Donald Trump’s hate speech and demonization of non-Whites, mainstream media, and oppositional politicians, and his implicit and explicit praise of violence resulted in many verbal and corporal attacks against members of the denigrated groups. School bullying increased, with many young bullies using Trumpian hateful terminology and/or referring to his discriminatory policies. Particularly in minority communities, there was heightened anxiety and fear. Just as important, Trump stirred fear, hate, and anger among his core supporters by warning them of dangerous “others” threatening “America as we know it” in terms of history, culture, values, and racial dominance. Whether by dog whistle or bullhorn, he spread online and off-line a divisive propaganda that in many respects resembled right-extremists’ ideology and glorification of violence... Trump became the first U.S. president who in public statements expressed sympathy and support for violent right-extremists and thereby pulled them into mainstream politics.”

If the author believes that “Not valuing the sanctity of an informed legal vote is not the American way,” then he surely must believe that Trump’s claims of a stolen election in 2020 are pure BS.

Norman Starr
Beach Lake, PA