Trump library land gift is a waste
Florida officials recently voted for a $67 million free land giveaway for Donald Trump, a convicted felon, to build his presidential library in downtown Miami adjacent to the historic Freedom Tower. You’ve got to be kidding, “Flori-duh.” Don’t you Tallahassee elected officials think? Really, an imposing high-rise library that can be seen for miles will affect tourism and the value of real-estate properties in Miami. The majority of Americans who have an unsavory view of Trump may not visit Florida. But I imagine the Miami library location is a logical choice for Trump supporters, since New York City would definitely not want the library built in the “Big Apple.”
David Myles Miami
Bad Bunny critics are xenophobic
Once again, the U.S. displays a level of ignorance and xenophobia. No sooner was Bad Bunny announced as the Super Bowl halftime entertainment, the internet was awash in outrage, mostly from the usual right-wing bloviators, decrying the announcement, sometimes calling the choice “un-American,” despite Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio being of Puerto Rican descent, a U.S. citizen.
Editorial: No halftime haters: Bad Bunny is a great pick for Super Bowl show
Latinos make up nearly 20% of Americans and represent over $4 trillion in economic impact. Of course, the right will immediately point to the number of “illegals,” without really taking into consideration what their additional economic impact represents.
I applaud the NFL’s move, especially at a time of heightened sensitivity, despite the way they botched the Colin Kaepernick situation. Yes, it is a business decision, and one that some Americans will have to get used to, lest they continue to portray themselves as the kind of people they claim not to be. The Super Bowl has had “crossover” acts like Shakira, Jennifer Lopez and Gloria Estefan. Bad Bunny is a global superstar, performing only in Spanish. Those who claim they will use the halftime to refresh their nachos and chips and guacamole, while downing a cold Corona, well, the irony …
Alex Jimenez Winter Park
Demanding generals’ loyalty
What happened in Quantico, Va., on Sept. 30 (“Trump calls for using US cities as ‘training ground’ for armed forces”) is an unprecedented breach of U.S. laws governing the role of the military. The loyalty and obedience President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth requested of military leaders that day is clearly incompatible with their oath to the Constitution. The president seems to believe he needs military’s absolute obedience in carrying out his project of destroying American democracy, and in my view, he seems to be following the example of the Third Reich Wehrmacht, blindly following orders of the Fuhrer. But unlike in today’s America, even the Nazi Wehrmacht (not the SS) was not allowed any role in domestic law enforcement. Do we need any more proof of how far our country has already drifted towards totalitarian future?
Peter Kovarik Sanford
We have created a monster
How much stage makeup was parading on stage as Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth addressed our military leadership, who largely sat silently listening to this forced rally? No amount of “concealer” can hide the fact that this PR stunt reveals the Frankenstein monsters we have created. Yes, we own this. It’s a hard look in the mirror for all of us. Checks and balances? Congress, are you listening?
CJ Williams Winter Park
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