Unite and fight for the republic
To the Editor:
Acknowledging the fact that, yes, all Americans have a right to have and express an opinion, and that the press has a prerogative to print those (as well as its own) opinions, I feel compelled to take exception to The Smoky Mountain News providing an admitted participant of Jan. 6 (a man tried, convicted, sentenced and then wrongly pardoned by the very person who incited the riot) a platform from which to proliferate the blatant untruth that the 2020 election was stolen (“Jan.6 participant speaks,” SMN April 2).
Recognizing also, that Donald Trump is again our President, with ultimate immunity gifted him by a partisan Supreme Court, billionaires now pulling the strings in his administration and a Republican-controlled Congress too terrified to stand up to them.
On his first day in office, Trump granted about 1,500 pardons to rioters, whom he considers “patriots.” Trump, a convicted felon himself, with power to pardon other convicted felons, is engulfed in so many scandals, if he was held accountable for them, he would likely face life in prison.
I served 20 years active duty with the United States Navy plus 10 years (subject to recall) in the Inactive Fleet Reserve, under eight presidents (Republican and Democrat). Seven were former Army or Naval officers and the eighth a former five-star general of the Army and Supreme Commander of our Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during WWII (Dwight David Eisenhower).
These were not perfect men and none ever claimed to be perfect. Neither did any one of them entertain the thought of inciting an angry mob to attack his own Capitol, kill and maim police officers guarding it and the U.S. Congress, or hang his own Vice President, in a futile attempt to overturn a free and fair election, or prevent the peaceful transfer of power.
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The glue that held each president (one to the other) was loyalty, honor and duty to our nation (never to one political party or to themselves), but deference to the Constitution, respect for the rule of law, and due regard to their sacred oath.
This “moral conscience of the great” (William D'Avenant) is a concept unknown to this president and beyond the comprehension or concern of the GOP.
It is my conviction that we, as a nation, can no longer remain silent or ignore the truth. We must, united as one people, draw a line in the sand over which we cannot cross. Otherwise we risk losing our Republic.
This president's only interest is surrounding himself with people loyal specifically to him, yes-men who will disregard the rule of law, ignore the Constitution, and violate their oaths to affirm their loyalty to Trump alone.
That is why we (all Americans) need to stand up for the common values granted us by the “Greatest Generation,” at extreme sacrifice, or else they'll be taken from us.
Speaking the truth comes with a risk, but I believe this country and democracy are worth fighting for. The free press should lead the charge.
David L. Snell
Franklin
