To the Editor:
Re “It’s Not the Hypocrisy. It’s the Stupidity,” by Hillary Clinton (Opinion guest essay, March 30):
Mrs. Clinton’s dismay at the Trump administration’s panoply of “dumb” actions is justified and understandable. But this raises the uncomfortable question of whether there is an underlying purpose.
These are not random acts of stupidity. They are linked by an apparent intent to destroy the fundamental institutions and values that have defined us as exceptional. America’s greatness stems from the strength of our moral, cultural and economic leadership, which these dumb activities systematically undermine.
It’s not clear whose interests are being served here, but it’s certainly not America’s. This is simply deplorable.
Steven J. Scheinman
Skaneateles, N.Y.
To the Editor:
I read Hillary Clinton’s essay, and to me it encompasses our current predicament.
To preface my argument, let me say that I baked a Hillary Clinton logo cake on Election Day in 2016, which ended with me and every politically active Democratic woman I know crying ourselves to sleep. I supported Hillary. As a child of the ’80s, I’ve looked up to her almost my entire life.
But this essay is a disappointment. While it echoes feelings many of us have, it proposes no concrete solutions, offers no action steps. It is a microcosm of the Democratic response across the board to the atrocities of this administration.
Statements of anger are not enough, especially not from those who have so much influence. There are so many of us out here desperate for leadership, begging for direction and wanting to help stop some of these horrors from happening.
But what can any of us do? Every day we see law firms, judges and universities all cower and give in to these power grabs. And a prominent member of the opposing party simply offers, as the online headline of her essay put it, “How Much Dumber Will This Get?”
The answer is probably a lot. But it shouldn’t have to. We just need a leader who can help us organize and put all that anger into action.
Paige Cram
Burbank, Calif.
To the Editor:
I write this with much admiration for Hillary Clinton, who did a professional job representing U.S. interests abroad as secretary of state. However, given the unfortunate circumstances of her “deplorables” comment during the 2016 election campaign, the repeated use of the term “dumb” in her Opinion piece reduces the impact of her thoughtful article.
In these times of high polarization and class sensitivity, some more descriptive adjectives could have been used with greater effect.
Peter Holewinski
Healdsburg, Calif.
Autism Is Not a Disease
To the Editor:
Re “Sorry, Kennedy, There Is No Autism Mystery,” by Holden Thorp (Opinion guest essay, March 27):
The Autism Society of America stands in solidarity with the author’s powerful message regarding the damaging nature of autism misinformation.
The Trump administration’s recent “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, which frames autism within the context of chronic disease, is misleading and harmful. Autism is not a disease, but a neurodevelopmental disability that requires greater acceptance, research and support.
National disability groups are aligned: Funding should not be wasted revisiting disproved vaccine theories. It should be invested in research that can improve long-term outcomes and clarify the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to autism.
It is important to recognize that the rise in autism prevalence is largely because of advances in screening, diagnostic criteria and awareness — not conspiracy theories.
Christopher Banks
Rockville, Md.
The writer is the president and chief executive of the Autism Society of America.
A Trail of Destruction
To the Editor:
For nearly 250 years, America had been the shining city on a hill. It took Donald Trump only a short time to snuff it out, destroying everything Americans had worked, lived and died for so that the light could shine even brighter for future generations.
And to think a loud minority of Americans invited this destruction to happen, all because they were promised that undocumented immigrants would be sent back and cheaper eggs would be on their tables.
Mr. Trump has now been crowned as the one to rule them all. I miss the light already.
Bob Bascelli
Seaford N.Y.
