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‘Christian nationalism’a contradiction in terms
I find recent professions of Christian nationalism very troubling. Christianity and nationalism are fundamentally at odds, making “Christian nationalism” a contradiction. Christianity is a faith that calls for love, humility and care for all people, regardless of nationality. It transcends borders and emphasizes unity, compassion and justice.
Nationalism, by contrast, prioritizes loyalty to a particular nation, often at the expense of others. It can foster division, exclusion and a sense of superiority. While patriotism — a love for one’s country — can be positive, nationalism distorts Christian values when it merges faith with political identity.
When Christianity is tied to nationalism, it risks becoming a tool for power rather than a force for good. It undermines the core message of love and service, replacing it with exclusion and self-interest. Faith should unite, not divide, and no nation has a divine claim to superiority.
Matt RodeSan Jose
Dismantling of federalgovernment underway
In 2017 Steve Bannon, strategic political advisor to President Trump, said that their goal was “the destruction of the administrative state,” aka our federal government.
Well, it’s happening.
We are in the middle of a coup of our federal government.
First, Trump is appointing Cabinet directors that are unfamiliar with, or adversarial to, the mission of those agencies, crippling many of them.
Second, he is destroying the civil service, the system that ensures that all federal employees are loyal to the Constitution, not an individual.
Finally, he has eliminated the inspectors general of these Cabinet agencies. Their job is to ensure that the agencies follow the law and are politically neutral.
The resulting chaos in these agencies will paralyze them, and all power will fall to Trump, who already controls Congress, the Supreme Court and many major “news” agencies.
Buckle up.
Don EgglestonAptos
Trump’s plan may beto hollow out economy
Re: “Trump imposes steep tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China” (Page A4, Feb. 2).
I do not understand the reasoning that President Trump is using to implement an additional 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% from China.
But, in an obvious handout to benefit his big oil buddies, the additional tariff on oil from Canada will be “only” 10%. Yippee.
The only reason I can come up with for creating havoc for the U.S. economy is that Trump wants to crash the economy and thus permit his billionaire buddies to have the ability to buy assets at rock-bottom prices at the bottom of the crashed economy. No other reason makes sense.
As for lowering grocery and gasoline prices, ordinary Americans, forget it.
The only consoling feature is that the crashed economy will negatively affect MAGA voters just as much as it will affect ordinary Americans.
Larry DorshkindRedwood City
Stifling free speechmakes nobody safer
Re: “Trump executive order takes swing at campus antisemitism” (Page A3, Feb. 1).
I am disappointed in the article you published from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
As an American Jew, I am well aware that the pro-Palestine protests were always well-attended and supported by other Jews like myself. The article only provides a single, anti-Palestine, Jewish voice that does not at all reflect the current reality in the Jewish community.
Most Jews are more aligned with the viewpoints expressed in the article that show concern for curtailing students’ civil liberties and rights to free speech. Authoritarian crackdowns on those rights do not make anyone safe; history has proven that multiple times.
Deborah AppleSan Francisco
What will it take towake up the public?
Isn’t it a telling thing that every time Donald Trump brags about any perceived accomplishments, he has to also immediately denigrate previous administrations for not doing anything, though many of them did?
The American public elected a man who embellishes, exaggerates and out and out lies daily. It’s absolutely frightening to anticipate what kind of lie he’s going to have to tell to finally have the public wake up and wise up.
Lynda MartinezSan Jose
Trump’s policies aremaking America unsafe
If it wasn’t so frightening, it would be a great SNL skit. Donald Trump is condemning DEI hires because supposedly they are not competent to do their jobs while he is nominating ridiculously unqualified Cabinet members such as Pete Hegseth, Department of Defense, Kash Patel for head of the FBI, Tulsi Gabbard for director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services.
He is also purging organizations like the FBI. This is at a time when domestic terrorism threats are high and Trump has just unleashed 1,500 criminals on our streets.
Sharon JacksonSan Jose