Trump’s divisive attacks

Potential lost

Regarding “Trump ups attacks on 4 Dems as furor rises” (Front page, July 16): The great irony of Donald Trump’s rant telling the four women to go back to their own country is that this is their own country. Three were born in the United States, and the other is a naturalized citizen. U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s ancestors were likely here longer than Trump’s, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s are from Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the U.S.

The cry, “Go back to you own country” is definitely a racist slur. It is all too reminiscent from when I grew up in aracist city in southeast Texas. I heard it over and over throughout my school years.

It is wrong and everyone, not just Democrats, should be condemning it. To make matters worse Trump later said the women were pro-terrorist. That is apreposterous claim that has no basis in fact.

The pity of Trump is that he had the potential to be a great leader but threw it all away with a message of hate, intolerance, bigotry, lies and deception in order to build himself up. It has backfired. Trump will go down in history as one of our worst presidents.

Robert L. Fischer,

Houston

Houston’s climate challenge

Regarding “Teens to Houston: Face climate change” (Outlook, July 17): The teenage authors are spot on. Climate change is the most critical issue facing our city, as well as our nation and the world, I must add. It’s time that our leaders do the necessary research, plan and take urgently needed action.

The states of California and Washington appear to lead in finding ways to combat global warming. As an example, in the city of Palmdale — a major aerospace center north of Los Angeles — carports with solar panels installed on all roofs were erected more than 10 years ago at all public schools. The solar power generated provides not only 100 percent of the power required by the schools but also additional power that is sold to the local grid. The project has been a huge success, with the revenue generated used to retire the bonds needed to finance the project.

This is just one example of the many creative ways Houston can begin to combat climate change. The question is: Are our political, business and community leaders up to the challenges that we must face now?

Ray Lawrence,

Houston

Misplaced priorities

Regarding “House condemns Trump’s remarks” (Front page, July 17): With many urgent issues facing our country and a congressional vacation looming in two weeks, the House of Representatives used an entire day to debate, then pass, a resolution condemning the president of the United States for perceived racial discrimination.

Arguably, the most critical issue facing Congress now is reforming our immigration and asylum laws, given the growing crisis at our southern border. How in the name of logic can the Democrat-controlled House ignore that and waste even one precious day, as it did on Tuesday?

Robert L. Gabler,

Kingwood

Race not a factor

If you simply tell someone to love our country or leave it, how in the world can that be called racism? If you do, you must be a radical liberal anti-Trumper. No matter how much you dislike the comment, it is not remotely racism.

But true to their nature, Democrats automatically resort to calling opponents a racist, and they completely demean the true nature of real racism.

Johnnie Rutledge,

Brenham