Letters: Violent rhetoric | Heated speech | What we sow | Moderate speech

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Nation must tone
down violent rhetoric

Re: “A bloodied Trump is safe after assassination attempt” (Page A1, July 14).

A tragic assassination attempt against a presidential candidate and the death and injury of fellow Americans are explainable but not justifiable.

Toxic rhetoric — lies, unfounded accusations, disrespect for candidates and their offices, threats directed at elected officials and their families, attacks on our democratic institutions — has been normalized. Tolerance of toxic speech by political leaders, party insiders, the media, ourselves — those who should be guardians of civil and truthful political discourse — has poisoned our air.

Enough.

Our democracy depends on civil, factual discourse leading to free and fair elections. Our democracy depends on recognizing that political opponents are also fellow Americans with a love of country. Winners or losers, we all must insist on the peaceful transition of power and close ranks behind the chosen leaders. Injecting violence by deed — or word — into our election process threatens our democracy. Violence must not be advocated for, resorted to or tolerated.

Carol Kuiper
Los Altos

Trump attack is fallout
from his heated speech

Re: “A bloodied Trump is safe after assassination attempt” (Page A1, July 14).

In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, once again the Republicans have taken the low road. Instead of asking for calm and unity in a time of crisis, they spout conspiracy theories, blame the left, and even President Biden personally.

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, to name a few, are adding fuel to the fire that has been fomented by Trump for eight years. Trump himself, after the attempt, raised his hand and shouted, “Fight! Fight!” He has promoted violence against the “other” since Day 1, inciting his followers with words like “scum,” “vermin,”  “animals” and “enemies.” He praised body-slamming, called police thugs, and mimics and name-calls his critics, and yet still attracts loyalists. He has undermined the moral fabric of this country.

I, like Biden, decry violence, but how can one not see that Trump has been inciting it all along?

Claudia Parker
San Jose

At rally shooting, we
reap what we sow

Re: “A bloodied Trump is safe after assassination attempt” (Page A1, July 14).

Inevitably the right will now blame liberals, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, et al, for the horrific assassination attempt Saturday, but as we’re learning, the GOP has perfected the art of projection.

For the past eight years, Donald Trump has used the rhetoric of violence to excite and unite his base. All of this aggressive talk climaxed with the violent assault on the Capitol, but beyond that, we’ve had the attack on Pelosi’s husband, the kidnapping attempt of Michigan Gov. Whitmer, and myriad death threats against jurors, judges, prosecutors, even election volunteers who would not bend the knee to Trump’s wishes.

So blame Biden or liberals if you want, but like my mom always said, “You reap what you sow.”

Bob Parker
San Jose

Both sides must
moderate their speech

Re: “A bloodied Trump is safe after assassination attempt” (Page A1, July 14).

Democrat politicians have been saying Donald Trump and Republicans are an existential threat to our Democracy. Some compare Trump to Hitler, which just gave license to an emotionally disturbed person to shoot at him and kill and injure other bystanders. Who wouldn’t kill Hitler if they had the chance?

Political speech has grown far more hate-driven since 2017 when a shooter fired on Republican members of Congress playing baseball. It’s time politicians from both parties pulled back on their political hate speech and that the news media stops amplifying it lest we really do lose our democracy.

Ed Kahl
Woodside