Choose unity over division

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victim killed and those who were critically injured at the Republican rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13. My thoughts also go out to the Trump family during this time. However, I must respectfully disagree with several points raised by Kendall Karan in their letter published on Monday, July 15, titled ‘Trump needs to come back stronger’.

First, it is essential to address the claim that President Biden, the Obamas, Democrats, or the left are to blame for what happened to Trump. This narrative is unfounded. The Secret Service, tasked with protecting all former presidents, did their utmost in a situation that was neither predictable nor easily controllable. The unfortunate incident reflects the complex and volatile nature of political events in the current climate, not a calculated effort by any political faction.

Moreover, the concern that Trump represents an immediate threat to the US Constitution and democracy is not solely a partisan viewpoint but a global consensus among democracies. His actions, especially those surrounding the January 6 insurrection, have raised alarms worldwide about the stability of American democratic institutions.

Unless Karan is unaffected by this issue, for Caribbean immigrants in general, Trump’s potential re-election poses significant risks. His administration’s stringent immigration policies disproportionately affected immigrants of colour, including those from the Caribbean. Re-electing Trump could lead to a resurgence of these harsh policies, creating further challenges for our community. Back in 2016, I declined the opportunity to enrol at The New School for Social Research as an international student, because of my concerns, and perhaps paranoia, that I would not be safe, even in a cosmopolitan city such as New York.

Karan’s assertion that Trump should not have had the opportunity to appeal to his supporters with “fight, fight, fight” misses a crucial point. Trump’s rhetoric has often been charged with incitement. Unlike Biden’s recent efforts to address concerns about his fitness for office with composure, Trump’s choice to use inflammatory language underscores a stark contrast in leadership styles. Unless this was a staged shooting, the Secret Service’s response was constrained by the immediate need to secure the area and protect lives.

It is not through assigning blame to political opponents that we achieve peace and strength, but through measured, rational discourse and unity. The divisive rhetoric and policies must give way to a commitment to uphold democracy and protect the rights of all, including immigrants.

KADINE FERGUSON