Being Nice Isn’t Enough
To the editor:
I am pleased that the Independent published Ellen G. Smith’s letter [July 22, page A2] proclaiming her support for Trump and insisting she’s not a racist. Good for her.
It is definitely true that there are “nice” Trump supporters. I know many in my home town, Cold Spring, N.Y., who are fellow rooters for our children and grandchildren on the Little League field and the basketball court.
Unfortunately, being nice isn’t enough. Because, if you are a Trump supporter, you believe at least some of what follows: That Biden stole the election. That the people who invaded the Capitol on Jan. 6 were (a) not insurrectionists but peaceful demonstrators, (b) ANTIFA folks seeking to give Trumpists a bad name, or (c) FBI agents seeking to do the same. That most Mexican immigrants are criminals. That Black Lives Matter demonstrators are terrorists. That “critical race theory” is brainwashing students all over the country. That vaccines are more dangerous than Covid-19. That voting fraud is rampant, especially in cities like Detroit, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, with large (sometimes majority) black and brown populations.
I hope Ms. Smith is vaccinated and that her family members are, too, but if she’s bought the lies about the vaccine and the lies that downplay the dangers of Covid, then she may join those killed by Covid: 99 percent of the victims aren’t vaccinated, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Sometimes ignorance is just sad — as when people believe critical race theory is poisoning elementary school children’s minds (fact: CRT is taught mostly in law schools and graduate schools — it’s pretty esoteric) — but sometimes (as even Fox News is now admitting) ignorance can kill.
Michael Meeropol
Cold Spring, N.Y. and Truro
Vandals in Eastham, Too
To the editor:
I’m sorry that Ellen Smith’s bumper sticker was vandalized. Vandalism like that is childish and mean-spirited.
My own tale of vandalism: Last fall I proudly put out my handmade “Black Lives Matter” sign in front of my property on Samoset Road. It was knocked down and put back up many times before it was stolen. My son made another sign, and it was smashed to bits. My daughter made a third sign, also vandalized and stolen.
Last month my son made a fourth replacement sign. It was gone within a week. We filed police reports, but the culprit(s) remain at large. My neighbor told me that a man driving by this morning yelled a racist obscenity at my current sign. At least he didn’t stop to smash or steal it.
I’m sorry that Trump supporters, no doubt well-behaved and civil, protested the VaxBus and dispensed misinformation — which can literally kill people — about vaccines. I’m sorry Trump supporters chose to celebrate his birthday with a huge truck and a machine gun pointing at Route 6. I’m sorry that Trump and his supporters were not devastated by the violent attack on the Capitol. I’m sorry that Trump refuses to concede the election. I’m sorry that Republicans, following Trump’s lead, are limiting access to the vote.
I’m sorry that I cannot feel sorry for Ms. Smith. In defending Donald Trump, she espouses policies that could lead to the end of America’s democratic experiment. His irrational behavior (he is vaccinated but tells others they don’t need to be) might be amusing if it were not for the sway he has over many Americans, and their frightening adherence to him. Supporters of Trump must answer for his policies and his hunger for power.
I urge my fellow Democrats to leave the vandalism to the Republicans.
Natalie Ross Miller
Eastham
A Provocation
To the editor:
On the defacing of Ellen Smith’s Trump bumper sticker:
Please understand that our free and fair elections are what actually makes America great. Other countries look to us as a model in this regard.
When Trump says the election was stolen, he is delivering a very serious insult to this country, almost like stepping on the flag. To people who believe in democracy, and who trust the integrity of our elections, your sticker will be seen as a provocation.
Alexander Brewer
Wellfleet
The Virus Isn’t Done
To the editor:
I was looking forward to my summer in Provincetown. And a possible trip in the fall. But then the summer season got underway and tourists flooded the town. Restaurants opened to full capacity and people stood in line, elbow to elbow, waiting to see a show, go dancing, or crowd into someone’s home. Covid cases spiked.
The unvaccinated provide the breeding ground for mutations. Some fully vaccinated have now tested positive for the Delta variant. Although their symptoms may be mild and death has been taken off the table, what about our protections against the next variant or the one after that?
I won’t fly, go to the gym, eat in a restaurant, or go to a show. With a high infection rate, my friends aren’t coming to visit. My world is shrinking once again.
When someone’s decision affects the health and safety of others, there must be a strong response. Some businesses are taking the lead by instituting a zero-tolerance policy for the unvaccinated. Provincetown should require proof of vaccination before a person can enter a restaurant or hotel room, get on the fast ferry, or go to the gym, and all staff in these places should be vaccinated.
Instead of lost revenue, as people fear, Provincetown’s businesses will thrive when people know that it is safe to frequent them.
This virus is not done with us. Appealing to the unvaccinated, creating incentives, and making vaccinations accessible have resulted in some progress, but not enough. We can’t force people to get vaccinated, but we can deny them the freedoms they are taking from us.
If we are not all in this together, this virus and its mutations will continue to haunt our community and its financial health.
Deborah Grabler
Brookline and Provincetown
