Procrustes Stretched
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The courage on display at Pearl Harbor or in combat in Vietnam should never be forgotten or devalued. What Trump doesn’t understand about the Medal of Honor
It's amazing. The man cannot help himself. Trump doubles down as if an admission of an error is an assault on his Big Brain. He doubles down as if an an apology is an error is an assault on on his great genes. He doubles down as if being corrected is an attack on his genius intellect.
Letters to the Editor
Regarding the Aug. 16. online news article, “Trump draws intense criticism for calling civilian medal ‘much better’ than military award”:
Harold Bascom Durham Jr. received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions in Vietnam in 1967.
His unit was ambushed; he was severely wounded yet continued to use his radio handset to call in artillery. He used the stump of his wrist to operate the handset because his hand had been blown off. After the battle he was found dead, still gripping the handset.
Durham gave his life to save his fellow soldiers.
Miriam Adelson is a physician and philanthropist. But it seems likely that she received her Medal of Freedom primarily because she used her uninjured hand to write checks to her favorite political party.
There is a difference between the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Donald Trump’s recent remarks regarding the Medal of Honor were a disgrace. Any attempt by his followers to explain or justify his remarks is equally disgraceful.
Donald Trump revealed something important about his worldview when he recently said the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “better” than the Medal of Honor, and elaborated: “It’s actually much better because everyone gets the Medal of Honor. They’re soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead.’’
Mr. Trump seems to take a dim view of the idea that a soldier, at great personal sacrifice, might perform an extraordinarily brave act to save other soldiers or civilians. Nor does he seem able to acknowledge that such bravery comes in service of our country’s national security interests and the defense of our democracy. As far as Mr. Trump appears to be concerned, the only important aspect of an admirable deed is the benefits derived by the person who performed that act. To him, it is “better” to win the Presidential Medal of Freedom because to do so a person does not have to sacrifice his physical — and probably emotional — well-being.
Self-sacrifice for others seems to be foolish, even abhorrent, to him. This is hardly the first time Mr. Trump has made this clear, including during a Memorial Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery in 2017, when, according tothen-Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, he told Mr. Kelly of service members who died in Afghanistan and Iraq: “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”
Mr. Trump desecrates and dishonors our democracy and cherished American values, especially bravery for love of country and brotherhood among comrades in war. As president, he would once again act only out of self-interest — not for the benefit of Americans, our country, our democracy or our national security interests.
He should not be elected president again. One egregious mistake is enough.
Americo A. Salini Jr., Andover, Mass.
It's amazing. The man cannot help himself. Trump doubles down as if an admission of an error is an assault on his Big Brain. He doubles down as if an an apology is an error is an assault on on his great genes. He doubles down as if being corrected is an attack on his genius intellect.
Letters to the Editor
Regarding the Aug. 16. online news article, “Trump draws intense criticism for calling civilian medal ‘much better’ than military award”:
Harold Bascom Durham Jr. received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions in Vietnam in 1967.
His unit was ambushed; he was severely wounded yet continued to use his radio handset to call in artillery. He used the stump of his wrist to operate the handset because his hand had been blown off. After the battle he was found dead, still gripping the handset.
Durham gave his life to save his fellow soldiers.
Miriam Adelson is a physician and philanthropist. But it seems likely that she received her Medal of Freedom primarily because she used her uninjured hand to write checks to her favorite political party.
There is a difference between the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Donald Trump’s recent remarks regarding the Medal of Honor were a disgrace. Any attempt by his followers to explain or justify his remarks is equally disgraceful.
Donald Trump revealed something important about his worldview when he recently said the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “better” than the Medal of Honor, and elaborated: “It’s actually much better because everyone gets the Medal of Honor. They’re soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead.’’
Mr. Trump seems to take a dim view of the idea that a soldier, at great personal sacrifice, might perform an extraordinarily brave act to save other soldiers or civilians. Nor does he seem able to acknowledge that such bravery comes in service of our country’s national security interests and the defense of our democracy. As far as Mr. Trump appears to be concerned, the only important aspect of an admirable deed is the benefits derived by the person who performed that act. To him, it is “better” to win the Presidential Medal of Freedom because to do so a person does not have to sacrifice his physical — and probably emotional — well-being.
Self-sacrifice for others seems to be foolish, even abhorrent, to him. This is hardly the first time Mr. Trump has made this clear, including during a Memorial Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery in 2017, when, according tothen-Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, he told Mr. Kelly of service members who died in Afghanistan and Iraq: “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”
Mr. Trump desecrates and dishonors our democracy and cherished American values, especially bravery for love of country and brotherhood among comrades in war. As president, he would once again act only out of self-interest — not for the benefit of Americans, our country, our democracy or our national security interests.
He should not be elected president again. One egregious mistake is enough.
Americo A. Salini Jr., Andover, Mass.