Letters on Trump’s racism, racial biases, dropping atomic bombs

Trump insulted all American citizens

I am a registered Republican, but I vote independently. I look at the issues and the candidates. As I was listening to Donald Trump, at first I liked his boldness about opposition to the Iraq War, having a strong defense, standing up to the do-nothing politicians, vetting the incoming refugees, etc.

But then he made a very racist comment about an American judge. Trump seems to think that if you are not white or you have a different-sounding name, then you are not an American.

I have two grown children, American born and raised. But according to Trump’s line of thinking, they are Indian and not American. Trump insulted all American citizens by his racist comments.

So this American and longtime Kansan with Indian heritage is going to vote for Hillary Clinton. Not only that, but I will volunteer to help her get elected.

All are biased

Donald Trump was correct when he stated that Judge Gonzalo Curiel could not provide an unbiased verdict in the trial dealing with Trump University. A color-blind society sounds ideal but is as unobtainable at this point in history as perpetual motion.

Hispanics are overwhelmingly sympathetic toward illegal immigration. Many black people celebrated the unjust verdict when O.J. Simpson was acquitted, and rioted in the streets to protest the justifiable shooting of the thug Michael Brown. White people give preferential treatment to other white people.

We would all be better off if we admitted the fact that we are all racially biased. The only thing that society can do is put laws in place to attempt to mitigate the injustices created by racism.

Racial biases are natural, and no amount of political correctness or phony, self-righteous bloviating will change that reality. Ignore that fact at your own peril.

Bombs saved lives

I have good reason to believe I was one of the millions of people saved, on both sides, by the dropping of the atomic bombs that effectively ended World War II.

Why do I believe it? Because I entered the Army at age 17, just at the time that would have placed me running up the beach at the planned point for the invasion of Honshu had the war continued. Instead, I went there to swim in the ocean and saw Japanese tanks sunk in the sand, with only their turrets showing and aimed down that beach about 2 feet above the sloping sand. It would have been devastating for American soldiers either running or crawling up into the only plain big enough to support the invasion, and obviously the Japanese knew it, too.

The emperor of Japan had told Japanese of all ages to fight the invaders to the death. A letter writer said the Russians were ready to declare war (“Bombs not needed,” June 11 Letters to the Editor), but they actually were waiting for the war to end so they could obtain Japanese territory without having to forcefully capture it.

This story was originally published June 18, 2016 at 12:04 AM with the headline "Letters on Trump’s racism, racial biases, dropping atomic bombs."