Can’t respect Trump

I want to salute my new president, but I have a colossal yet simple obstacle: Donald Trump has shown me he is of poor moral character. I do not respect him as a man. Poor moral character leads to poor decisions. Lincoln said: “Character is like a tree and reputation is it’s shadow.” Character being defined by the existence or lack of virtues: empathy, courage, fortitude, honesty and loyalty.

Of these qualities, Trump does seem to exhibit fortitude. Some could go so far as to see a hint of courage in the face of opposition were it not exclusively intertwined with his need to belittle and demean whatever he senses as his opponent, be it a human being, a community, a country or the constitutional right to free speech and demonstration.

Trump’s courage looks more like a drive-by shooting – little bullets, flipping off people with soundbites and tweets, not having to stand up like a reasoning educated man I could be proud to salute. Not willing to face the press, which is America’s essential free-flowing dialogue with the White House.

I have lived under 12 presidents, not all I agreed with, but all I respected.

Bonnie Jones

Newport