Democrats need to give ground to Trump

The Baltimore Sun’s recent editorial, “Donald Trump’s pivotal moment of leadership” (Nov. 10), calls on President-elect Donald Trump to “back away from, if not outright disown, some of the more outrageous proposals he has, at least at some point, claimed to back.”

I understand that your hope is this will lead to a more unified country. I believe that a more unified country is a wish most of us have. However, it is not just Donald Trump and the Republicans who need to drive this, it is also the Democrats. So far, I have not seen one instance of a leader in the Democratic Party offering to work with the party that won the election — an outreach that could give us some hope we can have unity (“Gov. Wes Moore: Maryland is prepared to compromise and push back against new Trump administration,” Nov. 8).

Vice President Kamala Harris says that “we will continue to fight.” Blue state attorneys general have pledged to “fight the new Trump administration.” The governor of Illinois has said, “Trump will have to go through me” to get things done in his state.

Neither Gov. Wes Moore nor Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott have expressed much willingness to accept the election results and work with the new administration in a way that could benefit Maryland and Baltimore. Both the state and city will need federal funding and it will be more difficult if some type of cooperation is not offered.

It’s going to take both parties efforts to advance unity in our country.

— Bill Thomas, Towson

Does Armstrong Williams not remember Jan. 6?

I read Armstrong Williams’ column, “Armstrong Williams: The second coming of Trump” (Nov. 10), with great interest. I always appreciate well-thought-out opinions, even when I completely disagree with them. Statements like Donald Trump “economized on the truth” made me smile as Williams attempted to downplay the most prolific liar to ever inhabit the White House.

However, when I read that “Trump peacefully transferred power to President Joe Biden,” I couldn’t help but wonder what planet Williams has been on since Jan. 6, 2021.

— Paul Winston, Baltimore

My US Navy veteran dad was a hero, not a ‘sucker’

I visited my dad’s grave to tell him about the presidential election results (“Why do vets support Trump and the GOP?” Oct. 19).

My dad, Melvin E. Tansill, a U.S Navy veteran, served with honor during the Korean War. He was proud that his birth date — May 8 — was the same birth date as President Harry Truman who was his commander-in-chief during the war.

My dad loved his country and he cherished democracy. He and I talked about this when his life neared its end.

“Freedom is something that we always have to fight for,” he said. “Truman understood that.”

He kept his sailor uniform in a box under his bed at home. (“Just in case I am ever needed,” he would say with his wonderful boyish grin.) He died peacefully on Aug. 29, 2017, at 3:58 a.m. in hospice care surrounded by myself, my wife and his daughter.

A two-person U.S. Navy uniformed detail conducted core elements of a military funeral honors ceremony for him at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore. The playing of “Taps” preceded the folding and presentation of the U.S. flag.

A female Navy officer gave the flag to me, saying it was “on behalf of the president and a grateful nation.”

My dad was not a “sucker” or a “loser,” as Donald Trump has said of our nation’s deceased military veterans. He was, and always will be, my hero.

May he rest in eternal peace.

— Mel Tansill, Catonsville

Trump demonstrates the power of hate

I am the daughter of two families that ran from Europe in the early 1900s for a free, safer and better life in America. I was raised by parents who taught me to respect other people’s beliefs and views. I was always encouraged to open my mind and listen to all aspects of a situation.

Donald Trump showed me that 60% of America does not agree with what I learned in kindergarten about being kind, listening to other people’s points of view, loving your neighbor, being polite, respecting all people and, most importantly, not denigrating other people (“Election result shows we desperately need to find common ground,” Nov. 12).

Trump’s successful election has given the world permission to say and do whatever they think and feel knowing there will be no consequences. The only people who will suffer will be the people on the receiving end of his hate mongering.

— Joan Solomon, Pikesville