Letter: Trump’s proposal to close borders to Muslims is not what this country stands for
Donald Trump is an embarrassment. He does not embody the values upon which America was founded. We have a rich history of offering humanitarian aid to those in need, as well as welcoming immigrants from all corners of the earth as they search for a better way of life.
We also have some blemishes on our record: slavery, the internment of American citizens of Japanese ancestry, and racial and gender discrimination, to name a few. We have worked hard to right these wrongs, but if Trump were to have his way, we could add religious discrimination to the list of blemishes. To deny someone entry to this country based solely on their religion is disgraceful. It sends a message of hate. It sends the message that the idea of religious freedom in America is dead.
Trump defends his religious bigotry against Muslims by implying if we let them in, there will be more terrorism. By that logic, we should have closed our borders to all Catholics after Timothy McVeigh bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City.
Paul Ryan is right. Trump’s proposal to close the borders to Muslims “is not what this country stands for.”
Michael J. Nordsten, Richland
This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Letter: Trump’s proposal to close borders to Muslims is not what this country stands for."