Dear Editor,

I pray for America on November 5, the day of the 2024 USA presidential election. It will be a nerve-wracking day for many, not just within the USA, but around the world.

There is a viral video of an elderly black gentleman making a passionate plea about the election. He said that there is a single issue in the 2024 election — Donald Trump. He describes Trump as despicable and a threat to democracy and humanity. Trump is a convicted felon who uses his huge platform to constantly spew hate; make racist, xenophobic, and misogynistic comments; and issue veiled threats to his fellow citizens. He has gone as far as to warn of a “bloodbath” if he loses the election. He has suggested that migrants are “poisoning the blood of our country”, language echoing the rhetoric Adolf Hitler.

Trump, in my view, is unfit for public office of any kind. He lacks the intellect, temperament, and coherence to use good judgement to make the type of decisions required at that level. The lewd sexual innuendos he made recently on stage with a microphone stand during a campaign rally left many jaws dropped.

He threatened to use violence and “knock the hell outta people backstage” who were responsible for the malfunctioning microphone. Some found this funny, but to most it was alarming. The man is immature, he doesn’t understand tact, much less strategy, public policy, and global politics. He doesn’t read, he is socially unaware, and his attention span is worst than that of a toddler.

Trump is only interested in ratings and populism, and he has hinted at self-rule, as in becoming a dictator. In a recent interview he threatened to “punish” women who have abortions. There was no mention of punishing men who share the responsibility and support their partners’ right to choose.

The problem with many conservatives is that they are quick to denounce issues which liberals support, yet many are hypocrites who say one thing in public and do another in private. Many republicans profess to have Christian values yet fully endorse Trump, who lacks morals and character.

It is frightening that as many as half of Americans support Trump, a man who continues to trash women, minorities, and immigrants. A minority or female candidate would’ve long been removed from the ticket if he/she did half the things Trump has got away with.

Trump is desperate for a win this year, as it could potentially be the only way out of the many legal issues he is facing, that is if he is able to self-pardon. It is true that many Trump supporters are uneducated, white, rural folk who are poor; many don’t understand the real issues or consequences. They don’t realise that a Trump win is a win for the mega rich and elite and a way for Trump to get back at anyone who dared to criticise him or bring cases before the court against him.

Trump’s supporters enjoy his hateful rhetoric and divisive messaging, which they find funny. They feel threatened by immigrants, most of whom are hard-working, decent individuals who continue to sustain the American economy and fuel the American dream of becoming.

There may well be a single issue facing Americans at the polls in the 2024 USA election. If Trump/JD Vance wins, may God help us all.

We can only hope and pray and have faith that most Americans will vote wisely, using their conscience, values, and common sense, despite everything we’ve seen and heard on the campaign trail.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com