I would like to respond to Rosemarie Lawrence’s Dec. 5 letter (“Pampered young people prove to be real deplorables”).

I am of her generation and agree somewhat that some young people are “spoiled,” as she says, but on the other hand, many are amazingly hardworking, socially aware and committed to social change.

What I object to are two things in her letter: First, the broad brush with which she paints all young people, and second, her allegiance to a president-elect who denigrated so many groups in our country and abroad during the campaign, which unprecedented in a presidential candidate in my memory. (A good example for young people?)

I will just name a few of those he treated with utter contempt, as during the campaign we were accosted with his statements daily: women, blacks, Hispanics, immigrants, international institutions, the military, scientists, the handicapped, the press and his opponents in the campaign. That is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s hard to respect him after all of that.

He is not an oligarch, and he has to respect the entire country, not just a few of his billionaire friends. And as far as moving “to another country,” that is an empty and unproductive suggestion. I hope for the best, but fear the worst.

Linda Rogoff

Portland