The president was slow to understand there was a problem in his midst, over immigration and displaced masses of people, that many of his fellow Americans were quick to realize and distressed over.
He failed to carry out anything other than a divisive tactic of separation of these people from Central America, taking children away from parents. It took mounting pressure from countries around the world to force him to reconsider the policy (he initially denied there was such a policy or blamed it on his political opponents) and end the separations by executive order.
But many other problems have followed, such as reuniting these children with their families and ending the restrictions on media access to detention centers, an anti-First Amendment policy.
The latter will be crucial in defining this administration’s practices as dictatorial or not. Democracy is the backbone of this nation, and all administrations are responsible for upholding its principles. The president’s use of such terms as “fake news” and his constant condemnation of the media as the “enemy of the American people” do not begin to do that.
These are crucial principles of our Constitution, never to be compromised or surrendered. The valiant fight to give us these great freedoms and liberties cannot be allowed to fade in memory in this convenience-oriented time of modern toys, internet and excess.
John Flynn
Sanford
-
News
Humane Society Waterville Area needs $30,000 more for shelter
-
Nation & World
Employees at Microsoft call military work unethical
-
Nation & World
For some farmers, solar a cash crop
-
Sports
Friday's Sports Digest: Mariners prevail in OT for 6th straight win
-
Varsity Maine
Class A North roundup: Hampden Academy upsets No. 1 Skowhegan