The Editor:
Although I agree with Dave Berry’s statement that we must confront dehumanization of our fellow citizens, I would like to take it a step further by strongly emphasizing that we all pay particular attention when responding to those whose political ideas differ from our own.
Supporting the previous opinions penned by Ron Snyder, Cathy Taggett and Brian Bell, I present the facts below indicating the greatest examples of dehumanization are President Trump’s references of contempt for those he disagrees with.
At Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, which the New York Post estimated at 22 million viewers, President Trump spoke of his political opponents, “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them.”
Quotes of record include that Democrats are “evil people” and that his political opponents are “fascists” and guilty of “treason.” Further, he has stated that he considers his domestic enemies to also be “enemies of the people” suggesting that Democrats are domestic terrorists describing them as “the enemy within” and “threats to democracy.”
Most recently on his Truth Social site President Trump posted Democrats were “the party of hate, evil and Satan.”
And finally, just last week President Trump told hundreds of top military officials that he would use the U.S. military against the “enemy from within,” suggesting that the president’s plan is to use our military against his political opponents, i.e., protesters and/or Democrats.
In the spirit of confronting dehumanization of my fellow citizens as well as honoring the kindergarten lessons that words hurt, I respectfully suggest that this audience consider that regardless of your “side” there is something fundamentally wrong with the judgment of this U.S. president.
Most aptly put by Julian Barnes, “The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously.”
Like me, if you’re an American with family who risked their lives to safeguard this Democracy, I hope you consider it your responsibility.
Ann M. Mulvey
Birch Bay
The Editor:
It could be argued that the loose use of the terms fascist and Nazi are unnecessarily inflammatory. However, a national leader does not have to be either a fascist or a Nazi to be an aspiring dictator with designs of heading an authoritarian government.
In historical hindsight, Hitler’s path to dictatorship can be easily traced by looking at intermediate actions before he achieved absolute control in Germany. At the time, many people were reluctant to concede that he was deliberately seeking just that. A number of German political parties including Jews held out hope that they could divert him by appeasement. They were not the only Germans surprised by how Hitler ruled.
Over a million Brownshirts who were the muscle behind his rise to power were downsized and their leader was eliminated (shot).
A good case can be made that President Trump has authoritarian ambitions. His own words and his own actions are compelling evidence. His actions so far in his second term will constitute the signs that foreshadowed his dictatorship if he ends up succeeding in achieving his ambitions.
The moderate characteristics of Charlie Kirk and his willingness to engage in civil dialogue do not minimize his support for a president who constantly characterizes his opponents as fascists, communists, vermin, traitors and enemies often in terms that seem to incite violence.
Republicans don’t like being called Nazis and Democrats don’t like being called vermin. Sometimes it appears that we have voted ourselves into a predicament akin to skiing downhill out of control. It is not hopeless. The revival of a commitment to the principles of “liberty and justice for all” might avert impending disaster.
We could also undertake to actually become a Christian nation where we follow the teaching of Jesus such as treating our neighbors as ourselves.
Jim Thomson
Blaine
The Editor:
The Whatcom Environmental Council (WEC) and Whatcom County Planning have raised significant concerns about the city of Blaine’s proposed urban growth area (UGA) swap.
In April 2025, WEC urged Blaine officials to include environmental considerations such as open space corridors in their analysis. A subsequent letter in May criticized Blaine for acting before public participation was complete and for omitting environmental review. WEC stated, “In reviewing […] the UGA Swap, there is no mention of any environmental considerations. Your focus appears limited only to public facilities. We ask that you correct this deficiency and direct staff to identify open space corridors and environmental impacts (and benefits) of any UGA swap.”
Whatcom County Planning also expressed concerns. They noted that Blaine’s proposal maps showed less than 15 percent of the UGA expansion areas as critical areas and omitted Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas (CARAs) entirely. In contrast, Whatcom County and Washington state maps show critical areas covering the entire proposed UGA expansion area. Both county and state data confirm Birch Point contains significant aquifer recharge areas.
As a member of the Birch Bay Community Advisory Committee (BBCAC), I must ask: Why did Blaine ignore major environmental factors, including a critical aquifer and wetlands, on the land they seek to annex? Are they merely swapping one aquifer in east Blaine for another on Birch Point? Whether by oversight or indifference, this omission affects Birch Bay directly – most of Birch Point lies within the Birch Bay watershed. Birch Bay is very aware of stormwater running downhill from Birch Point, flooding Birch Bay Village, Richmond Park and Deer Trail, eventually delivering pollutants into the bay itself.
Effective stormwater management is already challenging in Birch Bay due to geology, wetlands, development and climate change. Runoff from Birch Point erodes Semiahmoo bluffs and flows downhill into Birch Bay, leaving Whatcom County and the Birch Bay watershed residents responsible for the cost of stormwater erosion, flooding and pollution control. BBWARM’s Birch Point Sub-watershed Drainage Study identifies seven stormwater projects needed to protect Birch Bay from Birch Point development – at an estimated cost exceeding $15 million.
Doralee Booth
Birch Bay
The Editor:
I will be voting for Eric Lewis for Blaine City Council. He has shown that he can back up his vision of the city with realistic, no-nonsense plans that will save us money and really get done. I also like that he is willing to hear everyone’s side of the story before taking action.
Laura Jensen
Blaine
The Editor:
Do you remember Chicken Little and “the sky is falling”? I think the alphabet soup of TV stations have come up with a 2025 Chicken Little, now screeching “Trump is a threat to our democracy” and “Trump is a dictator.”
The alphabet soup news reporters are saying the Republicans are causing the government shutdown. As I write this, the Democrats refuse to talk, since they want billions of dollars for free everything for illegal immigrants. What do our veterans and our low-income senior Americans get free? Don’t forget that something free is paid by somebody, and I gather it’s us the American taxpayer.
Another phrase thrown around is that Trump wants to be king. Did I miss the press conference when he said he’s king instead of president? President Trump seems to enjoy throwing out absurd statements and the alphabet soup reporters want you to believe it. I love the fact that someone made him a Trump 2028 red cap, and the media is going ballistic. I like to think of him as the new sheriff in town. He was elected for the promises he made to Make American Great Again. I’m shocked at the alphabet soup reporters who throw out the word “MAGA” like it’s some disgusting group of people.
How about the hatred toward ICE and anyone who doesn’t want illegal criminals roaming their streets? You do know that foreign countries opened their jails and told the criminals and rapists and murderers to head to the border. Thank you, Biden, for letting millions of “unknowns” walk in the back door … no questions asked. I must show my driver’s license to buy wine at Grocery Outlet!
I’ll end with my simple take on tariffs … we sell an American-made product to another country, and they charge us a fee/tariff. They sell here in America, and we have been “Mr. Nice Guy” … until now. I heard a TV reporter comment on how sad children will be this Christmas with fewer toys under the tree. Is it because the bulk of items in our stores are “Made in China”?
Anne Freeman
Blaine
