The editorial, “Rude, but right track,” Jan. 22, commented on the first hours of the Trump Administration with these words, “We are glad to wave good-bye to the insufferable wokeness of the Obama and Biden administrations ...”
Artificial intelligence defines “woke” as “being aware of and actively working to address social and political issues, especially those of racial and social injustice. It’s a call to action to question the status quo and strive for something better.”
Isn’t striving for something better “Making America Great Again?” Or is saying “woke” an excuse for a racial slur?
I believe that The Blade and others are content with the direction of “Making America White Again.” In the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, the “majority-minority” turn point will arrive around 2050. Europe will follow 50 years later with white becoming the minority.
Is a majority race population controllable? Is the solution scrubbing wokeness away by deportation? Is it something more absurd like sterilization? Will there be incentives for white families to grow larger? Not to mention how stripping birthright citizenship reduces the number of new nonwhite citizens. Are we framing the “Master Race” once again?
This country marched for equality 100 years after the Civil War. Great accomplishments have been made during the past 60 years. Are we willing to diminish the gains made by the brave supporters of this great melting pot because of the fear of being overshadowed by different people?
BOB LUBELL
Sylvania
Biden rejected by his own party
Joe Biden’s final address to the nation stated that misinformation, disinformation, and lies are a threat to democracy. Biden being the paragon of virtue that he is seems to forget how the three issues won him the presidency and kept him in the Oval Office. The lies about his son’s laptop and Biden telling the country that he had nothing to do with his son’s business dealings are two of the big whoppers. But the biggest lie/misinformation would likely be how his administration and the media colluded to keep his mental acuity hidden from the American people, which led to the big question of, “Who is running the government?”
But Biden wanted to hang on and run for a second term convinced that he could defeat Trump a second time. However, the American people were on to the administration’s and media’s scheme, and voted for Trump over Harris. Now the Democratic Party is in disarray, looking for new leadership, and they are blaming the avuncular candidate who was going to unite the country four years earlier, Joe Biden. I doubt if there will be much demand for him on the speaking circuit, television shows or book signings. He seems to be relegated to persona non grata by his own party.
PATRICK SEITZ
Oregon
Next cabinet loyalists, and worse than first
Kash Patel and the other nominees for Trump’s Cabinet are not just useless — they are actively inept. It’s almost like Trump wants loyalist lapdogs to do his beck and call, and let the American people watch on, unable to act in between Instagram ads and Facebook posts generated by AI telling them not to look too closely.
Not only are these proposed Cabinet leaders useless, they are active threats. These cronies are a threat to our public health, our infrastructure, and our nation’s security.
The worse part is Bernie Moreno, our new senator, wants to rubberstamp these people because his billionaire funders told him to do so.
If our senators approve of Kash Patel and these other cronies, this government will be even messier than his first term.
KELCI CRAWFORD
Rossford
Swearing-in more like coronation
As we venture into the reign of Donald Trump, and after watching his inaugural events in Washington, the question has to be asked, was it an inauguration or a coronation?
The weather cooperated to keep the common folk outdoors and in the cold, which also eliminated the need for a sad “crowd size” boast.
Only the high and mighty guests (a $1 million donation got you the best seats) were allowed access to the Capitol Rotunda — the same space that was desecrated by the “stop the steal” invasion perpetrated by the now fully pardoned army of Trump “patriots.”
The inaugural speech painted a bleak and horrifying view of life in the United States, expressing His Excellency’s plans to right the ship of state and our society and to pursue a path of retribution against those with whom he is not pleased.
After all, his life was saved by the hand of God in order to allow him to “Make America Great Again.”
The newly enthroned monarch then proceeded to sign a bevy of edicts.
This step was to demonstrate that he was taking control by showing that the meaning of our Constitution would now be what he decides — those silly and useless protections and limitations of the 14th amendment be damned! The Supreme Leader quickly followed up with the pardon of the “J6patriots” he had personally directed to go to the Capitol in 2021 to “fight like hell” — and they did just that.
Next up are his “manifest destiny” pipedream plans to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal, and who knows, maybe Canada as well.
Since he has already chosen to rename the “Gulf of America” and “Mount McKinley,” can we expect a renaming event for Greenland? Trumpland has a special ring to it and he really likes to label things with his name. The “J6 Patriot Canal” sounds sweet!
Our fearless leader apparently believes his return to power was not an election victory but rather was a divine act in fulfillment of the will of God.
RICHARD R. MALONE
Holland
Flag design was not priority for Toledo
Toledo government has lost touch with its constituency and its desire to responsibly serve them.
Several years ago, a Toledo flag design was introduced despite no public clamor to change the 1994 design and the artist was paid $9,000.
The motion did not pass city council, apparently lacking public consensus.
Subsequently, a contest was held for a replacement flag design, though the existing city flag, created in 1994, was not included in the contest.
The Arts Commission accepted public comments on the submittals, but its recommendation was kept a public secret until minutes before the vote was taken in council chambers.
The mayor and cohort council members railroaded the recommendation through council on an emergency basis bypassing the normal agenda review and public input process as noted by George Sarantou, the lone council member holdout.
Money was given to the winning design artist and also the runners-up including the artist who had already collected $9,000 for a design that will not be used.
Changing the Toledo flag fixed something that wasn’t broken. It’s amazing that a mayor who says he would fix roads (the No. 1 complaint, according to Engage Toledo), if he had the money, can spend money on follies other than roads.
TOM NAMES
Toledo
First Published January 28, 2025, 5:00 a.m.