Sir, – Neil Bray (March 28th) thinks that Donald Trump is popular because Americans are tired of "the culture of political correctness and the consequent restricted levels of debate in the media, academia, and politics".
Since taking office, Barack Obama has been portrayed in political cartoons as an ape, a shoeshine man, Aunt Jemima, and a terrorist. He has been called the “food-stamp president” (Newt Gingrich), a half-breed (a Trump spokeswoman), and a “secret Muslim”. Vicious rumours have circulated that he is a member of Isis, he has the lowest IQ of any president, and that he is not an American citizen.
This is “restricted” debate?
The reality is that Mr Trump is popular with (some) white people because they see him as a “strong man” who has easy answers to America’s problems. His “answers” mostly consist of blaming the most vulnerable members of society. – Yours, etc,
HELEN HARNETT,
River Forest,
Illinois.
Sir, – The more I read about Donald Trump the more I am reminded of the words of the author Isaac Asimov: “There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge’.” – Yours, etc,
DERMOT O’ROURKE,
Lucan, Co Dublin.