Letter to the editor: Decency matters

My father and four of his brothers fought in World War II. He was held as a prisoner of war for 21 months. Nazi officers, for their amusement, forced the POWs to fight each other gladiator style and to play Russian roulette under armed guard. My husband is a disabled Vietnam War veteran. Their service and sacrifices, and those of all who serve, can never be forgotten.

Hate; armed military policing citizens; celebrating a bill “for the working class” with tax cuts for tips and overtime temporary, but for billionaires permanent; Medicaid cuts; Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s baseless recommendations; internment camps; breaking union contracts; Department of Government Efficiency; attacking the press and judges; Epstein files; tariff wars … none of this is normal.

My father once told me that he remembered the eyes of the Nazi officers as cold and arrogant. However, the guards had a look of uncertainty and guilt as they carried out their orders. When I see news reports of masked ICE agents making arrests without warrants and armed National Guard policing American citizens, I wonder. What would I see if I looked into their eyes? What would I see in the eyes of elected officials who defend this administration’s actions?

Decency matters.

Susan Pryce

Derry