Letter to the editor: MAGAs, respect and patriotism

I for one was glad to see a “MAGA conservative” opine on the differences between conservatives and liberals and help clear the air (“Conservatives respectful, liberals destructive,” Jan. 11, TribLive).

Most people think the MAGA group is not respectful of life (unless you consider state abortion bans that are rendering women who want children infertile or, worse, dead), our history (otherwise they would welcome the teaching of it all — the good, the bad and the ugly — that is why it’s called “history”), our military (or else the first time Donald Trump bashed our military, mocked POWs and refused to be photographed with amputee soldiers, the MAGA group would reject Trump), our police (let’s not forget the Jan. 6 officers who lost their lives at the Capitol, in addition to the multitude of injuries they suffered — and yet were treated like pariahs), and our flag (I see way too many Confederate flags, altered American flags and even Old Glory covered in what appears to be Trump riding a dinosaur brandishing an assault weapon at MAGA rallies).

And they certainly give the impression they are not respectful of mine and many Americans’ freedoms. Instead, all we get are revenge politics, fearmongering and the least productive Congress since the Civil War.

Finally, a reminder that so-called “MAGA conservatives” do not hold the monopoly on patriotism. Even though I’m an independent and no longer a Republican, I love this country and consider myself quite the patriot. Although, I do not own a Trump dinosaur flag, does that change anything?

Karla Thomas

Hempfield