Today's letters: criticizing Donald Trump & why assisted suicide is wrong
Thank you for printing "Before Americans vilify Islam, let's not forget Muslims who fight for the West," which notes some of the many American Muslims who have served in our military in all our wars. Another noteworthy U.S. Muslim soldier is Tayyib Rashid, a Marine veteran, who responded to Donald Trump's suggestion that there be a database of all U.S. Muslims and the insinuation that all U.S. Muslims should be required to carry cards identifying them as Muslims. Mr. Rashid published his own photo ID, identifying him as a member of the armed forces of the United States, and then added, "I'm an American Muslim and I already carry a special ID badge. Where's yours?" Donald Trump, who is of an age to have been drafted in the 1960s, never served in the military.
Aside from the obvious questions of constitutionality and hypocrisy, Mr. Trump's suggestions send chills down my spine for other reasons. It harkens back to Germany in the 1930s when Jews were required to register and wear yellow armbands identifying them as Jews, thus making more efficient the Germans' process of rounding them up and sending them to concentration/extermination camps. That, needless to say, was not Germany's finest hour. America, under Donald Trump's leadership would not be ours either--not our finest hour, and not our America.
Judy Livingston
Hopewell
The sponsors may have introduced A2270/S382 out of compassion for people who are approaching death. But the finest expression of compassion is loving care that reduces or eliminates physical pain, psychological distress, depression and hopelessness - not providing someone with lethal drugs to end their life. Unfortunately, throughout the campaign to bring assisted suicide to New Jersey, the advocates have continually misrepresented the facts. One of the most egregious misrepresentations concerns the issue of ending pain. Advocates ignore or misrepresent the advances in palliative and hospice care - both of which alleviate pain and bring comfort to almost every patient suffering from a terminal illness.
The bottom line is that medical science is called on to eradicate the illnesses from which we suffer - not to eradicate the patients who suffer the illnesses. Our duty is to assist those who are dying- not kill them. Physicians put their knowledge and skills at the service of healing those who are ill. To use their skills to help people kill themselves would violate their sacred oath.
Remember all life is precious and must be protected from cradle to grave. Call your legislators and tell them to vote against these heinous bills.
Ronald Prykanowski
Ewing
Follow The Times of Trenton on Twitter @TimesofTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.