In these discouraging Trumpian times, I am somewhat encouraged by two recent Tribune op-eds written by a recent high school graduate and a University of Utah student.
These young people crystallized what so many Republicans can't seem to admit: If you disagree with Trump's racist and xenophobic view of the world, you cannot, no matter how much you try to justify it, vote other enabling Republicans into the U.S. Senate or House.
Here in Utah, you can rationalize all you like that your favored Republican is a good Mormon (they all are, right?), but you can be assured those good Republican Mormons will do nothing to curb Trump's worst nationalistic tendencies.
Mitt Romney is a perfect example — in his quest for a Senate seat, Romney has somehow forgotten his earlier characterization of Trump as "divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest and destructive" (all correct, by the way). Trump's wall, Trump's Muslim ban, Trump's refusal to even recognize the possibility of police bias, Trump's "s---hole countries" remarks, etc., all play to the white nationalist instincts of his base.
What we are left with is a growing anger on one side toward black, brown and yellow people and a growing anger on the other that all the progress our country has made in the past 240-plus years is being wiped out by a man willing to do whatever it takes to stoke the fear and anger of his base. And as these two young people so eloquently said, this will only escalate if we continue to send and re-elect spineless Republicans to Washington.
If you consider yourself a decent, caring Republican, you have to do what it takes to save our country from a man so bent on tearing it apart. Vote Democrat for the sake of your children and grandchildren.
Rob Greene, Salt Lake City