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Ed Satalia
State College
The Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." It also prohibits "abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."
It's safe to say that a significant part of the core supporters that Trump caters to are Christian Nationalists. How does the aim of a Christian-only United States square with the Bill of Rights? What does the Christian Nationalist aims mean to believers in other religions or in no religion? Can Trump be trusted to uphold the Constitution?
Freedom of speech remains a strong principle in the U.S., to the extent that lies are freely promulgated, including made-up stories about Haitians, immigrants in general and anyone who opposes Trump. Only when the lies are libelous can they be punished via a court of law. One example is Trump's conviction for defaming a woman he was found guilty of sexually abusing.
Except for laws relating to wartime, the rights of a free press in the U.S. have not been abridged. However, Trump's continual rants falsely excoriating the news media, his claims of "fake news," FOX News, of course, excluded, have unfairly and maybe irreparably, damaged trust in our free press. Would a president who will be a dictator for one day, who has stated a willingness to suspend parts of the Constitution, dispense with a free press? Can Trump be trusted?
Please vote for a continuing Constitutional democracy, not for Trump.