Leave it to Donald Trump to desecrate an event like the recent National Prayer Breakfast. Never one to miss an opportunity to talk about himself, he spent over an hour in his rambling and meandering address spewing falsehoods, repeating his many personal grievances and delivering insulting personal attacks on his perceived enemies.

This is a person who acknowledged that he hates his enemies, a great example of the Christian faith he professes. He states that a person of faith cannot vote Democratic. Is he kidding? What about the horrible treatment of immigrants by this administration, contrary to the many faith traditions of care for the stranger?

He ended the day in similar form by reposting, on his social media account, a vile, racist video insulting the Obamas in the middle of the night, without the common decency to apologize afterward when confronted with bipartisan criticism. Does this speech and behavior truly reflect any religious values or really make America great again?

Is he following Melania’s suggestion to be a “unifier” or her campaign to “be best”? Our adversaries could only wish to have sown as much discord and division in our nation as he has done just in the past year. Maybe before his next late night hateful tirade, he could second a few moments in quiet introspection, maybe reflecting on a biblical passage like this from Isaiah: “Remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; Bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted.”

Peter Watko
Auburn