The president recently announced “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” This comment was regarding the war in Iran, which was initiated without a congressional vote.

This directly contradicts the caliber of our armed forces. Our military stands on integrity and defending ethical standards and guardrails that have long been established in our Constitution. 

Trump’s blatant threats of war crimes are dangerous. The language alone demonstrates that he is unfit to serve as president. Allowing him to remain in power threatens the political, cultural and societal foundations that we Americans have the privilege to stand on. 

Service members represent politics. They have limited freedom of speech with regard to the government given their role within it. There is simply a heavier responsibility around a soldier’s words and their potential implications due to a service member’s position and the respect they carry within our society. Democracy is not represented when the power of language is not respected. This is because language shapes culture, and democracy relies on society. Democracy is also not represented when the president does not (or cannot) hold himself to appropriate standards. 

Further transparency needs to be required as to the president’s cognitive, psychological and physical statuses in order to additionally inform perspectives on his fitness for duty. Our service members undergo routine evaluations of their whole body abilities to be qualified and rational representatives of our country. It is reasonable to expect the same from the commander in chief.

Kaitlin Rand
Litchfield