Letters: Explaining Trump's reelection to my small son

We asked readers to share their thoughts on Donald Trump's reelection — and Kamala Harris' defeat. Here's what they had to say.

Open letter to my son, on Nov. 6

Like most mornings, you're in the bath with a cup of milk. I'm making my best Mr. Turtle voice and sipping my coffee. It's early, but I've peeked at the results. My heart is heavy, but we go on with our day. This is the joy of toddler parenting — the day moves on, always. There are things that are gratefully beyond your comprehension right now, but nonetheless, I want you to know them. This is for one day, when you're ready.

I want you to know that you are unbelievably fortunate to have been born in a democratic nation. Do not take this for granted, because it is not guaranteed to last.

I want you to know that democracy also means that some truly vile ideas can legally be enshrined by individuals and systems.

This is the history of our nation, then and now.

But you, my son, have a choice on how you want to be in this vast country. And our nation also has a wonderful tradition of resistance.

I hope you find wisdom from those who have endured and overcome far worse.

Everyday, you tell me that you're a "big boy." You're so eager to be a man already.

Here's what I want you to know about being a man — a man never uses his power to steal freedoms from others. Never.

And I'm really sorry about the climate. We've missed another chance to make the world more habitable for your grandchildren's children. I'm trying, but it's a big planet and there is a lot of work to do.

On Nov. 1, it snowed, and you were overcome with joy. Never miss an opportunity to celebrate the snow. Protect the places you love. Make your impact light. And find the resiliency to live in the present.

We only have three rules in our house — respect yourself, respect others, and respect your environment. Live by these mantras, despite what the mob is doing. Bring others who share your values into the fold. Struggle and build alongside them.

I also want you to know that none of this is your fault, but the hard truth is that it will someday be your responsibility.

Your choice is this — want kind of human do you want to be? There is a clear example in front of you. One that, yes, the majority of our Nation has chosen. But you, my big boy, can make another choice, take another path. And that is the wonderful nature of freedom.

Wren Keturi

Pelkie, Michigan

Opinion: How we can save America after Nov. 5 presidential election

Why did Democrats lose? It's obvious

The Democratic Party wonders why it lost the election, and I feel that the answers are quite obvious.

They created the immigration disaster from day one of Joe Biden's presidency by opening the border without any restrictions.

They doubled down on the COVID-19 handouts ... significantly devaluing the dollar and spiking inflation.

They embraced woke ideology, ignoring common sense and alienating the vast majority of Americans.

They accused the Republicans of attempting to destroy democracy, while they removed a candidate who was elected in a primary and replaced him who didn't receive one vote in the same.

This not to mention their denials that Biden had diminished mental capacity, deceiving the American people and their own voters who chose him in the primary. There was nothing "democratic" about that.

While the Republicans are on the wrong side of the abortion debate, to rely on that to get elected was foolish. The reversal of Roe v. Wade returned the issue to the states, the vast majority of them upholding a right to an abortion.

All of this malarkey showed the people of this country that they could not trust the Democratic Party, and the people voted accordingly. This election result was no surprise, and perhaps the clueless response of the Democrats as to why it happened is a reflection of the arrogance of the progressive "elite" who don't think the people can think for themselves. Well ... now they know we can.

Christopher Wicks

I wrote letters to Trump. I guess I'm an enemy.

Now that Trump is re-elected, I could be on his " enemies list ." Maybe not his top priority, but I will be an easy-to-identify enemy. He could say, "go after that nasty woman from Michigan who keeps writing me letters." Why? Because during the Trump Administration, I wrote at least 10 letters to the White House online. These letters addressed what I thought was his mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and protestating other Trump policy decisions.

Every time you write the White House, you give them your name and contact information. I willingly did this. However, I will no longer write letters. Why? Because he has said he will target " the enemy within ," using the military." You may say I am very low priority, as I believe he would go after Democratic politicians first — and would be fascist — but those of us who write letters are easy targets.

Anne Esdale

Okemos, Michigan

I trust no one

I was raised to believe Americans, when pushed, would always do the right thing. Nov. 5, 2024 just proved me wrong. Kamala Harris may not be your cup of tea, but America showed me it prefers a lifelong con man, twice impeached, 34-time felon whose compromised by our enemies over an accomplished Black woman. America showed me it would rather throw the world away than to do right by our country. My view of this country has been permanently damaged. I literally trust no one.

Michael C. Howza

Cedar Hill, Texas

I'm still in shock

I am still in shock from hearing the results of the presidential election. After four years of an angry president who made a point of finding a way to punish his enemies and who ran roughshod over the rights of people who expressed dissent at his method of governance, and who nearly ended our democracy as we know it, I hoped that we had closed the book on that chapter of American politics.

The GOP now controls all branches of the government and can literally do whatever they want with no recourse for those who oppose him. Provisions of the U.S. Constitution that are supposed to protect the freedom of speech, religion and the press are meaningless if the courts will not enforce them or will torture the language in such a way as to selectively enforce them. Minorities will be further marginalized. Members of the LGBTQ+ community will be discriminated against even more. I hoped that we as a country were better than that, but sadly, people care more about grocery store prices than they do about the fragile institution of democracy.

Kenneth Burger

My veteran husband was not a 'loser' or a 'sucker'

I am in disbelief and very disappointed in the results of the 2024 presidential election. I am not a Democrat or Republican. I am an American. I vote for people who I think will best represent me. That is not the case at this time.Let me count the ways.

I am the widow of a Vietnam veteran. He served there in 1967-68. He missed the birth of his first child. He was wounded and received the Purple Heart. He also received the Bronze Star. Fifty years after the fact, the results of exposure to chemicals and concussive trauma, he was diagnosed with ALS. He died within six months. He was not, and is not, a "loser" or a "sucker. "

I am a Catholic/Christian, and I try ever day to practice my beliefs. The first two commandments state we should love God above all things, and love your neighbor as yourself. Nowhere did I see the love of neighbor. The neighbor was insulted, demeaned, ridiculed and degraded.

I am a retired teacher who had the pleasure of welcoming into my classroom many, many wonderful children. Some had issues, both physical and emotional, that required kindness and compassion. Not debasing actions that made fun of their disabilities. What I did see in these many (too many) months was a grown man making fun of a person with cerebral palsy, autism, stuttering and other burdens these individuals had to cope with on a daily basis.

I do not vote by party, but for the individual who will best serve me and our country. I look for character, kindness, compassion and honesty.

It can be said that those qualities are hard to find in a politician. Maybe, but many politicians do possess them. The "winner" last night does not have any of these as far as I can tell. Included in these attributes is love of family and family unity. This includes be a faithful and loving partner to your spouse.

I taught the Constitution to my students. I taught Black history. I taught tolerance for people who may not look or act like us. I taught the common good. How a person can be a racist, homophobe, adulterer and felon and represent our country is puzzling to me.

My husband was of Polish decent, and through his family I learned much about that culture. We visited Poland and Auschwitz. We saw what many had gone through and survived. Many in our country do not understand the relevance of defending the Ukraine against Russia. Ask a Pole if they are concerned, and why.

To my first point, no one who threatens distinguished military leaders in our country has a place being commander in chief. God help us.

Those who find nothing wrong with this man's character need to go back to when he was 30 and what he believed in. They should read about his friend, Roy Cohn, and how this man shaped his character and actions. Read more of the family dynamic. Read, period. Always enlightening.

Thank you for allowing me to express how I feel today.

Ginny Czerwinski

Bloomfield Hills

American voters have short memories

Upon waking up Wednesday morning and seeing the winner of the presidential race on my smart phone, my initial thought was that I wasn't awake and having a nightmare. Upon turning on the TV, I found that I wasn't.

This election result proves to me one thing — American voters truly have very short memories. Did people forget the constant chaos of the last Trump administration? The daily threats, angry outbursts and temper tantrums? The never-ending blame of others for situations that he created? The consistent mismanagement of basic needs of this country, especially in protecting us against COVID-19? The egging on of his supporters to overthrow the basic tenant of our government — democracy?

If even half of the ramblings of Project 2025 occur, our country is screwed. God help us all.

Bill VanDriessche

Tawas City