The Tribune Editorial Board sees no contradiction or hypocrisy, apparently, in its statement about words that matter. Its members decided to criticize U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, who represents Illinois’ 3rd District, for her comment that she felt a strong affiliation with her family’s native Guatemala by commenting, “I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American” (“Words matter when you’re elected to represent America, congresswoman Ramirez,” Aug. 6).
The editorial board writes: “But Americans expect their leaders to confirm their belief in and allegiance to this country.” In these challenging and frustratingly difficult times, I often have to search to find pride in my own American birthright. Our authoritarian president continues his daily attacks on our democracy and has made astounding progress in deconstructing our government with the active assistance of Congress and the Supreme Court. Are there Tribune editorials about Donald Trump’s authoritarianism that decry his words?
Should I find myself in a discussion with any French, Canadian, British or other person born outside the U.S. about America’s values, I would struggle to find the words to support our domestic agenda and the government’s poor treatment of other nations with the administration’s threats and bullying.
What is the importance of words if editorial board members make their living through the use of words but don’t see the overriding importance to speak out about the downfall of our democratic institutions?
Does the Tribune Editorial Board honestly believe that words matter or is the editorial on Ramirez just clickbait?
— Patrick Comer, Clarendon Hills
Spanish transcript?
I am profoundly disappointed with the editorial on U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez’s speech to the Panamerican Congress. A responsible editorial staff would have published the original Spanish transcript as well as her English remarks and given its audience a fuller context.
Instead, the editorial board jumped on the right-wing narrative clearly designed to outrage people. There are competing translations that support the interpretation that she meant to say she identified as American first. Has the editorial board even bothered to consult with Spanish speakers? With so many Spanish speakers in Chicagoland, it is incredible that the editorial board could botch a simple assignment.
How is this contributing to the civil discourse that is severely stressed under this current regime?
— Peter Stovall, Skokie
Unfair to Ramirez
The editorial on U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez takes out of context a statement in which Ramirez declares her pride in her ethnicity, twisting it to sound like she is unpatriotic.
Does this editorial writer know of anyone of Irish or Mexican or Indian descent who is proud of their ethnic origin?
I wonder if the Tribune writer spoke to Ramirez to ascertain what she said or look at her record as a U.S. representative. Her record is as patriotic as any and more courageous than most. She speaks truth to power, risking her political career.
— Javeed Akhter, Oak Brook
Choice of words
I can say that I’m a proud Italian before I’m an American since my father emigrated from Italy and I was born in America, but I would blemish the pride he exhibited as a U.S. citizen who assimilated in his adopted country. He had no formal education and always followed the direction offered by the local Democratic precinct captain who visited our home with instructions on pulling the lever at the polling machine to vote straight Democrat.
Recently, Democratic U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois made a controversial comment in saying “I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American.” She was born in Chicago to immigrant parents and became a birthright citizen.
I’m not attacking Ramirez, but her choice of words in the public domain casts doubt on her loyalty as a federal official taking an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution. Will she represent all Illinoisans?
— Robert Meale, Crystal Lake
Source of disunity
For the millionth time, the issue is not immigrants. The issue is unbridled immigration in which we don’t know who is coming in. And then on top of that, our government now feels responsible to take care of these migrants when our federal, state and local governments are deeply in debt.
E pluribus unum, “out of many, one,” is one our nation’s mottos. Immigrants of the past assimilated to our American culture to become full Americans. Now we are ashamed of America and its culture, and we encourage our immigrants to be diverse. Not all assimilate.
And that is a weakness. Our country is no longer united. There are very few things that we are united on. Congress is split down the middle. Our country is split down the middle. Our modern immigration policies encourage only more division, not less.
— Larry Craig, Wilmette
Advice for Democrats
Reflecting on The Associated Press article “Many Dems not happy with party” (in print Aug. 4), the Democratic Party is perceived as “weak” and “ineffective” at thwarting the growing power and influence of the current White House administration. Conversely, I would like to offer a different perspective and a blueprint for the Democratic Party.
Protesting, holding rallies, conducting filibusters in the Senate or expressing unrelenting criticism of the current president is not a formula for sustained, future success. It further divides disillusioned Democratic voters while alienating moderates, independents and Republicans not enamored with the current administration. Instead, the Democratic Party needs to promote a political, economic and social platform that appeals to both its loyal core and disillusioned voters.
The Democratic Party needs to focus on issues that unequivocally resonate with its base, such as a robust economy that prioritizes the middle class while providing aid and economic opportunities for the poor. Democrats need to reprioritize clean energy (solar and wind) while providing job training for coal miners and other workers whose jobs will eventually become obsolete. They need to focus on rebuilding and modernizing our nation’s infrastructure and aggressively promote mass transportation to curtail traffic gridlock. They need to promote an objective and fair immigration policy that encourages immigrants to immigrate to America legally while humanely addressing immigrants in the country illegally. They need to promote a foreign policy that proactively reaches out to and works collaboratively with our allies in addressing unprovoked aggression. They need to embrace a trade policy based on laissez faire principles and eradicate punitive and erratically enacted tariffs.
Most importantly, the Democratic Party needs to actively reach out to and listen to its constituents and disillusioned former supporters.
The upcoming 2026 congressional elections are a golden opportunity for the Democratic Party to sway the current political climate toward an empathetic, kinder atmosphere. The American people are seeking solace and inspiration from its leaders, not pettiness and skullduggery.
The time to act is now. The world is watching.
— Lawrence E. Bonk, Roselle, Illinois
End to subservience
It was with great interest and gratitude that I read Heidi Stevens’ column “President not owed quiet subservience” (Aug. 3).
At a time when too many universities, law firms and politicians are rolling over and capitulating to this president’s threats, it is a relief to see articles, such as Stevens’, appearing in our local newspaper.
But perhaps we are already witnessing a shift in attitude as President Donald Trump’s actions become more and more dictatorial and erratic. Economists and others are voicing concerns over his blustering, threatening use of tariffs as a weapon in international affairs. A few Republican members of Congress have spoken out about his threats and denials regarding the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics employment report. Some law firms and universities are standing firm against intimidation. And, of course, there are the rallies and demonstrations where thousands of ordinary citizens are coming out in defense of democracy.
I hope the “quiet subservience” is actually coming to an end, because a Hungarian-style of government will not appeal to many Americans if it should come to pass.
— Pamela Harrison, Chicago
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