Beware of leaders who believe their own rhetoric

Letter to the Editor,

The highest-ranking sergeant on an Army Special Forces A-Team is the team sergeant. Early in my Special Forces career, a team sergeant told me it’s time to leave Special Forces when you “believe your own advertising.” His reasoning was that once you believe your own advertising, you’re a danger to your teammates and yourself. You no longer have the humility to learn from others or from your own mistakes.

Those words guided me throughout my Army career. Now they apply to America’s political leadership.

When Trump posts on social media an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ, as he did on April 13, he believes his own advertising. When Trump criticizes the Pope over the Pope’s calls for peace and criticism of war, as he did in mid-April, Trump believes his own advertising.

A president who believes his own advertising is a threat to America. He cannot learn from others. He thinks he makes no mistakes.

When Vice President Vance and Sen. Moreno defend Trump’s criticism of the Pope, they reinforce Trump’s belief in his own advertising.

Which leads to questions about Vance, Moreno and every politician supporting Trump. Do they believe the advertising? Are they part of the advertising? Or are they sucking up to Trump and joining Trump as he takes advantage of his followers’ faith in him?

Either way, all politicians whose identity and rhetoric are tied to Trump are a threat to America. Perhaps they are the greatest threat because they are abdicating their responsibilities to America.

They are keeping in power and even encouraging a president who is making America weak, a president who will not learn from others, a president who thinks he makes no mistakes.

So as we approach the midterms, think critically about each candidate. Don’t blindly believe their advertising.

Vince Kaster

Millersburg

Letters to the Editor must be 300 words or less, should include name and place of residence, and include no personal attacks. Letters will be published based on availability of space, and AloNovus Corp. reserves the right not to publish and to edit for clarification purposes. Letters should be emailed to Editor Chris Snow at csnow@alonovus.com.