To the Editor:

Re “What I Noticed on That G.O.P. Debate Stage Was Full and Utter Ethical Cowardice” (Opinion, nytimes.com, Aug. 24):

Frank Bruni is on course concerning these candidates who raised their palms in help of a Donald Trump candidacy, even when he’s convicted. It was astonishing to see folks keen to point out fealty to a convicted felon who refused to signal a pledge to help them in the event that they had been nominated.

Sadly, those self same candidates have a practical understanding of the management cult that’s at present’s Republican Social gathering. Donald Trump is a superb admirer of the vindictive Vladimir Putin, who calls for unconditional, one-way loyalty. Who amongst them would need to be metaphorically blown out of an airplane throughout the major season?

Stephen Sander
Pennsbury Township, Pa.

To the Editor:

Re “Ramaswamy Seizes Highlight as DeSantis Hangs Again: 7 Debate Takeaways” (nytimes.com, Aug. 24):

Vivek Ramaswamy’s efficiency on the first G.O.P. presidential debate confirmed that he realized a lesson from the success of Donald Trump in capturing the Republican Social gathering nomination in 2016: The extra outrageous you’re, the extra consideration you’re going to get. The cheers from the viewers demonstrated that.

John A. Viteritti
Laurel, N.Y.

To the Editor:

Re “Trump, Throughout Tucker Carlson Interview, Belittles Republican Rivals” (nytimes.com, Aug. 24):

Throughout his interview with Mr. Carlson, Donald Trump repeated his view of the Jan. 6 Capitol rioters.

“Individuals in that crowd stated it was essentially the most stunning day they’ve ever skilled. There was love in that crowd. There was love and unity,” he stated of his supporters. “I’ve by no means seen such spirit and such ardour and such love.”

Mr. Trump was clearly watching a distinct riot than we had been all watching. If his perceptions of Jan. 6 are that distorted and delusional, what can we count on from a second Trump time period as president?

Mike Barrett
Ashburn, Va.

Madonna, the Musician, Sexual Icon and Activist

To the Editor:

Re “We Hold Getting Madonna Fallacious,” by Mary Gabriel (Opinion visitor essay, Aug. 17):

The issue with Madonna is that she made a profession by promoting her sexuality, and that’s not so outstanding. Her true skills had been advertising and marketing and exposing her physique, not musical proficiency.

Her lack of inventive and emotional authenticity is why she will be able to by no means be in the identical league as different feminine musical artists equivalent to Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Lucinda Williams, Billie Vacation and Aretha Franklin. She was, at greatest, a passing social phenomenon on the cusp of dance tendencies.

Madonna’s complaints of sexism and ageism miss the mark, too. We’d scoff on the sight of former male teen idols donning horny garments of their comfortable center age. Joni and Lucinda and Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney, for that matter, stay stunning and related at any age due to their musical legacy, not cosmetic surgery and pores and skin publicity.

And they’re nonetheless producing significant music.

Christopher Wanjek
Baltimore

To the Editor:

I’d like to notice one different occasion of Madonna’s willingness to struggle in opposition to bigotry. In 2009, Madonna toured the world with a gaggle of Roma musicians, with tour stops that included international locations the place anti-Roma racism nonetheless runs rampant.

As head of the European Roma Rights Middle on the time, I reached out to her by means of her publicist and thru one among her band members and inspired her to talk out on behalf of Roma, the biggest and most oppressed minority in Europe. I bought no response and thought it a wasted effort.

Then in August, at a live performance in Romania in entrance of 60,000 folks, she spoke out in opposition to anti-Roma discrimination. A small gesture, and never one prone to promote tickets. Certainly she was roundly booed on the live performance for her remarks.

Nonetheless we will solely hope that, within the phrases of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, “the arc of the ethical universe is lengthy, nevertheless it bends towards justice.”

Rob Kushen
South Orange, N.J.

Welcoming Migrants

To the Editor:

Re “We Already Know What Works on the Border,” by Andrea R. Flores (Opinion visitor essay, Aug. 12):

Ms. Flores is appropriate that the humanitarian parole applications for folks from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela signify a shiny spot in President Biden’s immigration coverage portfolio. These applications are of essential consequence on the border, the place many people have witnessed the devastating penalties of punitive deterrence insurance policies.

However this shiny spot extends into the inside of the U.S. as nicely. This week we’re representing seven U.S. residents in courtroom to defend their freedom to sponsor these looking for to enter the U.S. by means of this program, which the state of Texas is attempting to dam.

Our shoppers span the political spectrum; they’re Black, white and Latino, with various causes for sponsoring their world neighbors. They’re united by one factor: They acknowledge that communities have as a lot — or extra — to achieve by welcoming newcomers because the newcomers themselves.

Monika Langarica
Esther Sung
Ms. Langarica is a senior workers lawyer with the Middle for Immigration Regulation and Coverage on the U.C.L.A. College of Regulation and Ms. Sung is authorized director of the Justice Motion Middle.

To the Editor:

Re “New York Metropolis Shelters Are Overwhelmed by Flood of Animals” (information article, Aug. 13):

Thanks for the heart-rending descriptions of among the pleasant souls in jeopardy on the New York shelter system’s latest “emergency placement” checklist. In Texas, the place I’m now, issues are not any higher. The shelters are bursting.

As an animal-rights activist, I hope to see all sentient beings handled with compassion and respect. I notice that if society can’t handle that kindness even towards the species we supposedly care about most, then there may be not a lot hope — however this paper’s willingness to give attention to the problem supplied a minimum of a bit of.

Maybe your protection will wake folks up and persuade them to undertake quite than store for his or her subsequent furry member of the family.

Karen Daybreak
Austin
The author is the manager director of DawnWatch, an animal advocacy nonprofit.