To the Editor:
In “Disheartened and Disliked, Trudeau Exits” (front page, Jan. 7), you report that “Mr. Trump responded to Mr. Trudeau’s resignation by again suggesting that Canada should become America’s ’51st state.’”
I’d like to thank Donald Trump for his generous offer to become part of the U.S.A. However, most Canadians are quite happy to be living above the U.S.A. and would not even consider taking up that offer. If we were not so polite we would have told him to “Go to hell,” but being polite we could not say that.
Being a good neighbour (our preferred spelling), we would like to extend a counteroffer. In view of the tumultuous years ahead in the U.S.A., we would like to bestow provincial status to any of the close-by states — such as Maine, Vermont, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington and Oregon.
What a great way to get away from Crazy Town that looms just a couple of weeks from now.
Dennis Choptiany
Markham, Ontario
To the Editor:
Dear President-elect Donald Trump:
After reading your post on Truth Social about Canada becoming the 51st state, I have to admit you make two very good points, and those are:
1. We would pay lower taxes, and
2. You would not impose your tariff on our goods.
Unfortunately, your post left out some things we might lose by becoming the 51st state.
1. We would lose universal health care.
2. Our mothers and fathers would lose national maternity and paternity benefits.
3. Our children would have to learn the drills for active shooters.
4. We would have to learn to hate people who vote differently from us, which would be a little difficult since we have five parties in the House of Commons.
5. I apologize, but we would have to learn to be less polite.
6. We would have to give up the national right to an abortion.
7. We would have to learn to mistrust our immigrants.
All in all I think, with all due respect, that most Canadians would prefer to stay just that.
Dave Charlton
Windsor, Ontario
‘Sheer Madness’: Trump’s Panama Canal and Greenland Threats
To the Editor:
Re “Trump Hints at Force to Seize a Canal and Greenland” (news article, Jan. 8):
Donald Trump’s continuing threats to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland as being crucial for our national security are not only sheer madness but also could have disastrous national and international consequences.
Sending troops into a foreign nation that has not attacked the U.S. is tantamount to a declaration of war, which under our Constitution can be declared only by Congress!
It could validate Vladimir Putin’s claim that the invasion of Ukraine is to protect Russia’s national security, give Xi Jinping a justification for invading Taiwan, and potentially encourage rogue nations like North Korea to send troops into South Korea and Iran to use its Revolutionary Guards against its neighbors.
Lastly, it could put the U.S. into a military conflict with NATO forces, as the treaty’s Article 5 commits each member state to assist another member state if it is the victim of an armed attack … or it could spell the death knell for the alliance.
Dick Newbert
Langhorne, Pa.
Trump and TikTok
To the Editor:
Re “Trump First Backed a TikTok Ban, but Now He Has Second Thoughts” (news article, Dec. 30):
Please ask your journalists to stop pretending that there’s any reasoning process going on in Donald Trump’s brain. He doesn’t make decisions based on evidence; everything he does is based on how he feels in the moment, whom he spoke to last and primarily whether it benefits him or not.
We’re in for years of chaos and damage to our government and society, courtesy of voters who believed his lies. Please don’t act as if there’s anything normal or reasonable about this impending disaster.
Carol Mathews
Redwood City, Calif.
Meta and the Facts
To the Editor:
Re “Meta Will Stop Checking Facts on Social Media” (front page, Jan. 8):
I imagine that our next president will be thrilled to hear that Mark Zuckerberg will no longer try to curtail the spread of lies, misinformation or disinformation on Meta’s platforms.
“Fake news” wins the day.
At a time when Americans desperately need honest, factual information about current national and worldwide events and politics, another potential safety net has been lost.
Third-party fact-checking and warnings about possible misinformation are not censorship; they are important ethical business practices.
But being ethical, truthful, fair and honest is apparently not what’s important. Being profitable is all that matters. Money rules; truth and the public lose.
Chandler Rosenberger
Suwanee, Ga.
To the Editor:
It’s notable that Meta’s elimination of its fact-checking is seen as good for the president-elect and his supporters. How odd to celebrate that facts don’t matter.
Michael Lighty
Oakland, Calif.
A Messy Home: The Critic and the Defender
To the Editor:
Re “My Home Is Messy, and I Don’t Feel Bad About It,” by KC Davis (Opinion guest essay, Jan. 5):
I would like to ask Ms. Davis, “Do you want your children to grow up being messy?” I’m sure that as a therapist, she would answer that she wants them to be whoever they are. But part of raising children is teaching them self-respect, discipline and how to integrate into a challenging world.
Why would she force her children to be burdened with the difficulties of inviting their friends over to a disheveled and unclean home? Does she feel no obligation to teach them at least to be organized, as good organizational skills are imperative in many aspects of life?
Maybe she should ask her children what kind of home they would like to live in. I can’t believe they would opt for that chaos.
Ms. Davis can be as guiltlessly messy as she likes, but unfortunately she does not live alone, and so for the sake of her children and even her dog, I believe that a more pragmatic and disciplined approach to housekeeping is warranted.
Dominic Russoli
Rockville, Md.
To the Editor:
Many thanks to KC Davis for her piece about messy homes. I have been constantly admonished by my mother, my friends and even my children for what they deem a mess. But it isn’t a mess; it’s really organized, because I know where everything is. It’s right out in the open.
The “neatniks” clear everything away into drawers and closets and then can’t remember where anything is.
I now have a remedy for all my critics: I leave a vacuum cleaner in full view, and they think I am in the midst of straightening up, so no one says anything.
Jane Feder
Long Beach, N.Y.
