September 27, 2026
Dear editor;
It takes years of reciprocal trust and patience to forge meaningful relationships into friendships. It takes only minutes to destroy them. This is true, in an intricately more complicated way, with nation-states, where the consequences of either trusting or not trusting between the world’s people, who share both similarities and differences, can either enhance or destroy peace on a global scale. As individuals make friendships that are mutually beneficial, so do nation-states align themselves for mutually beneficial purposes, usually economic, strategic, and sometimes spiritual.
America has contributed greatly to its alliances with other democratically organized nations and has also greatly benefited economically and strategically and has stood unequivocally alone as leader of the free world. Now we just stand alone. President Donald Trump’s reckless tariff policies toward our oldest and trusted allies, enabled by a spineless Republican congress, and his obnoxious, ego-driven, school-boy insults accompanied by threats, along with various strategic moves, including an unnecessary war significantly curtailing Persian Gulf oil exports, will not make America great again. As America’s allies begin to seek a new direction, our traditional adversaries—China, Russia, and North Korea—become more emboldened. Former head of the Council of Foreign Relations, Robert Haas stated to journalist Jonathon Lemire, “Trump has dramatically accelerated the arrival of what can be described as a post-American world. He has reduced U.S. influence by not standing up to our foes or standing with our allies.”
With our democracy in tatters, a somewhat shredded rule of law, and our allies looking elsewhere, Trump announced plans to build a 250-foot arch “to honor me!”, he initially told journalists. Replete with observation deck, gilded winged statues, and a gift shop, the arch is to be built near the entrance of the Arlington National Cemetery. The news of its impending construction gave me that warm, fuzzy feeling inside—like swallowing a mouthful of caterpillars! But, true to his nature, Trump changed the plan of the arch into a military project that would now include snipers, drones, and ammunition storage. The change adds “a can of worms” to the plan that needs to be dealt with before it can be approved by fawning Trump appointed bureaucrats.
I know I am not alone hoping for the permanent delay in construction of Trump’s arch, especially near the entrance to the Arlington National Cemetery. The serenity, sanctity, and atmosphere of the entire area would be destroyed by this 250-foot-high behemoth, just to massage the presidents’ fragile ego. Even Trump’s supporters and Republicans in general are tired of his so-called vanity projects. If it must be built, maybe another site could be found—maybe Mar-a-Lago.
Dave Hoehne, Aurora