Opinion: Will Donald Trump’s presidency be a ‘reign of terror’? We’ll find out soon.

To the editor: True, your conclusion: “Nevertheless, the campaign, and the candidate, played to the worst in America, and it has left the electorate scarred.” (“President Trump? How did that happen?” editorial, Nov. 9)

On first reading, I read “scared.” That the next president and his administration will continue to appeal to prejudice against immigrants and refugees, disrespect for women and suspicion of and disregard for political and social institutions is enough to elicit fear, regardless of party.

The difficult task for President-elect Donald Trump will be to assure all Americans that he truly values inclusion, respects women, supports the media and honors established U.S. global relationships despite his campaign claims and promises. In his first 100 days, if he carries out his threats to abolish the Affordable Care Act, to overthrow environmental protections and government regulations and to end U.S. involvement with our allies, our fears will be justified, and the next four years will be a reign of terror.

Lenore Navarro Dowling, Los Angeles

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To the editor: I woke up Wednesday morning at 4 a.m., turned on the T.V. and was stunned, like millions of others, to hear the most unexpected news in my long life of 102 years: Our new president will be Donald Trump.

I won’t be around much longer, but I am fearful for our future. I have lived through periods where many lives have been sacrificed for the many political and economic gains we now enjoy. Trump has threatened to reverse many of them, and with control of both houses of Congress, it is not an idle threat.

So many lives have been sacrificed to make this great country admired and respected throughout the world. My plea to President-elect Trump is this: Please, let’s keep it that way.

Morrie Markoff, Los Angeles

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To the editor: Now that the election is over, it is time to get on with the peaceful transfer of power from President Obama to Trump.

I know the mere mention of Trump’s name makes some people’s blood boil; however, what’s done is done. Democracy thrives because we are a nation of laws.

Going forward, my wish is that those who voted for Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson or Jill Stein (or didn’t vote at all) work within the system to make the U.S. a more perfect union. The best way to get there is peacefully and thoughtfully. By definition, this means no civil war in the streets and no more congressional dysfunction.

It is clear to this sixty-something father of three the character of our neighbors and fabric of this nation will be tested between now and inauguration day on Jan. 20, which means there is one more vote to tally. I’m counting on people’s better angels to win out.

Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach

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To the editor: I cannot believe that within my lifetime we have gone from Camelot to Emperor.

I went into my son’s room at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. I wrapped myself around him and cried. He of course, being 9, was asleep and will never know I was there. But I was, crying my heart out for the world that I wanted to leave him but never will.

The great struggle begins in all its fury between nationalism and globalism. Apparently millions can still be swayed by an appeal that goes back milleniums. Only now we have nuclear weapons.

The post-modern era has no respect for experience and sobriety. It is all sound bites and shock value and virtual reality. The bright shining moment is past.

We did not witness a winning political campaign. We watched a marketing campaign, where all that matters is the end result. The process is as irrelevant as the truth. Millions, hungry for a champion who verbalized their hopes and fears, came out for their matador. All that stood in his way was intellect, experience and sincerity. It was no match for channeling anger and frustration through lies and deceit.

I kissed my son tonight in his sleep and cried for his future. Years from now he may ask me what happened in 2016 and what did I do to stop it. At that time I will look at him dead in the eye and say, “I was with her.” Flawed, flat and distant. Still: I was with her.

Mathius Gertz, Los Angeles

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To the editor: I am not old enough to remember Father Coughlin or the heyday of the John Birch Society, but I can say without hyperbole that Trump’s campaign is the closest thing to American fascism I have ever seen or ever hope to see.

It did not come from nowhere. Yes, too many of his supporters were simply “deplorables,” but there are serious, systemic problems of economic justice in this country that animated his following. These problems must be dealt with not only as a matter of equity but also to create an environment that will drive out the despair, paranoia and ultimately hatred that fueled Trump’s candidacy.

Evan Puziss, Mar Vista

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