Extra Letters: To attend or not attend Donald Trump's inauguration?

Not my president

EDITOR: This past week, I called the Washington office of Rep. Jared Huffman to let him know that I support 100 percent his decision to not attend the inauguration. The person I spoke to assured me that he would get the message.

I have another message, this one for those of my fellow Americans who supported the incoming president-elect: I'm all for working to make America even greater, but he's not my president and, sadly, neither is he yours.

CYNTHIA FLORENZEN

Healdsburg

Huffman has courage

EDITOR: Donald Trump has suggested that we may be “living in Nazi Germany.” If we were in Nazi Germany and the leader was to be inaugurated, would we go to the ceremony in order to “honor” the tradition, or would we boycott the inauguration because of the dishonorable leader?

By not supporting Rep. Jared Huffman's decision to forgo the inauguration, I believe that the Press Democrat's Editorial Board is trying to separate the office from the officeholder, which seems impossible (“Terms of engagement with Trump,” Sunday).

Honoring the tradition of the inauguration seems particularly difficult, given that Trump hasn't honored the traditional behavior of a presidential candidate by his disrespect of people for their religion, disability, race, gender and military service.

I honor Huffman for his courage in refusing to attend this inauguration.

JULIAN BLAIR

Santa Rosa

Representing local voters

EDITOR: I respectfully and completely disagree with your editorial implying that Rep. Jared Huffman is basically an obstructionist because he is choosing to not attend the inauguration. Huffman is actually representing the views of the four-fifths of the people you mentioned who didn't vote for this man.

Even though your views about the deliberate behavior over the past eight years by Republicans is fair, to sit at that event on Friday and applaud (albeit politely) when so many of his constituents probably support the comments of Rep. John Lewis that the election left us with a basically illegitimate president would be hypocritical for Huffman.

I support the freedom we have as Americans to protest, and I support Huffman and others who refuse to go. I believe that Huffman will do his best as other Democrats will to work with Congress as best they can over the next few horrible years, but he has a right to protest as any other American does.

I am, unfortunately, unsubscribing to The Press Democrat because I don't believe you are backing the importance of peaceful protest in our country at a time when it is needed.

NANCI HOBAN

Santa Rosa

Respecting tradition

EDITOR: You are very correct in saying that the public is frustrated and upset of scorched-earth tactics and gridlock. But traditions should be respected when the activities of the individual deserves respect.

Someone who is waging war with people and ethics, discriminating and offering harmful polices (immigration, climate change, health care, workers' rights and other issues) doesn't deserve to have traditions adhered to.

Folks attending the event are part of problem and aren't to be trusted. We should honor the tradition but not with Donald Trump present.

GINO N. ZALUNARDO

Santa Rosa

Huffman's absence

EDITOR: I was disappointed to read that Rep. Jared Huffman has decided not to attend the swearing in of Donald Trump (“Huffman swears off Trump's swearing in,” Jan. 10).

Whether or not he agrees with Trump, he should attend the ceremony. Every four years we validate our republic by swearing in a person who has been chosen to be the president. Representing his constituency by attending the inauguration serves all of us living in his district, even those who didn't vote for him. Huffman also stated that “the peaceful transfer of power must always transcend partisan differences.”

Does Huffman truly know that we are entering a “dark and very dangerous political chapter”?

Maybe we are. But he should show some guts, attend the inauguration and honor our country. He was elected to be a leader not an obstructionist. I, and many more like me, expect him to work with the executive branch to find solutions. It probably won't happen if he isn't willing to try.

BOB BOSTITCH

Petaluma

Sham inauguration

EDITOR: No matter how The Press Democrat Editorial Board wants to frame this inauguration as an important American event that our representatives should attend, it is a sham (“Terms of engagement with Trump,” Sunday). There is just too much evidence to support that this terrible election accident was indeed an accident.

Rep. Jared Huffman will be working hard in his district this week in support of issues that are essential for all Americans, unlike the president-elect, who is rapidly eliminating large groups of American citizen supporters by setting the stage for denying rights, damaging the environment and increasing taxes for those less able to pay.

MELISSA VANDEVEER

Sebastopol