To the Editor:
Re “A Warning From Justice Souter: Too Much Ignorance Will Imperil Democracy,” by Adam Liptak (Sidebar column, Might 13):
Justice David Souter was prescient in elevating the alarm in 2012, lengthy earlier than the Trump presidency. Like Justice Souter, the founding fathers have been instructed by the autumn of the Roman Republic and long-established our separation of powers to keep away from its pitfalls.
Now President Trump is trying to brush apart constitutional restraints on government energy and set up “presidential authorities,” with the legislative and judicial branches diminished and compliant.
Mr. Trump’s authoritarianism is constructed on his cult of persona. Will his corruption of American constitutionalism change into so structurally embedded that any successors might rule with out the cult? That’s the unresolved query.
Steven Berkowitz
New York
To the Editor:
David Souter, the previous Supreme Court docket justice who died final week, as soon as acknowledged, “I don’t consider there’s any drawback of American politics and American public life which is extra vital immediately than the pervasive civic ignorance of the Structure of america and the construction of presidency.”
A course on our Structure — what it says and what it means — needs to be required for highschool college students at each faculty, private and non-private, within the nation.
Leonard Malkin
Detroit
To the Editor:
Re “For Trump, the Constitution Is a Hindrance as He Pushes for Deportations” (White Home Memo, nytimes.com, Might 5):
I’ve a suggestion for responding to President Trump’s acknowledged ignorance of his obligation to defend the U.S. Structure regardless of swearing an oath of workplace lower than 4 months in the past to do exactly that.
In my introductory programs, college students are required to take a quiz on the syllabus earlier than they will get entry to course readings or homework assignments. The quiz is open e-book, and college students can take it as many instances as they need, however they need to rating one hundred pc earlier than they’re permitted to get to the course content material. This quiz is an efficient strategy to keep away from conditions wherein college students don’t observe course guidelines as a result of they have no idea what they’re.
Evidently President Trump wants a syllabus quiz on the Structure earlier than being granted entry to the U.S. authorized system. If Chief Justice John Roberts is busy, any first-year legislation scholar might devise and administer such a quiz.
Deborah Beck
Austin, Texas
The author teaches mythology, Latin and historic Greek on the College of Texas at Austin.
The Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Disaster
To the Editor:
Re “Leo XIV May Prove Frustrating for Catholics in the U.S.,” by Sam Sawyer (Opinion visitor essay, Might 13):
Father Sawyer, a Jesuit priest and the editor in chief of the Catholic journal America, affords a compelling view of what conservative or liberal American Catholics would possibly hope for in Pope Leo. One matter not talked about: the sexual abuse disaster.
Throughout the worldwide church, together with near residence in Leo’s native metropolis, Chicago, in addition to in Peru and Italy throughout his priestly ministry, this scourge has introduced piercing trauma to victims. I do know. As a clerical abuse survivor, I pray that Leo will proceed the therapeutic his predecessor Francis embraced.
Abuse is neither conservative nor liberal. All brothers and sisters out and in of the pews are affected, no matter political get together or doctrinal persuasion.
Mark Joseph Williams
Basking Ridge, N.J.
The author is a particular adviser to the Archdiocese of Newark and the writer of “Torrent of Grace: A Catholic Survivor’s Therapeutic Journey After Clergy Abuse.”
To the Editor:
Re “Elon Musk Fed His Reputation Into the Wood Chipper,” by David Nasaw (Opinion visitor essay, Might 12):
The devastation wrought by Elon Musk, the “unelected co-president,” actually factors to the individuals in our authorities who’ve abetted his actions or adopted the stance of willfully heedless cowards.
Our leaders clumsily wield energy on the expense of employees, households and our international repute. That’s what’s within the wooden chipper.
Ann Kloter
Essex, Conn.
