To the editor:

I can remember a time in America when you might have heard “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Sadly this is no longer true. Today it is more likely to be “If I disagree with what you say, I will try to cancel you, twitter shame you into oblivion, demand that you be fired or removed from public office.” The marauders who stormed the nation’s Capitol under the delusion they were defending democracy may have in fact hastened its demise. The censorship frenzy in recent days since the event is an example.

Because of the intense hatred of Donald Trump, fomented in large part by the relentless 24/7 news media bashing of his administration, a majority of American voters have calculated that risking exposure of their children and grandchildren to a lifetime of socialist ideology was the lesser of two evils when weighed against the prospect of returning Trump to office for four more years. The results of that calculation are yet to be realized.

Gary Hamon,

Lawrence