Trump, Thinking about the Thwarted Travel Ban

President Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave

Washington DC 20500

16 March 2017 

Dear President Trump,  

Once again, courts have ruled that a discriminatory travel ban that seeks specifically to bar Muslims from entering the United States goes against our constitution and once again your response is to criticize the Judge that issued the ruling. 

I understand that you are frustrated, but is this always how you react to setbacks, by blaming and insulting the person on the other side.  That is, at best, childish.  In light of the fact that on two different occasions, with two different versions of the travel ban, different judges have ruled the discrimination against Muslims as unlawful, this might be a good time to consider whether it is the idea of the travel ban that is flawed, rather than the judges. 

You have stated on several occasions that the idea of the travel ban is to prevent “bad guys” from coming into this country.  It would be a much easier world to deal with if all the bad people believed in the same religion or lived in the same country, but that just isn’t the case.  We have bad people already living in the United States – people who participate in hate crimes, people who ignore the law, people who kill innocent people by driving while drunk, people who cheat on their taxes, those who engage in sexual abuse and so on.  Some of the worst acts of terror committed in this country  have been committed by school shooters, who were born and raised here. 

And of course, there are countless examples of Muslims in this country who have done a great deal of good, from hardworking people who pay their taxes and care about their families to doctors and teachers and philanthropists.   

While banning Muslims from this country will not keep the bad guys out, it will increase resentment for our country abroad, and that will result in ISIS having a much easier time recruiting.  So I urge you, instead of criticizing and insulting the judges, consider rethinking your approach.   

Sincerely,

 

William Boerman-Cornell