I understand that editorials and letters are opinion pieces, and I read each week interesting and thought-provoking pieces by East Bay readers and others. I especially enjoy Arlene Violet who provides facts and figures to bolster her argument. I may not always agree with her, but her words give me reason to stop and think. 

In the April 30 issue I read an editorial submitted by Mr. Brown of Alexandria, VA. Actually, I misused the word “editorial.” His piece was a rant with no facts, and the only idea I gleaned from it was that he hates the President of the United States. 

There’s no need to rebut every accusation Mr. Brown leveled at the president, but I doubt Mr. Brown has personally had the president on the couch for analysis or spent personal time with the man when Mr. Brown claims, “He lacks analytical skills, leadership skills, management skills, and interpersonal skills … the president is not equipped either intellectually or temperamentally to hold the job into which he stumbled.”

It is clear that the nation is split politically and that every president has strengths and weaknesses. To be critical of their actions and words is our right, but let’s provide some facts—some historical perspective--to make that criticism credible. 

Finally, I sincerely hope that the staff of East Bay Newspapers are safe and healthy with stable employment  and that the economic and social distancing situation will not adversely affect the publishing schedule or the company. Besides my concern for the economic wellbeing of any business and its employees during theses difficult times, I confess, selfishly, the paper is one of our special links with the area, my wife being a Rhode Island native.

Sonny Barber

Boca Raton, Florida