To the editor:

The rough and tough GOP presents itself as hard scrabble, grizzled and self-made. True Americans. But while they self-describe as the embodiment of the American story, their behaviors belie their rhetoric. Which side of their mouths are to be believed? They are afraid of immigrants. And poor people. And people of color. And girls. And pregnant girls. And queers. And bathrooms. And history. And books. And Disney. And diversity. And equity. And inclusion. And change. And voters. And librarians. And celebrities. They need to walk around with loaded guns to protect themselves from the boogeyman, which is typically, others with guns. Battlefield weapons to be more exact.

Being afraid is so much who they are that they are even afraid of their own leader. None among them dares to speak against the dear leader. For fear he will be mean to them. Their elected representatives spoke out against him following their shared experience during an insurrection inside the capitol and an intended hanging of his vice president. Until the next day when they were back in the fold, cowering and filled with praise for the liar, cheater, grifter, criminal, felon and admirer of dictators. Fear. Of everything.

Rational Republicans. This message is for you. Practical advice from a lifelong independent. Do you want your party back? Do you want to feel proud of your conservative ideology? Vote Democrat this election. You don’t have to tell anyone. You don’t have to be afraid.

Peter Karastamatis

Fort Myers