Cole is right about ‘crazies.’ The right has more of them

I don’t always agree with what Althea Cole writes, but I have to say that I agree with most of what she wrote on July 21.

First, I am sorry for her continued trauma due to the person who poured marbles on the steps at the Union. That was an inexcusable act and invalid way to protest, no matter what the issue or position.

My only objection to Cole’s column is the symmetry she accords to violent acts from left- and right-leaning groups. True, there have been calls to violence on both sides; but is obvious that the right has been much more vigorous in promoting violence, some of it coming from the Republican nominee himself. We can recall from the very beginning, Trump encouraging the “second amendment people” at a rally in 2016, and much more recently, implying that the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff deserves execution. And the Mark Robinson speech saying that “some folks need killing.” Then, of course, there was the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, facilitated by Trump, that resulted in injuries and deaths.

These are but a few of the many horrendous calls to violence that we hear coming from Trump and his supporters. I’m not talking what-about-isms. I am talking about the inherent lie in claiming a balanced situation when it is in fact highly unbalanced.

Russ Lenth

North Liberty