Regarding Donald Trump’s July 27 speech at the Believers’ Summit in Florida. If you read the transcript of the speech, and not just Al Sharpton’s soundbite, you will understand that Trump was chiding Christians for being reluctant to vote. Speaking to an avowedly Christian audience, Trump said: “And by the way, Christians have to vote. You know, I don’t want to scold you. But do you know that Christians do not vote proportionately? They don’t vote like they should. They’re not big voters ... You know, you have tremendous power but you just don’t know that, but you have to use that power. Christians are a group that’s known not to vote very much. You have to go out at least this election.” You have to vote “at least this election” is a far cry from seeing Trump claiming authoritarian power to ban future elections. Trump is begging the audience to trust the system. Vote for him and he will do everything he can to fulfill the political goals Christians hold dear. He will try to fix what is broken in American society. But he needs the full participation of reluctant voters.

Susan Malley

Greenfield