Before I address the current whirlwind the Trump cult and the Jan. 29 letter Sour Grape Syndrome by Richard Hill I must take issue with the premise in the Feb. 18th article The Value of Local Artists by artist Mr. Josh Cox. He claims no one has experienced what Marshalltown residents have and only Marshalltown artists can paint what is unique to Marshalltown! Well pardon me but that is an extremely narrow vision of artistry!

My brother was an artist and his view of art was to make all people feel the painting! Let’s say a Marshalltown artist painted the destruction of the Marshalltown tornado it should give others who lived through a different tornado the same like emotions. I am not an artist but I like art which makes me feel or envision what the artist is trying to express.

Now back to the whirlwind of the Trump cult. Now I have said it before but I will say it again to Mr. Hill. I will not normalize Trump’s criminal behavior! There are three philosophical and psychological camps operating in America: Camp A loves Trump, Camp B hates Trump and Camp C believes Trump is mentally ill! I reside in the Third Camp!

Now I am sick and tired of people misunderstanding my anger! I do not hate Trump but I do despise his actions and his bigotry. Nothing more nothing less. I did not wish the assassin bullet to be more successful nor do I wish another to try.

Trump is an authoritarian bigot and needs to be in jail for his Jan. 6 crime of inciting to overthrow our National election nothing more nothing less.

My true outrage however reflects Matthew 23 towards those religious leaders who coddled Trump. They seek destructive dominion over the minds of freedom loving people. In Matthew 23 Jesus describes the minds and hearts of the scribes and Pharisees “you are white washed tombs full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness”.

As an Ecumenical Catholic the recent attacks by Elon Musk against Lutheran Social Services is EVIL! To attack an organization that provides humanitarian aid on so many levels is disgusting and Musk should face national condemnation.