Editor, Manteca Bulletin,
During President Trump’s State of the Union Address, he introduced Ji Seong-ho, who escaped North Korea despite losing both his left arm and leg from a train while gathering coal and food for his family.  He traveled 1,000 miles through Asia on crutches to find freedom.  When President Trump introduced Ji Seong-ho, he proudly stood on his prosthetic leg lifting his crutches as a symbol of his new freedom.
As President Trump expressed hope of unity in a divided nation, the faces of Democrats and leaders like Nancy Pelosi showed a scowl, stone face lacking emotion.  He referenced issues and slogans that should bring all American together, regardless of political ideology including our pledge to our great flag and how we must stand for our National Anthem.  While Republicans stood and cheered, the Democrats sat in shameful opposition.  Republicans chanted, “USA, USA.”  One Democrat, Luis Gutierrez stood only to flee the House Chamber.  When President Trump mentioned our National Motto, “In God We Trust”, Democrats remained silent and seated.  Democrat Senator Cory Booker stated Trump used religion, patriotism to divide America.  Unfortunately, those have always been two issues that always brought America together.  America has always been strong because despite individual differences, our politicians always rallied around America’s traditions of values, principles, and beliefs.
When President Trump was elected, the Democrats stated that the economy was going to collapse due to his policies.  However, the economy has accelerated and President Trump touted his first year of 2.4 million new jobs.  Republicans stood and cheered while the Democrats just sat.  President Trump announced that unemployment was the lowest ever for Black Americans and Hispanics.  The Republicans stood and cheered while the Democrats just sat.  President Trump announced a rebuilding of our military and support for our veterans.  Republicans stood and cheered while the Democrats just sat.  Some uninterested Democrats sat looking at their cell phones disinterested.  President Trump hailed the great work of our first responders, including a member from the Albuquerque, New Mexico Police Deptartment.  Republicans stood and cheered while the Democrats just sat.  President Trump acknowledged security of our border, tax cuts, religious liberty, the Bill of Rights, and more.  It didn’t matter what the issue, the Democrats just sat.
There is no ways to bring unity to those who want division.  If we, as Americans, cannot unite under the simplest terms of patriotism for our nation and flag, how can we unite on anything else?  Ji Seong-ho should offer his crutches to the entire Democrat party to assist them to stand up for the freedom that Ji Seong-ho never experienced for most of his life.  Those crutches were his symbol of freedom and would be well used by the Democrats to get them to stand for America’s freedom.

Frank Aquila 
Manteca