To the Editor:
Re “Trump Seeks to Eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts” (information article, nytimes.com, Could 2) and “Top Officials at National Endowment for Arts Resign Amid Cuts by Trump” (information article, Could 7):
I can’t say I used to be shocked by President Trump’s proposal to eradicate the Nationwide Endowment for the Arts and the Nationwide Endowment for the Humanities. Autocrats scorn artwork for its potential to talk reality to energy. They know that artwork can mobilize and unite, encourage and defy. Sure, artwork challenges authority, and it’s fairly clear by now that Mr. Trump assails all challengers.
As a highschool instructor during the last 28 years, I’ve been lucky to participate in N.E.H. programming, particularly its Summer season Institutes and its Landmarks of American Historical past and Tradition Workshops.
At these gatherings of lecturers and specialists from across the nation, I’ve deepened my data of literature, historical past, music and geography. I’ve exchanged concepts with different educators. I’ve developed lasting friendships. I’ve honed my experience. 1000’s of my college students have loved enriched classes because of my involvement in N.E.H.-funded institutes and workshops.
With a crumbling training system and a shrinking instructor pipeline in a lot of America, isn’t such programming the very antidote to failure?
The slash-and-burn strategy of this administration doesn’t simply undermine our financial system, our social security nets, our historic preservation and our scientific analysis and development. It additionally leaves in ashes the democratic values — knowledge, imaginative and prescient, creativity, innovation — that create an engaged citizenry.
In fact, that’s all a part of the plan. A disengaged, fearful, overwhelmed citizenry is a lot simpler to manage.
Gary J. Whitehead
Norwood, N.J.
To the Editor:
Concerning President Trump’s proposal to eradicate the Institute of Museum and Library Providers, we must always keep in mind simply why such establishments are necessary. In fact, museums and libraries have many features, however some of the vital is that they offer us all direct entry to artistic endeavors.
What’s particular about being concerned in artwork is that, for the second that we’re immersed in a murals, we’re higher folks — extra inventive, kinder, extra idealistic, extra alive — than we’re usually. What is unhappy is that, within the subsequent second, we’re our usual selves once more. Such is life.
Nonetheless, it’s good to be reminded every now and then of what we could be. Museums and libraries are locations the place we could be in contact with our greatest selves.
Frank Robinson
Ithaca, N.Y.
The author was a museum director for 35 years, at Williams School, the Rhode Island Faculty of Design Museum and Cornell College.
Trump’s Risk of Tariffs on Movies Made Overseas
To the Editor:
Re “Citing National Security, Trump Vows a Tariff on Movies Made Outside U.S.” (information article, Could 6):
Collectively together with his thirst for absolute energy and management and his penchant for exacting revenge on his perceived enemies, Donald Trump has added one other dimension.
For the disingenuous purpose of constructing Hollywood nice once more, President Trump mentioned he would impose a 100% tariff on motion pictures “produced” exterior america. If he meant motion pictures made by different nations like these we see at overseas movie festivals right here, Mr. Trump has proven himself to be fairly prescient. Nonetheless creatively disguised, such movies could certainly mirror an anti-Trump bias.
We now have realized that Mr. Trump takes no blame, accepts no accountability and exacts retribution on his critics. But he blames others for his errors and criticizes, demeans or mocks his perceived enemies consistently. Hypocrisy as common.
Together with his risk of tariffs on the overseas movie trade and his unbelievable suggestion that he needs solely to make Hollywood nice once more, he’s now in search of retribution earlier than a slight happens. Maybe he is aware of it is going to be coming.
Patricia Weller
Emmitsburg, Md.
To the Editor:
I’m a senior, considerably homebound. One in all my few pleasures are high quality movies about historical past, a lot of them from Europe. President Trump is entertained by professional wrestling; I’m entertained by historic drama. We now have totally different tastes.
Happily, in America we now have been free to decide on, thus far. People select what they need to devour, and it’s not all the time about worth. Typically it’s about high quality as nicely.
It appears that we are going to find yourself like Communist nations, the place the federal government managed what you may buy, leading to mediocrity. How can it’s that the occasion of free enterprise now provides us a future during which the state limits what we are able to purchase and even what we are able to get pleasure from, corresponding to historic dramas that educate and entertain?
Beverly Bozung
Palm Seashore Gardens, Fla.
