What has happened to my country? I am 80 years old, and I no longer recognize it.

Until a few years ago, even ONE of the things the current MAGA presidential candidate has said or done would have instantly derailed his political career … permanently.

Why do so many accept, excuse, or gloss over mocking our veterans, demeaning and sexually assaulting women, making fun of handicapped people, disdaining our captured or wounded war heroes and Gold Star parents, idealizing and praising autocrats like Viktor Orban and Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, constantly lying and spewing cruel and rambling, even demented nonsense that truly insults the American people daily?

The hypocrisy in matters of faith, especially, is beyond me.

What has happened to our precious American values and ideals, our faith and our souls? Are American priorities and faith now devoid of empathy, kindness, respect and common decency? Do we still share a desire to settle differences within these ideals without the lurking specters of violence and hatred and power grabbing?

Until the last few years, I have never seen such vulgarity and anger in people’s political signs, flags, and online comments.

Sadly, our children are watching all of this. What are we teaching them?

It’s not a matter of party right now. It’s about much more than that. Are we OK with enshrining this lack of values and ethics in the White House?

Please think about it.

SHARON LEE RICKARD,

Hillman