I write to say thanks to Tom Williams for his recent My Turn describing the despicable remarks made by our former President toward those men and women who sacrificed their lives so he can live in a free country and say whatever he wants to say however threatening [“No sense of honor or sacrifice,” Recorder, April 3].

I often ask myself, if I or another American were to publicly say Donald Trump should be executed for his disloyalty to our country's Constitution and for inciting individuals to storm our nation's capitol on January 6th, what would happen to us? We would surely face retribution. Free speech is a precious right given to us by our founding fathers and preserved by those men and women who gave their lives fighting against authoritarian demagogues like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini who all silenced their opponents. Putin continues that pattern.

There is a point where freedom of speech crosses a line especially when it threatens the lives of individuals serving our country be it in our military, our judicial system, or those protecting our voting system. Trump has crossed that line in all three of those arenas. Our veterans, both past and present, do not deserve to be called "suckers and losers" by a con artist who suffers from a severe case of narcissistic personality disorder. When you cast your vote this November try to remember those who gave their lives for you to have that right. Don't fall in the con man's rabbit hole. Yes Tom Williams, I stand with you!

Patricia Stevenson

Shelburne