Trump administration buffoonery on display with “make federal buildings beautiful again”

Thank you to the Sun-Times Editorial Board for finally calling a spade a spade in its critique of Donald Trump’s latest buffoonery: The draft order, now being circulated around his administration, entitled, if you can believe it, “Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again.”

In the mode of dictators past, including Hitler, Franco, Mussolini and Stalin, people in the Trump administration now want to dictate architectural style for future federal buildings by mandating that they return to the look of the Roman Empire — glorious in its day, but hardly appropriate any longer.

No doubt the global architecture community shall have much to say about this. But more significant is that by labeling this action “reactionary,” the editorial has at last accurately defined the true nature of our political right, which customarily is euphemistically called “conservative.” In reality, our political right wing actually seeks to conserve only its power. It cares not one whit about conserving what matters: our planet, air and water, natural wonders, one-person-one-vote, or fair sharing of the bounty of our lands or labor.

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Instead, their impulse more precisely fits the definition of reactionary: Preferring “a former outmoded political or social order or policy.” The sooner the journalism community acknowledges this and discontinues using “conservative” in favor of “reactionary,” the sooner it shall embrace political reality.

Consistent usage here in Chicago might even persuade the journalists elsewhere to follow suit in the interest of truth and accuracy.

Ted Z. Manuel, Hyde Park

Limbaugh’s medal

If Rush Limbaugh deserves the Medal of Freedom, then this letter qualifies me for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Leonard Hall, LaGrange Highlands

Federal Plaza isn’t striking

I agree with your editorial about the Trump administration’s ill-conceived plan for a “President’s Committee for the Re-Beautification of Federal Architecture.” However, the Sun-Times referring to Federal Plaza as an “assemblage of striking buildings” is off base. The plaza’s buildings are strikingly boring, especially when compared to the numerous architectural gems Chicago has to offer.

Ted Staroscik, Darien

Educating students “In the Zone”

I read Maudlyne Ihejirika’s Feb. 6 column and am so impressed with her depth of research to bring us a truly heartfelt column. I certainly hope that by her exposing us to the movie “In the Zone,” that it is feverishly welcomed in all neighborhood theaters, and possibly even be the subject of a required class outing. Thank you for sharing this remarkable experience with your readers.

Rosemarie Sulek, Wildwood