How did we get here? An unconscionable act: the Trump administration incinerating 500 tons of food in a warehouse in Dubai, enough food to feed 1.5 million children for a week, gone up in ash. How does this happen? Why does this happen?

Our identity, our character traits of decency, compassion, humility and caring, are now less about who we are as a nation and more about the ease with which it seems we don’t need to care, with which we can turn our backs to the less fortunate. We have people in this country who are starving, along with millions abroad, and yet we unabashedly — and with a cold heart — light a match to food that could have served a real need. This is a sad and deplorable example of government waste.

This single inhumane act is a frightening reminder of the mean-spirited forces within the current administration. I realize this is only one act of many, but to incinerate 500 tons of food speaks to the depraved indifference of our elected leaders. Simply appalling.

Steven Palmer
North Yarmouth