We are all welcome here. That’s true whether we come from Boston or Burundi; choose to partner with a man or a woman; feel trapped in one kind of body and want to be in a different body; are agnostic or Christian or Muslim or follow no religion; register as a Republican, a Democrat, an independent or as a Green Party member — or no party; are poor or rich; needed government help at different times in our life or we didn’t; got here through legal immigration routes or came here illegally to escape torture and death. We are all Mainers.

Gov. Janet Mills gets that. She stood up for Maine and the law when she forcefully replied to President Donald J. Trump that she will see him in court when he tried to impose his twisted agenda on Maine. I was proud of her.

It is utter nonsense to criticize Mills for supporting the rule of law. It is Trump, the demagogue, who exploits people’s fears about immigration and transgender people. State Rep. Laurel Libby prevaricates about such issues. She lies about girls’ sports being in jeopardy. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows debunked Libby’s claims about non-citizen voting. Bellows said it is already prohibited and that “this bill (to address it) is based on a lie…”

Support leaders who bring out the best in people, not the worst. Without resorting to shouting, bullying and lies.

Malcolm Herrling
Brunswick