Rachel Ohm’s June 1 article, “Legacy of Margaret Chase Smith’s ‘Declaration of Conscience’ speech lives on 75 years later,” offered such an on-point message in today’s political world. Would that today’s Republicans demonstrated Sen. Smith’s courage.

There was an editorial cartoon years ago in which a lemming questions aloud the group’s leadership as he rushes with others to plunge off a cliff. And, as they near the edge, a fellow lemming chastises him, wondering why he was “undermining the troops.” The tendency of lemmings to follow their leader off the cliff may be a myth, but Donald Trump supporters, in particular Republican legislators, seem to exemplify this “lemming mentality.”

I wonder whether any of those who have taken the plunge have had second thoughts about their decision on the way down. I’m guessing a few wish they had packed a parachute. Of course, had they packed a moral compass, like that of Margaret Chase Smith, they would never have gotten as far as the cliff in the first place.

Stephen Gladstone
Cleveland, Ohio