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Letters to the Editor, Aug. 27 Sunday Aug 27, 2017 at 12:01 AM Whose science denial? Alan Journet's training as an entymologist prepared him for studying insects but falls short when it comes to understanding humans — especially our behavior with politically charged issues like global warming. There's plenty of research explaining "science denial” — which occurs on both sides of our political divide. Activists like Alan don't engage that science because it demonstrates that their own biases also affect what is regarded as factual — especially so with "climate change," where Alan aligns politically with some of the science, not all. To claim "the science" is on his side doesn't add up. Humans of every political orientation suffer from what cognitive scientists call "my-side bias"; we are "motivated reasoners" whose tribal origins impede objective reasoning. We discover truth through persuasion — making arguments in the public square. It's a fundamental American principle: Free speech, the unfettered exchange of ideas, is how we elicit truth; talking openly — something political activists on the left increasingly refuse and disallow. Jefferson wrote, "In a republican nation whose citizens are to be led by reason and persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning becomes of first importance." Join us for The Weekly Talk to learn more: TheWeeklyTALK.com. Rob Schlapfer Medford Milbank's hypocrisy In his column (Aug. 20), Dana Milbank condemned what he called ​"three court Jews" on Trump's staff for not speaking out ​against ​white racists. Perhaps they ​should have. Milbank is a Jew. Why doesn't he speak out against anti-Semitism pouring out of the left on American college campuses, from leftists all over Europe and from radical Muslims? Why didn't Milbank speak out when many​ leftists involved ​with Occupy Wall Street​ blamed Jews for the​ir​​ grievances.​ Why didn't Milbank speak out recently when the Chicago Dyke March kicked out Jewish participants who supported Israel?​ ​Why didn't​ Milbank speak out when Obama gave billions of dollars to the Jew-hating mullahs in Iran?​ ​I find it very offensive for Milbank to refer to the "court Jews." The implication is that only Jews have the obligation to speak out. Maynard Telpner Talent A moral disgrace As a combat vet it's taken me a week to regurgitate what Republican president Trump said about Charlottesville neo-Nazis, KKK and others, and who never stopped for one minute to consider the feelings of American veterans who have given their lives to protect this country we call America. One such place is the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, the final resting place for thousands who fought Hitler and his Nazi scourge, and won. President Trump, giving credence to Nazis, was a moral disgrace. Donald J. Trump made his choice to the great delight of the most deplorable hate groups in the U.S. and around the world. Here in America you can find these hate groups at Hate Map | Southern Poverty Law Center. Stoking unfounded paranoia, and fear is the Republicans' stock in trade, so to speak. If you don't seek the truth you'll never find it, and you've lost. Michael Long, former Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam Trail