Anaseini Bryant

Thank you, Suzanne Williams, for your thoughtful response, Incline to question authority, Beacon letters, October 8. I appreciate your engagement and your willingness to reflect on the use of terms like “Trumpism”.

Loaded words like “fascist” shouldn’t be tossed around lightly.

When left unchallenged, they lose meaning – and worse, they normalise extremes.  

And yes, sometimes you do need a sledgehammer to crack a macadamia nut.

Local councillors aren’t MPs or party politicians. They’re community members, often part-time, and entitled to privacy. That’s not undemocratic – it’s part of democracy.  

Efficiency doesn’t equal effectiveness. I’d rather be slow and right than fast and reckless

And yes, things have changed since 2022 – privacy laws, council processes, and expectations around access have all evolved.

I admire your civic engagement – especially at 90. That kind of curiosity is a gift. But with influence comes responsibility.

Words matter, and younger generations are listening.