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Readers Speak

Cause and effect

Dear Editor,

Former officer Derek Chauvin brutally killed George Floyd. He’s in jail and charged with murder. His action was despicable.

Going beyond peaceful protests, rioters committed arson, looting and assaults in numerous cities. Those actions are despicable.

The true sociopaths today are Chauvin and the rioters. They’re criminals even if not yet convicted. They’d be the most fitting cases today in an abnormal psychology.

Extremists want to defund the police. Thinking people know that Chauvin was a horrible exception. Everyday officers are finding lost children, calming domestic violence, responding to home invasions and alerting citizens to scams.

They bring stability to tragedies and must gently break sad news to survivors. They must be read for anything. They “protect and serve” … and hope to go home in one piece.

Defunding the police would embolden criminals. Fearful citizens would have to rely on themselves for self defense. Violent anarchy could result. “Hot spots” could make the wild, wild west look like Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Is this what anti-police protesters truly want?

Some say, “We don’t need police. Neighbors always look out for each other.” The ghost of Kitty Genovese, among many, would say otherwise.

The riot-related crimes have damaged, and even destroyed businesses.

In turn, jobs are lost. Residents can no longer patronize local businesses. The virus-ravaged economy is further damaged. It takes twisted thinking to call these crimes a tribute to George Floyd.

Any economy is damaged by the pandemic. Ours was strong going in. The virus villains are from China and the World Health Organization. Rioters aggravated the damage. Innocent people had the privilege of paying for Chauvin’s sadism.

It’s time to take back the streets. Convict Chauvin, the rioters, and repair the damage. Build the economy and find a vaccine. Of course, sociopaths must never become police officers. Screening must be as fool-proof as possible.

We remain appalled by Floyd’s murder. But we, who were never racist, accept no lecture. Let justice be done in a Minnesota courtroom.

The U.N. Human Rights Council condemns us in the Floyd aftermath. That’s laughably hypocritical as the council includes Cuba, China and Venezuela. We left it in 2018 as President Trump correctly objected to the U.N.’s anti-Israel sentiment. Some persistent critics still don’t get “America First.”

Terry D. Hallock,

Warren

God help us

Dear Editor,

A landmark in Warren County is about to be razed and you thought only the rest of the country has gone crazed with the destroying of our heritage by pulling down monuments, rioting and looting then calling it a protest.

I, for one, protest the destruction of a church house built in 1871 kept in good repair over the years with tithes and offerings. But then who needs an old church house off the beaten path behind Pikes Rocks on Stillson Hill Road?

Besides, America got rid of that old God years ago when we threw Him out of the public schools. We found that worked so well that we sent Him packing from our government. What’s He know about running a nation?

That’s really worked so well now that we are so educated!

But we still have those reminders of what America once was: a nation of fearing God, who has blessed us as no other. And we, as a whole, had some morals and respect for God, neighbors and country.

Teddy Sudul,

Pittsfield

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