NO FUEL FOR THE FIRE

Readers call for more unity and less ugliness in the wake of Charlottesville’s violence

Hate groups present a threat to all of us

WHEN THE COWARD in the White House only speaks out against the KKK, neo-Nazis and other hate groups after being pressured to do so, the rest of us need to speak up. These groups and their supporters are threats to all of us, no matter who we are. There is a poem by Martin Niemoller in the National Holocaust Museum that expresses what we all must remember:

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.”

When you read that poem, substitute Hispanics, LGBTQ, Muslims, AfricanAmericans, whites, Democrats, Republicans, Catholics, Asians, Protestants, agnostics, teachers, doctors, the clergy, the press or any of the myriad groups that these haters would eradicate.

All of our representatives need to speak strongly for all of us who don’t have the bully pulpit at our disposal, especially since the White House denizen had abdicated his oath to protect and defend all of the citizens of the United States.

We all need to praise the protesters because they are protecting us and our freedoms. RICHARD GONZALEZ ALBUQUERQUE

Left’s double standard on race is really getting tiring

I am getting really, really tired of the political left’s automatic claim of racism every time something happens that is not totally in line with their point of view.

I am a 74-year-old white male. Therefore I must, MUST be a racist. I also like jelly donuts. Strike two. I live in a nice neighborhood. That’s it, now there’s no question, I have been tried and convicted.

Yes, I’m talking about the recent dustup in Virginia. Do I support those (fools) who marched stating their white supremacist views? Of course not. I don’t think much of the Black Lives Matter movement, either. But the more the KKK expose themselves to the general public the more idiotic they look. They are a tiny fringe element of our society who should be condemned by all.

The national media all but gives a pass to the other side of that same coin. Black Lives Matter can march, block freeways, set fire to and loot private property and encourage attacks on our police, and the national media acts like they are somehow entitled to commit these acts. But let our president condemn the entire incident in Virginia and not use the exact words that the left considered appropriate, and I get to listen to four days of what a racist we have in the Oval Office. Tiresome folks, very tiresome. HARRY KERNS Albuquerque

Police let Charlottesville situation get out of control

THE CITY OF Charlottesville, Va., may have indirectly contributed to the violence that erupted in their city recently because the city may have intentionally withheld a police presence in certain neighborhoods, which allowed terrorism to occur. According to eyewitness reports, the police permitted Nazis, Klan members and other white-supremacist thugs to freely roam the streets of mostly black neighborhoods. These hooligans brandished bully clubs by day and used them on law-abiding citizens. At night, they carried lighted torches reminiscent of the frightful actions of the Klu Klux Klan many years ago.

Apparently, the police did virtually nothing to stop their violent behavior ....

White-supremacist groups have vowed to take their “protests” to other cities. Heaven help those communities that choose to give in to their terrorism as Charlottesville appears to have done. The only way to combat these terroristic groups and keep the peace is with a very heavy police presence that is empowered to vigorously enforce the laws. Also, a strategic plan to keep protesters and counter-protestors wellseparated in specified areas is a must. Unfortunately, this did not happen in Charlottesville. STEPHEN FELDMAN ALBUQUERQUE

Trump’s behavior raises fear for health of nation

RE: PRESIDENT’S press (conference) Aug. 15

Content aside, I have never seen a U.S. official of any rank display such hatred, such venom, such disgust and out-of-control anger as our president exhibited (last) Tuesday. Our president has lost his way and his ability to act in any manner presidential.

I was fearful for his health in the recent past, thinking that the conflicting pressures of his high office was becoming too great to bear. But now I really fear for the health of our nation! Can we endure the agony of this illness? Can we recover and return to some semblance of normality and be able to see ourselves once more as a bright light shining on a hill? I fear the answer is, “Perhaps not.” At least, not in this generation. ROBERT B. CARLETON ALBUQUERQUE

Do Trump’s criticisms have an ulterior motive?

PRESIDENT TRUMP has attacked (George) Washington and (Thomas) Jefferson as slave owners. Is this the first shot in Trump’s campaign to remove W and J from Mt. Rushmore and replace them with himself and Ronald Reagan? EUGENE J. MCGUIRE ALBUQUERQUE

GOP bargain with fanatics is now bearing bitter fruit

IT SEEMS BIGOTS, racists and xenophobes are wasting no time coming out of the shadows. Happy to finally have a voice under Trump’s administration, their incredulous hope of restoring America to a regressive white-washed utopia suddenly seems an attainable reality. Touting perverted themes based on intolerance and prejudice while cloaking themselves in the American flag disguises their message as more benign and palatable, but there is nothing about bigotry and hatefulness that is American.

This right-wing fanaticism emerging from (the) Republican Party didn’t just happen overnight. It grew steadily from within their ranks and remained relegated to the sidelines until the milieu for surfacing was just right. This voter base of unsavory individuals with less than admirable traits has been courted and pandered to unabashedly by many in the Republican leadership for years. The unholy alliance they forged in exchange for their patronage was a “Faustian Bargain with the devil.” Any individual — Democrat, Republican, Independent or Libertarian — who places party above country and neglects to hold true to the principles and ideals this country stands for forfeits the right to call themselves an American. ILDIKO ZOLD LOGUE ALBUQUERQUE

Protesters on both sides share blame for violence

IT TAKES TWO to tango. It takes two sides to start a violent mess. The police gave permission for the white supremacists to protest against removing the statue. The anti-supremacists did not have permission from the city and police to protest. Both sides were having mutual combat and for people to blame one side is crazy. It takes two sides to argue and fight. And to call them terrorist, then you need to label both, as a terrorist by definition is a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims. So both sides are terrorist by definition.

And to blame this on Trump is unfounded. He has never back(ed) the supremacists. They had backed him, and there is a difference; so Hillary (Clinton) is a follower of everyone who met with her — no!

I am saddened by the speed the USA is splintering and my heart breaks. I have stated to friends over and over (that) this country looks like it is heading for a second revolutionary war. I pray to God that I am wrong. We have to come together as a nation. ROBERT BRIEN ALBUQUERQUE

Maybe hate groups should be deprived of audience

WHAT IF A white nationalist/ supremacist rally were held and nobody came? No counter-protesters, no TV coverage, no press. Only background police presence. Might they just leave without an audience for their foolish ugliness? ... LYNNIE WIENECKE BERNALILLO

Attacks on president are shameful political ploys

LIKE MANY GOOD Americans I watched the events in Charlottesville, Va., with horror and disgust. The vast majority of Americans — whether Democrats or Republicans — don’t align themselves with the violent fringes of protesters who seem to be appearing with more and more regularity. To claim one extreme group — right or left — has more legitimacy than another is absurd.

The liberal fanatics in the country have tried to paint the president as a racist and bigot because he didn’t specifically call out one group over the other. The hypocrisy of these individuals shows their ignorance of events and openly displays their effort to drive disunity in America. The only objective the effort to discredit the president supports is that of the militant Anti-Fascist (ANTIFA) group.

Specifically, Mayor Javier Gonzales of Santa Fe and Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico should be ashamed of their comments following the Charlottesville demonstration — Mayor Gonzales for his comments blaming President Trump for the violence in Charlottesville following a peaceful demonstration held in Santa Fe and Sen. Heinrich for his spam e-mail decrying the president’s comments were “Too little, too late”. Both of these individuals were quick to make statements to discredit the president and further divide the country . ...

I hope New Mexicans can see through these political games and we all start to come together for a better America. We don’t need lapdog politicians pushing a radical far left agenda. We deserve better. MICHAEL BROWN RIO RANCHO

Amid tragedy, the community counted

I ATTENDED A community vigil for Charlottesville last Sunday (Aug. 13) in Old Town Plaza. Those who came were asked to sit in silence for one hour. The park benches were filled. Families sat together on the grass in quiet. I sat there too. Several motorcycles roared around the plaza. We just sat. No one jumped up in anger yelling for silence.

I needed to get calm. I was so angry about what had happened to the innocent woman who was on the street to peacefully protest racism and hatred. I also realized as I sat there that I needed to be with my community. I only actually knew a few people. That did not matter. I knew we were all there because we care about others.

When the hour ended, the woman from one of the local mediation groups who created the event invited people who want to speak about their feelings to come up to the gazebo. To my surprise, she announced that Tim Keller had asked to share. Tim, with no microphone, talked about how painful he and wife found the news the day before. He condemned racism and violence. Then he said that he believed our city, Albuquerque, was a special city because we are ... more inclusive and welcoming than many other places. He called on us to be an example to the rest of the country. I was holding back tears. I could hardly believe it. Tim was telling us that we were special and valuable! Albuquerque!

It was a wonderful experience. I hope we can sit together more often. It would be great to have a mayor who tells not only about our challenges, but holds us a valuable and special community. LOUISA BARKALOW ALBUQUERQUE

Reject extreme fringes for the sake of unity

I DO NOT SUPPORT the KKK and the Nazi movements. But would I defend their right to protest in a legally permitted nonviolent forum? Until my dying breath. I do not support the Antifa and Black Lives Matter movements. But would I defend their right to protest in a legally permitted nonviolent forum? Until my last breath is gone . ...

The key is to protest within the confines of our laws and in a nonviolent manner. Neither side in Charlottesville comported with this principle. If anyone thinks the counter-protesters were simply singing “Kumbaya” and handing out flowers and hugs, then they are simply blinded by their biases and refusing to witness the reality of the situation. If anyone believes that the protester was justified in using his car to cause the death and injuries of many counterprotesters, then they are also checking objectivity at the door of justice.

Government officials and the police failed in their duty to keep the groups separated, and to plan for the case that unfolded. Lessons learned in this security situation will be too late for too many.

The call for unity and to be Americans first and foremost is just right . ... Read, be informed, look at all sides, and expand your minds to embrace that diversity of thought and opinion that is so valuable to our nation . ... Let’s rise above the sordid violence and be the best we can be for ourselves, our families and our communities. FRANCISCO A. FIGUEROA SANDIA PARK