To the Editor:

I want to try to articulate my feelings about the present situation we have in our country now, with the issue of tearing down statues and basically trying to “cancel” the parts of our history that we don’t like or can’t look at in its historical context. When I see statues like the one on our square, I read the names, recognizing some names that even today have descendants in this area. I cannot believe that anyone petitions to put up a statue with names of fathers, brothers, sons, and family, for it to be a symbol of “hate!” To me it is in loving and respectful memory of loved ones lost in what I have always felt like was one of the most grievous, hurtful, destructive wars our nation has ever engaged in. It was a terrible, costly war in terms of the loss of life, property and families. Even yet when I think on it I truly want to cry. When I see the statue, I grieve for the families of those whose loved ones names are listed. But I also celebrate how far history has come because slavery is never something that should be celebrated, and our world has come so far down the road to strive for the promise in our constitution that “all men are created equal.” Certainly we know that is what our Lord teaches us in His word. In many ways, the present efforts to “cancel” and re-write our history makes me think the Bible will be next, even at this time there are many things in our Bible teachings today that are being re-evaluated by man and being adjusted to read the way mankind wants. When I think on these things, I am so grateful that I can know in my heart that God is in control and His true and perfect plan will be what prevails in the end. May God continue to be with us and “bless America,” unworthy as we are.

Zale Dukemasov, El Dorado