Opponents of Confederate statues behave like Taliban, ISIS

I had family on both sides in the American Civil War, and I am sure each had their own reasons for fighting.

As for me, I am proud of my heritage from both sides.

But I do not agree with some of the ideology of the South and condemn the KKK and white supremacy.

However, what disturbs me is the destruction of Confederate heritage monuments in parts of our country because it offends some.

Which monuments that celebrate other people’s heritage are next?

In 2001, the Taliban destroyed the Buddha statutes in Bamiyan Valley in Afghanistan. And more recently, ISIS systematically destroyed art work of ancient heritage in Syria and Iraq.

I surmise they destroyed those monuments because they were offended by them. I seem to recall there was outrage in America over that destruction.

It would also appear there is no difference between the actions of some people in our society and the actions of the Taliban and ISIS.

We wonder why people fight. One reason is because some will not tolerate the opinions of others.

Don’t dare call me a racist because of my views. I have more loved members of my family who are of diverse heritages and cultures than most of you could ever dream of. They include Native American, Asian, Hispanic, black-American and European. — Bobby Joe Harris, Chandler The writer is the former Chandler chief of police.

The media need to ignore the neo-Confederates and the KKK

The urge to stand up to and confront evil is inherent in all good people. But this recent event in Charlottesville and the others that will inevitably follow require the exact opposite reaction.

To engage these hate-filled groups is to play right into their game book. It gives them the very attention they so desperately seek and the opportunity to cry victim.

Instead they need to be ignored. Do not attend their protests. If you happen to be nearby, turn your backs and walk away.

Media, do not report their story or interview their participants. We don’t care to hear their message. Do not acknowledge their existence in any way.

They do not deserve our time or attention. Do not give them what they want.

— Diane Swan, Surprise

Live, from Phoenix, Arizona! It’s Donald and The Third Reichs!

Fascist Donald is bringing his Naziloving tour to Phoenix for a campaign event. Seven months mostly off on vacation on the job and already Fascist Donald is campaigning for 2020?

Fascist Donald is a Nazi you know what. Joe Zanzucchi, Phoenix

Exactly what overtures did Donald Trump make to neo-Nazis?

Editorial columnist Linda Valdez is at it again. Earlier this month, she charged that President Donald Trump “is part of an ongoing effort to make America white again?,” but produced no evidence to support the accusation.

Now she accuses the president of “adding fuel to the fire with overtures to the neo-Nazi and the KKK” (“Flake deserves credit for standing up to president,” Thursday). What “overtures”?

Did Trump in some manner say he welcomed neo-Nazis and KKK support? We understood him to condemn both the alt-right and the alt-left (whatever “alt” means) for creating conditions that led to violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Mrs. Valdez must have felt like she was in alt-left heaven in writing “there is no doubt now that white supremacist groups are part of Trump’s base and helped put him in the White House.”

We do not doubt that some neo-Nazis and KKKers voted for Trump just as some communists, socialists and progressives voted for Hillary Clinton.

I can proudly say I voted for neither Trump or Clinton because both were unqualified. — Earl Zarbin, Phoenix