I feel compelled to respond to Mr. Hamilton Rosales’ guest editorial (“Local View: Our work has only just begun,” The Columbian, Feb. 14). He has made statements which may be seen as incendiary rhetoric: “White supremacists are able to threaten and stoke fear in our county with impunity as our police departments stand ‘by’ and ready. Only when we are killed do the police see a reason to ‘step up’ and gently walk the white killer to their cars to help them escape.”
Mr. Rosales refers to “the hate that lies just beneath the skin of those who control our government.” A very powerful word, hate. I too, hate injustice, racism, and hateful acts. We all know what happened to Native Americans, Blacks, whites, and every single other ethnicity and religious group. A particular color is no prerequisite.
My background is Arizona law enforcement, about four decades. Two of my children recently retired from their state highway patrol careers. They served honorably and well as many others in the law enforcement community did and still do to this day.
I am glad to see Mr. Rosales and others take on this important watchdog role. But it is not unique to any specific group or individual. Law-abiding Americans do their job tirelessly and without fanfare. A blunderbuss attack is quite unnecessary.
