Letters to the editor for July 9

The rules of engagement have changed

Being neutral has been eliminated. If you think that what’s happening here in the United States and all over the world doesn’t affect you and you can just be an observer, you are allying with that officer who watched George Floyd being murdered and condoning the abuse and torture of people of color.

The United States is not a white, Christian nation, it is a secular nation, multiracial and multicultural with a diversified population.

There are thousands of people protesting and thousands of police protecting and serving the public. There are a small number of troublemakers looting and committing arson. There are a small number of bad cops who are abusing and torturing people of color and sometimes whites.

You don’t have to go out in the street in protest, but you can write and complain and more importantly, you can vote to get rid of the white supremacists and racists who have subverted the leadership of one of our two good national political parties.

James Mattis, the former Secretary of Defense and presidential Chief of Staff, put it plainly. We do not need to follow Adolf Hitler’s “Divide and Conquer,” but instead heed the words of Abraham Lincoln, “United we stand, divided we fall,” one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Charles Ricketts, Tumwater

Another view on the photo of the police officer with armed men

I wasn’t there, but I’d like to say what the photo looks like to a retired nurse with emergency room experience. I too have been trained in de-escalation.

Most gun deaths in Washington are tragic suicides. A much smaller number are tragic homicides and accidents. An armed group is dangerous, to themselves and to us.

I think it is entirely appropriate that an officer would approach an armed group. In a spirit of de-escalation, it is likely that they were thanked for being concerned about property damage. I imagine the officer reminded this misguided group that it is not legal to shoot trespassers. Quite possibly, there was a suggestion that on-site observation shifts, with a cell phone handy, would be more helpful to the store owner, and more welcomed by fellow citizens.

I regret that excoriation of the officer showed up in my morning news, without more context. Again, I wasn’t there. The likely motive of the person who posted the photo was to justify their provocative gathering. I sincerely appreciate the officer for the de-escalation and education that likely occurred. I’ve seen this in the emergency room setting. We need this kind of bravery.

Callie J Wilson, Olympia