Pluck out my eyes

Let me pluck out my eyes so I might not see your ugliness. Your political and philosophical views threaten our country. You, you believe in the “the big lie.”

Let me pluck out my eyes so that I might not see photos of when you were a baby, first grade pictures when you had fewer teeth, your high school graduation photos.

Let me pluck out my eyes so that I might not see the visual moments captured of your time at summer camps, road trips with your family, hunting and fishing expeditions.

Blinding us to our shared humanity is wrong. Hopefully in the light of each new day I can find a renewed faith in all Americans.

Let me pluck out my eyes to hide a visual record of your service to our country as a member of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard.

Let me pluck out my eyes so that I might not see your checks given to charities like the Red Cross, of your volunteer work in your town or across the country to help people devasted by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or forest fires.

I will not forget any of your opinions that I find so repugnant but my letter is a note to remind myself and others not to allow our prejudices to blind us to the goodness of the American people.

Stan Smith

Viola

DNR pros are helpful

How reassuring that our government agencies usually employ people who are competent.

Our family had the experience of arranging a visit from the Department of Natural Resources to evaluate our house and property to reduce chances of wildfire damage and increase fire-resistance.

Easy to arrange over the internet at wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov, the team arrived on time and spent an hour giving suggestions: to clear up pools of pine needles, leaves and pine cones; remove stored logs and untreated wood near the house; check the roof; install larger numbers in contrasting colors on the house for easy identification in emergencies and other suggestions.

The DNR professionals were friendly, helpful and answered all of our questions, and the visit was followed up with a written report, all free of charge.

This is wildfire season, and it looks like it has started earlier and may be more dangerous than last year. How nice to have a competent team visit and give advice. I imagine most people who have wildfires near their homes feel assured the government agencies, such as the DNR, will be available to warn us of evacuations and put out the fires.

Let’s support the government agencies that we now have instead of destroying them in the name of efficiency or ridding us of big government.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources deserves a big thank you.

Nancy Street

Cheney