When will Americans get past hateful, vindictive attitudes that have taken place since Donald Trump was elected president?

In a recent article (Jan. 13, “It is time to stop the Cortez parade of intimidators”), it appears the author evidently experienced outrage, though it was somewhat slanted in one direction. Rarely have I seen a confrontation one-sided. I have heard, purely hearsay, there were angry words and acts on both sides of Main Street.

The author of the aforementioned article condemns, as well she should, the actions of those who attacked our nation’s Capitol, yet neglects to mention what took place in Portland, Ore. or other cities. Innocent peoples’ lives were ruined because their business places were looted and burned, all because the police were not allowed to perform their duties!

If such activity had taken place in Cortez the author of the article would have every right to chastise our police, but to my knowledge there was not one business place looted or burned nor one window broken; neither did the atmosphere explode into violence. That may be because of police presence and restraint.

And just because one is friendly with one side or the other doesn’t brand them as “one of them.” I speak from experience; I was a City of Memphis police officer for 25 years.

I thank our police officers and City Council for doing a difficult job. It is time to get over the bitterness that has permeated our country for so long.

Tom Butler Cortez