We disagree with Mr. Norm Arnold’s letter of Feb. 10 (“Elfers’ views don’t reflect Enumclaw,”). My wife and I are farmers here in rural Enumclaw and take offense that Mr. Arnold believes a society that finally matures enough to stop hating is wrong. If we follow the rule in the Bible, which preaches loving your neighbor, and don’t express his dislike of others, then we are the ones that are wrong? We voted for Republicans Gov. Dan Evans and Sen. Slade Gorton both twice. The Republican Party has since become the party of hate, violence against democracy (visit videos of the President led Insurrection), scorn of our military (look at videos of our President mocking our military as fools and losers), as well as promoting dictatorships (check out former President Trump’s praise of Putin, Kim Jong-un, and Erdogan).

When a political party distances itself from people of color, LGBTQ, refuses to condemn people who believe Jewish space lasers started California fires, promotes white supremacy, and accepts the Confederate flag as a cherished emblem, it is not Christian or inclusive. It is instead divisive, bigoted, and violent.

As a former POW, for the past four years my stomach has churned at the thought of someone making light of John McCain’s sacrifice. How is it that the Republican Party “will” supposedly clean up the present homeless camps when they have appeared under this administration all across the nation? How is it that a return to Republican rule will provide Covid relief when we got here due to their inaction? President Biden has now found that although in Feb. 26, 2020 that former Vice President Pence was given the task of planning a solution to the COVID virus, Pence never formed nor left any plan, according to CNN. This resulted in an estimated 400,000 additional deaths. Can we claw back his salary?

Sorry Mr. Arnold, if a return to GOP leadership means a return to an economy in shambles, 500,000 more people left to die, families that cannot feed themselves, thousands living under our overpasses, and another deadly violent coup attempt on our capitol, this would not be a return to his so called conservative values we would vote for.

When and if the conservative party he is referring to creates a platform that is so attractive that it encourages everyone’s vote instead of suppressing it; when it becomes inclusive of the rights of minorities; when it finally accepts that the South was the aggressor during the Civil War; when it is against the violent overthrow of our democracy; when it stops promoting an authoritarian government; when it stops punishing its own for voting their conscience in favor of our Constitution; and stops being subservient and groveling in fear of a feckless leader, then we will reconsider our affiliation.

Eugene Clegg and G.S. Johnson

Enumclaw