To the Editor:
Polk County’s Republican Party staged a shameful display at its booth during the Columbus July fourth celebration.
The hate-filled demonstration invited individuals to pitch balls at cardboard faces of U.S. President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.
The rightwing stranglehold on the GOP at our county, state and national levels portends oligarchical government–a trend that must be stopped to preserve the best of what America offers the world, to say nothing of its own citizens.
When will the haters here don their KKK masked robes and raise their swaztika flags, as they are doing in parts of our country? After initial “victories” isn’t that the next step?
Look at the ideologic clashes playing out in the world: killing, destruction, circumventing the rule of law.
That is not America. That is sick. Lethal.
Malicious people, go ahead: burn your cross in my yard. It won’t be the first time. But remember, the cross and the swaztika originally, are ancient symbols millions across this world equate with the Son of God; in Christian teachings named the Prince of Peace.

– Maryneal Jones,
Columbus