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People seem to have lost their minds in our country.

After all, our states are told to not have a proper burial for some, but we watched as thousands attended a visitation for one person and hundreds attended

a funeral. I did not notice anyone six feet apart.

However, if we have a death in our families, we can only have up to 10 family members. Do you know how hard that has been to tell some family members they cannot attend a funeral of a loved one? Just think how hard it has been for friends who have been like family not to be able to attend the funeral of a loved one.

We watched as protests turned into riots, with people destroying businesses that people had worked so hard for. There were 170 businesses destroyed in Minneapolis alone. Who knows what the total in damage would be. We saw a $400,000 fire truck have the windows bashed in.

This is not law-abiding citizens wanting to better our country, but criminals destroying our country. These people need to be held accountable for what they have done.

I have watched as our country tried to make a martyr out of a man who spent five years in jail for armed robbery with a deadly weapon (a handgun), drug dealing, criminal trespassing, theft and suspected fraud. This is who our country has tried to eulogize this week as a hero. I have yet to see how this man has changed the world except bring attention to one bad police officer.

Someone has now decided that the police need to be defunded. They are on a pittance of a salary now and they put their lives on the line every day.

George Floyd should not have died when he did, and I would have been upset too, but I do not think he should be made into a hero.

I am saddened to see that the statues of Confederate heroes have been removed from state capitols. These men fought for a cause they believed in at the time. It is a part of history, and children need to know about it and about slavery. It all happened more than 150 years ago, and no one alive today had anything to do with it. We should not try to erase history.

I support protests, but only peaceful ones. I also think there should be a law allowing a certain length of time for protests. All protests should be held in the daylight hours not after dark.

I am for freedom of speech as much as anyone, and I was taught to speak up for my rights and stand up for what I believe is right. Every one of us has that right.

I do not like for people to be afraid to stand up for what they believe. I do not think that should mean destroying other people’s property in the process.

I do not believe all police should suffer for what a few bad officers have done.

I am not a racist, and anyone who truly knows me should know this.

My black friends and friends from all races know I love them with all my heart.

I do not support the saying, “black lives matter,” because I think that statement is racist in itself. I believe all lives matter.

May God bless you whoever you are, whatever color you are and wherever you are.

Let’s all love one another as God intended us to do.

Sue Staton is a Clark County native. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers.