Dear Editor:
I write this letter as a part-time resident of Pagosa Springs, someone who splits time between my home here and my home in California. One day, I hope to make this my full-time home. Until then, I continue to care for my mother and stay connected with family and friends back in California. So I apologize in advance for raising an issue that may seem beyond our small town’s immediate concern—for now.
You may be seeing conflicting reports about what’s happening in Los Angeles. Some describe riots. Others speak of peaceful protests. It’s hard to know what to believe just by watching the news or scrolling through social media. My advice: don’t passively consume these headlines—talk to people you know. California is a big state, and chances are most of us know at least one person there. Reach out. Ask them what they’re seeing and feeling on the ground.
From the conversations I’ve had with friends in Los Angeles and nearby communities, these events are not just “protests.” They are expressions of deep fear and frustration from families trying to protect one another. People are scared—not of violence, but of what the federal government is doing to their neighbors, to their coworkers, to their friends. They feel powerless and unheard. So they stand up the only way they can—with their voices, their presence, and their pride.
It’s hard to imagine this kind of unrest reaching a town like ours. But if it did—how would you respond?
Some frame this as a response to an “invasion” of illegal immigrants. They say it’s necessary to restore law and order. I understand the desire to feel safe and protect one’s family, but that desire cannot come at the expense of other families’ safety or dignity. Without measure and restraint, all we’re left with is fear—and that fear now exists on both sides.
And that fear is what’s fueling not only the protests, but the growing resistance to ICE and federal enforcement tactics.
The use of fear as a political tool cannot be what makes America great again. Fear is what tears a country apart.
In the days ahead, you will see more headlines, more images of burning cars, and more people in pain. But I ask you—look closer. Don’t settle for easy conclusions.
These are my opinions. Yours may differ. But please: form your own. Be active, not passive.
Sincerely,
Ed Matlack
