REPUBLICANS: One can besmirch many

I know a lot of very intelligent, caring, thoughtful Republicans. However, recently I had an opportunity to meet some that scare me.

At a business promotional dinner at The Coeur d'Alene Resort a few months ago I experienced a well dressed adult man who shocked me.

The five people at the table were strangers trying to make small talk and be friendly. One lady and I were exchanging stories about travel. A woman I assumed married to the man sitting next to me asked me if I had ever been to Australia. I said I had not but it was on my list. She said she had been inquiring and studying for some time and she particularly wanted to see the west coast of Australia and the train ride from Sydney was two and a half days. Her husband blurted out that was just stupid. "Australia is about the size of Hawaii, you can drive around it in two and half hours." She tried to correct him but he was having none of it. I offered that Australia is actually a bit larger than the U.S. "No it isn't. I've studied it on the map." I took that as my clue to be quiet.

Later, in a break of the meeting this same man asked the lady across the table what major cities she had visited in Africa. She offered a couple well known cities, "Cape Town, Casablanca, Johannesburg." His response was, "I mean the major cities like South Africa." She responded that South Africa was a country on the continent of Africa. Once again he got very defensive: "I know Africa. I've traveled, I was in the military."

At the next break a gentleman at the table made a comment about Obama then said maybe he shouldn't have because someone at the table may have voted for him. The other traveling woman and I said we had.

Explosion! The guy next to me went ballistic.

"Are you stupid? Don't you know he is a communist? He's turning this country socialist. He has admitted he is a Muslim."

The man's wife tried to quiet him but he ranted on and on about how stupid we were and he was going to invite us to the next "Tea Party rally so you can get educated." The wife pleaded with him to be quiet as the entire room looked on. Finally she managed to get him up and headed out the door, shaking his head and waving his arms.

This man votes! He influences his children and grandchildren. He gives Republicans a bad image!

"Loud" never compensates for intelligence or education and doesn't mask fear.

SHIRLEY THAGARD

Hayden