RACISM: Can be covert as well

While I commend the efforts of Tony Stewart and the North Idaho Human Relations efforts, until "generational institutional racial bigotry" is addressed in much the same manner as was the Aryan Nations, "covert" racial bigotry and prejudice will go on. The "overt" racial bigotry that the AN literally "wear on their arm" is "easier" to address than the "covert" racial bigotry and prejudice that is passed down from generation to generation because the community allows it, tolerates it and perpetuates it. Your daily treatment of people as to racial, gender, sexuality, religion and age is what you will pass on to your children.

If you tolerate bigoted speech in your house, at work, in the bar or at the club, then you are perpetuating a much harder issue to deal with. It remains "invisible" unless you "out" it. I witnessed a classic example in Wallace recently with a Caucasian referee taking particular glee in his calls and non-calls regarding the players from Plummer High School who were of obvious Native American and/or African American descent. To add insult to injury, this same official was seen joking and laughing with the Wallace students. The only time he walked to our side of the gym was to glare at the Plummer fans and give an order to our kids to return to the court. His non-calls proceeded despite two of our kids hurt. This is just one example of the "covert" bigotry that still exits. It needs to stop.

HAROLD MONTEAU

Worley