RACISM: Shadow still looms here

Having moved here some years ago from the Midwest, my wife and I immediately feel in love with the lifestyle and beautiful surroundings. We were proud to say we were from Hayden, Idaho, and told many of our friends back east what a wonderful place this is.

However, the cloud of racism can drift far and wide and we sometimes found ourselves in the uncomfortable and embarrassing position of explaining to our more enlightened friends back east the hatred Richard Butler and his ignorant tribe spread nationwide. We wanted to believe Butler and his followers were cancerous anomalies among otherwise open minded and compassionate people.

But, just as we began to relax, along comes Joe Rickey Hundley. His attorney would have us believe that an encounter he had with a 19-month-old child, somehow, escalated into a racist incident. But please be assured she states further, “… I want to be clear he is not a racist.”

Really, after allegedly telling the mother to “shut that (N-word) baby up.”? And, if that wasn’t enough he then, allegedly, slapped the child.

Granted, everyone gets their day in court, even Joe Rickey. However, if the allegations are even remotely true I hope the family of this poor child receives all the justice the courts can muster.

In the meantime, Hayden, Idaho is again in the national news. Our own Joe Rickey Hundley of Hayden, Idaho is charged with assaulting a minor and we are, again, becoming synonymous with racial bigotry, hatred, and pure meanness.

MICHAEL PAQUIN

Hayden Lake