RIGHTS: Plenty to go around

Some believe civil rights are like an 8-inch loaf of bread. If they cut out slabs for women, gays, Jews, ebony, tan or gold Americans there is less civil rights left for them.

This religious-humanist-moderate American believes civil rights are like raw sourdough mix. The more equality and inclusiveness we add, the bigger and better civil rights grow.

Giving ebony Americans the right to eat at Coeur d’Alene restaurants did not end dining rights of others. Demanding qualified women get into tax-supported colleges did not cause men to be banned from college entry. Allowing gay marriages will not lead to congressional outlawing of heterosexual marriages. Allowing 18-year-olds to vote at all did not legally end senior citizen voting.

Naysayers work at guarding only their own civil rights. We work at increasing the size of the sourdough bakery — all citizens can have equal rights.

CECIL KELLY III

Coeur d’Alene