DIVERSITY: One man's opinion

Please permit me to elaborate on the recent interview in The Coeur d’Alene Press regarding my critique of the PBS documentary “Our Private Idaho.”

First, it is very important to note that my 2011 study expanded a 20-year period and involved the increase in minority populations in Idaho of what the U.S. Census labels as seven Non-White/Multi-Race Groups including “Black African American,” “American Indian/Alaska Native,” “Asian,” “Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders,” “Some Other Race,” “Two or More Races,” and “Hispanic or Latino.” The significant growth in Idaho’s minorities includes all seven racial groups.

Second these seven groups accounted for 74,477 residents in the counties of Nez Perce, Latah, Kootenai, Bonner and Spokane counties in the 2010 Census. These five counties are the most populous and diverse counties in our region.

Third, the seven racial minorities made up 16 percent of Idaho’s population as of 2010.

Fourth, it is obvious that it was “The Press” decision to include the Pew Research findings in the Press article and that the Pew Study was not part of my 2011 data as the Pew Research was only released in November of 2014. I had not seen or studied that report.

I appreciate The Coeur d’Alene Press’ invitation to give my personal opinion and critique on a documentary that I believed failed to be balanced based on the data I had gathered in 2011. The critique was simply my opinion and did not suggest I represented the opinions of others. It would be similar to one expressing an opinion on viewing a Hollywood film.

Once again I find it positive that all eight U.S. Census racial categories including we Caucasians find Idaho a great place to live. It does bode well for our future. We should all embrace what makes us one — humanity.

Let me conclude by thanking The Coeur d’Alene Press and its excellent reporter, Devin Heilman, for allowing me to share my personal critique of this documentary.

I hope everyone had a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for in the United States and Idaho.

TONY STEWART

Coeur d’Alene