REDMAN: Reader shares his views

Reid Harlocker’s “My Turn” piece on Jan. 28, an “appalled” response to a postcard received from Rep. Eric Redman, R-Spirit Lake, is a most peculiar piece of work.

I also received the postcard and can only conclude that this type of reaction places Mr. Harlocker in a distinct and particularly offensive category. While I appreciate his willingness to contribute to the political process by sharing his passionate opinions, I must warn that zeal without knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Though frequently troubled by progressive contempt for anything remotely associated with God, country or family, such hysteria rarely circulates outside the realms of the grossly uninformed or the wholly corrupt. A review of Mr. Harlocker’s words suggests a prejudice founded solely on contempt for ideas other than his own. He suggests that precious legislative time is being wasted on issues that are “entirely beyond the scope of State Legislature” … such as reclaiming some or all control over the 63.8 percent of Idaho public lands now in the hands of the federal government. Quite to the contrary, such matters are clearly appropriate discussion in a state legislative body.

A more analytical review of the article brings the matter squarely into focus. Mr. Harlocker’s misdirected contempt for Rep. Redman is actually directed at the state and people of Idaho. He declares, “This state has an utterly unrealistic view of what is required to maintain decent public education.” And “this state is struggling” and we have “a legislature that has been completely ineffective for years.”

Mr. Harlocker (who probably doesn’t know Rep. Redman very well) suggests that Redman is: Intolerant, pandering, incompetent, embarrassing or advocating “a militant government,” or forcing his “Calvinist-evangelism views on everyone else.” I believe Harlocker’s tactics (insult and humiliation) expose his motive to ultimately embarrass into silence those with whom he doesn’t agree, know or understand … classic progressive bullying.

Well, everyone gets an opinion and I find that Rep. Redman’s quite accurately reflect mine, the constituents that elected him and most of the residents of Idaho. Our freedom to express ourselves in such a public forum as this is a rare privilege paid for by many at a very high price. Exercising it with a little more prudence would better serve us all.

KEN ROUW

Dalton Gardens