RACISM: No, just Thought Police

In reading the front page Press article from July 28, “Racism on Parade?,” I see the Thought Police among us are alive and well. The concept of the Thought Police was popularized in George Orwell’s novel, “1984,” where citizens could be “re-educated” for even thinking contrary to the edicts of the dystopian state.

A local, Mr. Matt Petersen, exercised his imagined First Amendment freedom from being offended and complained to the Chamber about Jim Valentine’s entries in the Fourth of July parade. In response, the Coeur d’Alene Chamber vowed to prevent such a travesty of thought from ever showing itself in the parade again.

Most of us, myself included, would agree that discrimination is immoral. It is also illegal. But those on the Left, like Tony Stewart, want to take it a step further and conform our thoughts and speech to fit his ideals.

A prime example is of this the “Human Rights Education Institute” in Coeur d’Alene, the name of which insultingly implies that the citizens of North Idaho are bigots. A more appropriate name would be the “Human Rights RE-Education Institute.” Between this, and headline articles about racism, visitors and locals alike are witnessing thought bigotry at its finest.

This includes attempts to eradicate the Stars and Bars, watermelon stereotypes and references to “happier times,” offensive as these thoughts might be to most people. If the General Lee car had instead sported a hammer and sickle, would Mr. Petersen have called the Chamber? Would the story have made the front page?

It is apparent that the novel “1984” was prophetic in all but one detail; it should have been entitled “2019.”

TODD KAVANAGH

Coeur d’Alene