An act of cowardice, and a solution

No, the South was not rising again in Coeur d'Alene.

The planting of confederate flags in Garden District yards of citizens displaying Democratic signs wasn't what it might have at first appeared. According to a two-page letter that accompanied the flags, the symbols were meant to represent the Democratic Party, at least in a historical sense.

In addition to linking Democrats to racist policies of the past, the letter detailed alleged sins by Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Bill Clinton and others. The point? Good question. But before we go there, here's an admonition.

Anybody who feels this strongly about asserting her or his political views on strangers at their homes should knock on their doors and attempt to have a civil discussion. What happened in the Garden District was not a political statement but the quest of a coward.

What's at the core of people who resort to anonymous intimidation tactics rather than civil persuasion? Whatever it is, it's sick and it's ugly and it should be condemned by conscientious people of all political beliefs.

Now, back to the point. At the end of the letter, it states what votes for Trump represent, ranging from "capitalism, not socialism" to "every unborn soul the Democrats want to murder." Tucked into the platform is "I'm voting for good and against evil."

Stop the presses.

Sure, you've seen letters to the editor in this paper steadfastly maintaining that Democrats are evil, so the anonymous manifesto littering a local neighborhood wasn't exactly a revelation in its assertions. But rather than argue with someone who clearly has lost grips with logic, never mind humanity, we call upon Madison Cawthorn for a little perspective.

Cawthorn is the 25-year-old Republican from North Carolina seeking a seat in the U.S. House. In an interview with Fox Nation's Tomi Lahren, Cawthorn said Democrats and Republicans "all want…a better America."

"What America is missing now, Cawthorn tells Lahren, is the ability to just 'sit down' and 'have a real conversation' on issues," an article on FoxNews.com said.

It may be far easier to demonize millions of Americans because their political beliefs differ from yours, but Cawthorn is right.

Anonymous letters and symbols of hatred delivered under the cloak of darkness will get us nowhere. A little respect and willingness to hear views that differ from our own will make us all stronger Americans.