EDITORIAL: Let's get together at the fair

Love is but a song we sing

Fear's the way we die

You can make the mountains ring

Or make the angels cry

Though the bird is on the wing

And you may not know why

Come on, people now

Smile on your brother

Everybody get together

Try to love one another right now

- The Youngbloods, "Get Together" (1967)

Back then, it was the Vietnam War ripping the country apart.

Today? Pick your poison.

Pandemic. Inflation. War. Climate change. And a toxic political potion that too many of us have swallowed and spewed forth to the detriment of all mankind.

There's an antidote, however temporary you choose to make it. The 100th North Idaho State Fair is in the midst of celebrating the end of a glorious summer, toasting our agrarian roots and, yes, giving us all a great excuse to get together.

Through Aug. 28, it’s a question of whose zucchini is bigger, whose rabbit is cuter, whose treat is more tasty, whose quilt is more impressive — not whose political party is good or evil.

The Kootenai County Fairgrounds should be considered a safe haven for every law-abiding visitor no matter what church they attend, which neighborhood they call home or whom they voted for in the 2020 presidential election.

Enough with division. Let’s make these final fair days count.

Who knows? Once we realize we really can get together, maybe we’ll also find that we can stay together.