MY TURN: A measured response

Mr. Van Noy, I am grateful that you and your family remained until the end of the Fourth of July Parade to see the full spectrum of our great Coeur d'Alene community. Here are a few thoughts about your "disappointment."

First, there is no mistake that the group you take umbrage with was the largest in the parade. We as citizens believe that our rights are equal to yours and that is not a "disappointment."

We represent human rights, the right of all people to coexist within this republic, and make our voices loud and clear. We stand with the poor, the homeless, the disenfranchised — all peoples who deserve to be heard and listened to.

And to your statement that they were "not locals," everyone in this group were local family and friends who will continue to express their civil rights.

Second, your recent representation that Christian prayer is the only representative spiritual expression at city council meetings does not consider all the other spiritual paths that exist in this community. I will speak for myself on this one because, as an eclectic, I appreciate the Catholic faith, the Jewish faith, the Mormon faith, the Muslim faith, the Hindu faith, Native American faith — the list can go on ad infinitum.

It is you, as a leader of a Christian church, who do not represent the universal faith that embraces the poor, sick, homeless, the disenfranchised and all who we must lift up and help to succeed. That is a "disappointment."

To use your own words, "… True love requires the hatred of that which harms!" It harms everyone when you hate something yet will do nothing to change the harm you say you hate, without doing anything to change it and make it better for all. Acquiescence is not an option.

Third, we as citizens believe and will continue to express our right to personal, individual health care that is not controlled by any other entity than a physician and their patient. It is that simple. And a right for all people — women, men, of every gender.

And finally, Mr. Van Noy, we are a City of Excellence and therefore we, as a city, represent all our residents. Love will win!

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Ralph D. Shay is a Coeur d'Alene resident.