Continue standing against racism in N. Idaho

As the CdA Press editor suggested, I watched the video of Ms. Putz talking at the Hayden City Council meeting.

While watching it, I could see that she did not say she was actually a card carrying member of a “White Supremacy or White Nationalist” group (whatever they like to call themselves these days). However, she certainly defended these organizations as “very fine white people” being discriminated against and wrongfully accused of racism. I couldn’t help wondering if she could back that up with factual instances of these occurrences?

Watching her speak, I got that she was certainly angry about “something." It was unclear to me exactly what.

Who “on the left” has been using her and for what purpose exactly? In North Idaho, where we have lived since 1979, someone publicly voicing concern over a known racist fringe group meeting in our area is legitimate and constitutes American free speech. Ms. Putz has lived in our area 3 and 1/2 years so she has had no experience with the Aryan Nations that many of us have - the bombings, harassment, threats and danger they imposed on many Idaho citizens during the years they were trying to entrench themselves here.

I am happy to hear that as a minority, Ms. Putz has not felt discriminated against in Hayden. I am sure one of the reasons behind that is due to the wonderful work through the years by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, who stood up against the expansion of that racist group and their philosophy those years ago and continue to confront discrimination in all forms in our area.

Personally, I am white, 71 years old, and I have lots of family and friends throughout the country who are white. I have not heard of a single instance where any of these people felt they were blamed for the problems that many minorities face in the USA.

It is very naive to believe that “hate” for people of different colors, races, religions and cultures does not still exist here and everywhere. Many dedicated people of all colors, beliefs, political parties and backgrounds (conservatives and progressives) continue doing what they can to change this lack of tolerance in people’s minds and foster the appreciation of all human beings.

I believe we must stay vigilant and exercise our right to free speech plus confront racism where and when we see it! We must learn to welcome all people who love it here and give them the chance to be contributing members of our society.

When people who have differences finally sit down together, talk respectfully and get to know each other one on one, that is when color, race, religion, political persuasion, and prejudices start to fall by the wayside. We are all more alike than we are different when you get down to the basics of the human experience. This is the way I see it, anyway, and it is my hope for future of mankind.

Peggy Sorenson is a Hayden resident.