Letters To The Editor

HEROS AND ZEROES

Rankin right about troublemaker

Editorial writer D.F. Oliveria writes that our region’s reputation will suffer because Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin criticized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But what does “reputation” have to do with the facts? Rankin was correct in his analysis of the derogation of Washington’s birthday and his assessment of King.

King was a plagiarist who cheated on his university theses. He did not deserve his Ph.D. or the title doctor. King was also an adulterer who assaulted one of his illicit lovers the night of his death. His misnamed “civil rights” agitating destroyed our civil right to choose whom we will hire and house on our private property. And this is the man the government and the media hold up to our youth as an example to be imitated.

If anyone’s reputation suffers, it’s Oliveria’s, for having failed to question an icon who received a national holiday for cynical reasons of racial appeasement, not on merit.

Rankin has the courage to ask original questions and reason independently. He honors Idaho’s heritage of free thinking. Oliveria rubberstamps the consensus and imagines himself a spokesman for decency. But without truth, there can be no decency. Michael A. Hoffman II Coeur d’Alene

King helped liberate us all

Recently, Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin embarrassed North Idaho by slandering a great American hero during a county commission meeting. Rankin called the Martin Luther King holiday a “lesser day” than Columbus Day. He thinks it sad that more is made of Martin Luther King Day than of other holidays honoring this nation’s great leaders.

King was an American who struggled for equality, democratic ideals and an end to oppression based upon racial hatred. Columbus was an Italian, hired out to the king of Spain, who sought fame, riches, expansion of a colonial empire and subjugation of indigenous people.

We honor George Washington because he fought for independence and founded a democracy. Likewise, we revere Abe Lincoln for protecting the nation from the elite class willing to destroy the Union rather than submit to democratic rule.

Dr. King’s commitment to civil rights was a logical continuation of the founding fathers’ work: evolution toward a free society. King was martyred for all Americans, not just those of one ethnic group. Using the language of hope and forgiveness, he made us understand that a color blind society would benefit the white people as much as the black. His speeches explained how fear and racism enslaved the oppressor. He liberated us from our prison of bigotry. He was not just a “black leader;” he led all Americans towards a brighter future.

King’s work is not complete. We need his holiday to honor his sacrifice while rallying enthusiasm for his ideals. Hearing our elected officials denounce Martin Luther King Day shows how much farther we have to go. Bruce B. Dimon Post Falls

OTHER TOPICS

No ‘dream schedules’ at my school

As a classroom teacher of nearly 30 years, I take exception to two remarks in Rebecca Nappi’s editorial of Dec. 23.

In citing reasons for women not aspiring to high positions in education, she states, “Some of it is reluctance on the part of women to give up the dream schedules of classroom teachers” and “They must be willing to step out of the comfort of a classroom.”

I invite her to spend some time following me through my days. She would find neither a dream schedule nor a comfortable setting. Today’s demands from everyone - state Legislature to district administrators, building principals to the public I serve - leaves me little time to do what I really love: teaching children what I know they need to succeed in today’s world. Dream schedules and comfort are for some other profession. Jerry L. Harrison Spokane

Keep Christ in ‘holiday’ light show

Apparently, after 2000 years there is still no room at the inn.

The spectacular “holiday light show” put on by the Hagadone Corp. made no reference to the reason for the season, Jesus Christ. I realize they think by calling it holiday light show, as opposed to Christmas light show, the omission is justified. But, it is not. I would urge both Christians and Jews to write to Hagadone Corp. and perhaps next year its show will have a more appropriate mix of Christmas symbols. If we don’t take a stand, Christ will soon be thrown out of Christmas altogether. Dorothy Prophet Sandpoint