Jenny Vanderhoef, left, and Erin Lyke, debate their position in support of non-discrimination regulations with two individuals who refused to give their names and do not support the regulations. Due to a maximum capacity of attendants to Tuesday's meeting, many had to wait outside of the city council meeting at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library until space was available in the library's community room. (Coeur d'Alene Press photo: Jerome A. Pollos)

One of the side effects of the fight over the controversial antidiscrimination ordinance, which passed the City Council 5-1 last night, is this: Coeur d'Alene is now divided by yet another fault line. The controversy over McEuen Field split the town in half last year, as a late push by the Decline to Sign group kept us from a recall election against Mayor Sandi Bloem and three City Council members. The long legal battle launched by challenger Jim Brannon to unseat incumbent Mike Kennedy after the 2009 municipal election created another fault line. The inclusion of partisan politics in recent nonpartisan elections, including the last two Coeur d'Alene School Board elections, is yet another fracture. As I sit here this afternoon trying to assess the damage to this city I love, I'm trying to figure out whether there's any way possible to bring this community back together. A house divided, as President Abraham Lincoln said, quoting Jesus, cannot stand. I don't have answers to the mess that this town is in. Only a question:

Question: What must we do to put Coeur d'Alene back together again?