Hateful Letter Merits Attention

You deserve an explanation for the piece of trash that appears on the facing page under the headline, “Letter shows the ugly and hateful face of racism.”

Please read it, but first brace yourself. It’s obscene, in more ways than one. It has no redeeming merit. It violates the standards of decency as well as several Spokesman-Review standards for letters to the editor.

But the reason for publishing it is not the same as the reason for publishing letters to the editor, which are part of the legitimate public conversation.

The vile message on the next page is shared for its shock value. It is meant to jolt those who don’t already know it into an awareness that people of color feel the sting of such malicious venting not just once in a while, but commonly.

Karen Boone received this letter the day after a “Your Turn” column she had written appeared in The Spokesman-Review.

We omitted the name that appeared at the bottom of the letter because we can’t be sure the signature is authentic. But Spokane police tell us they have some leads on where the writer may be and are investigating the incident as harassment.

This isn’t just a job for police, though. It’s a job for all of us.

It’s the community’s responsibility to foster a climate in which all its members can feel safe and respected. Even if, as we’d like to think, the letter writer is merely one twisted misfit in a predominantly decent community, silent disapproval is too weak a response.

Many area citizens already have enlisted in the continuing battle against bigotry. Groups like Unity in Action and the Spokane Race Relations Task Force could use the help of readers who are outraged over the letter Boone received.

For Unity in Action contact Judith Mason, 459-4110. For the Spokane Race Relations Task Force, contact Elana Ashanti Jefferson at 459-5419. Information about other human rights activities is available from Cherie Berthon at the Spokane Human Rights Commission, 625-6263.

This newspaper believes in vigorous discussion of public issues. We reserve space every day so readers can be heard. We give letter writers and guest columnists wide latitude to air their opinions, regardless of whether we disagree, and even when those feelings seem extreme.

There are limits, however. The scared, frantic mewlings that were mailed to Boone go way, way beyond the limit.

The open dialogue that occurs on these pages is vital to a free society, but it needs participation from all segments of the community. If intimidation is allowed to silence some of the voices, we all suffer.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Doug Floyd/For the editorial board