Always Honor Basic Freedoms
Hagadone Hospitality President Jerry Jaeger should attend an important awards ceremony that will take place at The Coeur d’Alene Resort today - and listen closely.
He might learn the right way to deal with racism.
A week ago, Jaeger expressed hope to touring Idaho legislators that the city of Coeur d’Alene would find a creative way to stop the Aryan Nations from marching down Sherman Avenue again next summer. Skinheads marching downtown not only hurt tourism, the resort executive said, but create “a false image of hate here.”
He’s correct about the damage the high-profile racists cause. But there’s a bigger issue than image or rooms to rent here. It’s called the First Amendment, that time-honored guarantee protecting the rights of citizens to speak, worship and assemble peacefully, even vile ones who spew hate and racism, such as racist Richard Butler and his few followers. Last summer, the city of Coeur d’Alene did a remarkable job of protecting the Aryan Nations’ rights while helping organize a protest that showed the world that neo-Nazis have a tenuous foothold in North Idaho, at best.
For that, for the brilliant Lemons to Lemonade pledge drive that raised $28,000 for human rights, for all the alternative activities that diverted attention from the obnoxious Nazi flags on parade, the Anti-Defamation League will honor Coeur d’Alene at noon in Jaeger’s resort. Said Bruce Kort, director of the ADL’s Pacific Northwest region: “It was the right way to respond.”
ADL people know better than most that the rights of all are threatened when the basic rights of a few are denied. They know the unspeakable horror that can occur when a minority’s rights are suspended. That’s why this award is special. It confirms that Coeur d’Alene has regained the vision and commitment to human rights that made it a beacon against hate last decade, when the city was awarded the prestigious Raoul Wallenberg Civic Award.
Human rights leaders in Coeur d’Alene - and now in Sandpoint, too - have learned you can’t combat racism by ignoring it or by trampling civil rights. You fight it through education and by standing up to hatemongers.
If Jaeger and Hagadone Hospitality truly want to help the area’s image, they’ll lift their eyes from the bottom line. It’s time to join in with city officials, civic leaders and human rights activists to plan an even better response to next summer’s Aryan Nations march.