Tribune: Anti-Bigotry Resolution Worth Effort

Full editorial here

A student from Idaho reportedly had a hard time finding a roommate at a Wisconsin university. “I will not have anything to do with a student from Idaho because the Aryan Nations permeates the state with their beliefs,” said one potential roomie. Bigotry, it seems, comes in many forms. This story is awful if true. State Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, heard it from a friend. True or not, however, it points to Idaho’s continuing public relations problem. Many people in the rest of the country think Idaho is overrun by the other three R’s: racists, rednecks and reactionaries. You can certainly find those people easily enough if you look for them. There are always too many of them. Of course, it’s bigoted to generalize about any state, including Idaho. Trail wants to fight bigotry against Idaho by renouncing bigotry against everyone else. His resolution before the Legislature would reaffirm the state’s commitment to human rights — Tom Henderson , Lewiston Tribune.

DFO: The story sounds like an urban legend. I’d check it out thoroughly until I shopped around a resolution.

Question: With the closure of the Aryan Nations compound, is Idaho shedding its image — warranted or otherwise — as a haven for racists?