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Defiance might do more harm

Sun., July 3, 2016

I have read the oped by Jonathan Shuffield (“Fight status quo for sake of nation,” June 25), a gay man, regarding the Orlando shootings. His concluding comment is “What kind of country do you want to live in?”

I want to live in a country where you have the freedom to: (1) Take the word “pride,” capitalize it and then display it publicly to describe your feelings, (2) Associate it along with rainbow colors on a flag used to march and demonstrate with through the streets of Spokane, and then (3) Wear a rainbow-colored bracelet with defiance (your word) as you interact with the public.

I, too, grieve over the Orlando shooting, but I wonder if “in your face” defiance does more harm than good.

Gordon Spunich

Spokane Valley

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