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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Why the silence?

I have been horribly naive. I thought when the likes of Richard Butler and his Aryan Nation were legally dismantled, that was the end of frenzied extremism in our area! Was I ever wrong!

And, now, I’m really worried. How is it that someone who embraces a vicious extremist ideology is continuously elected to public office, serving as our representative? How is it that our Spokane Valley City Council chooses to stand silent and not publicly denounce this kind of reprehensible fanaticism? The local GOP recently did; our Spokane County sheriff certainly has; individuals and groups strong enough to speak out continue to come forward. And, yet, our City Council remains silent. Why?

Kath McChesney-Lape

Spokane Valley

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