An inclusive society is enriched by differences

I hardly know where to begin in stating my disagreement with Cort Gifford’s entire letter of Oct. 12. The Southern Poverty Law Center is a nationally-respected organization. It takes on egregious cases with national import when the defendant cannot alone mount a defense.

The second-degree assault trial that Gifford describes as a “Soviet-style show trial” rid our area of a vicious group of skin heads, led by a notorious, antisocial, anti-Semitic miscreant. Gifford neglects to remind us that the Aryan Nations espoused belief in Hitler and all ideas Hitlerian. The trial was a great example of justice in the best American-style, perhaps a show trial, but one of which we North Idahoans should be proud.

Further, it is obvious from Mr. Gifford’s letter that we are not yet free of racism. Contrary to his characterization of President Obama as a self-styled Muslim, he is in fact a self-described, church-going Christian. I think that like many others, Mr. Gifford will continue to deny this fact because it is inconsistent with what he wants to believe. America is supposedly founded on freedom of religion. From Mr. Gifford’s point of view, freedom to practice one’s religion is to be granted only to white Americans of a Christian denomination. The Imam in New York who is generating such ugly hatred is a moderate Muslim who wants to build a community center within which there is a prayer room. The project is not a Mosque, again a fact that inconsistent with what Mr. Gifford is being told and what prejudices are besetting Mr. Gifford.

Mr. Gifford, I am sorry that you are so frightened. You call the electorate ignorant and gullible. I believe that it is you and those who agree with you who are gullible. You are listening only to those public voices who are cynically feeding your fears.

The world is a changed place. You cannot bring back the 1950s. From my perspective, our inclusive society is richer for our differences. America’s enemies are extremists, just as they have always been, extremists within and without our borders. America’s enemies do not include our bi-racial president.

ILENE BELL

Sandpoint