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I am a Vietnam veteran, retired, live on land homesteaded by my grandfather in 1902 on Lake Pend Oreille — and a member of Sandpoint Indivisible. I am not running around with my “hair on fire,” nor have I seen any other members suffering this malady.

I am currently traveling around the East and South visiting friends. When they ask where I’m living now and I say, “North Idaho,” it’s not long until they ask, “isn’t that where all those white supremacists are.”

The Aryan Nation and Ruby Ridge may seem long time ago to those of us who live here, but it’s what many people in this country still believe exemplifies this beautiful place. I am disappointed when an opportunity to repudiate this stereotype is not taken advantage of.

Unfortunately, allowing a group of concerned citizens to be excluded from a local parade celebrating patriotic values, such as freedom of expression, is just what a lot of people in this country would expect of this place.

JAMES GREEN

Sandpoint