For which group would you cheer?

A big hurrah to the Coeur d'Alene cops for apprehending 31 Patriot Front racists about to invade a Pride in the Park gathering on June 13. One assumes (hopes?) Sandpoint officers would be as responsible and nimble should hate-filled, camo-clad armed misfits come clumping over the Long Bridge to sabotage a peaceful Sandpoint protest — a not unpredictable possibility.

Here's a thought: rather than uneducated Patriot Front knuckle-draggers attacking a Coeur d'Alene gay gathering, what if they, the goons, had staged their own protest against, say, those who believe in the rule of law; who consider heinous the sale of murderous AR-15 rifles to anyone, anytime; who promote public education; who equate Trump, his cadre and today's sadistic GOP and NRA with Adolph Hitler and the early Nazi party. (This eerie and accurate parallel causes historians and elders to shiver).

To protest against these fake patriots, let's say 30 or so gay people sidle up to the 31 snarling social deviants. Comparatively, the gays are educated, talented, civic-minded, law-abiding, non-violent, gainfully employed, tax-paying, unarmed, responsible, democracy-proud citizens. Not intimidating. But gay. Or gay supporters. Au contraire, the knuckle-draggers are cerebrally challenged, anti-everything America, bored with life, loud, unloved and vicious. For which group, dear reader, would you cheer?

Let me rephrase that: Which way do you vote?

TIM H. HENNEY

Sandpoint