Martin Luther King's Birthday celebration gives us time to pause and reflect
on the "state of human rights" in Idaho. Lt. Vernon Baker spoke to an overflow
crowd at the Moscow Jr. High School. He reviewed the problems and challenges
of growing up with prejudice during his youth and service in the U.S. Army
during World War II. He pointed out that we have made a great deal of progress
but there is still much to be done.
Governor Phil Batt received the longest extended applause for his statement
against racism. He said, "Idaho has received unwarranted and unfair
attention because of a handful of malcontents and screwballs who have
chosen to make their home here. They range from eccentric to anachistic.
The hatred which spews forth from such evil people as the Aryan Nations is
beneath contempt. We denounce such blatant racism and resolve that we will
do all we can, within the constraints of free speech, to discredit these
pseudo Idahonas."
"Let us be clear, however, that we do not accept any blanket description of
Idaho as a haven for racists, or lawlessness. Let out-of-state critics
clean up racial atmospheres in their own state first, before chastising us.
There is, to be sure, much room for improvement. Our largest minority,
Hispanic, has some monumental problems. Most Hispanics have not been here
long and their educational and economic statis is below Idaho's average.
Whenever energetic
young Hispanics stay in an uninterrupted school situation, they do well
academically and then secure and hold down good jobs. But far too many are
not members of the mainstream. My Hispanic initiative is designed to build
on natural talents and ambitions of our Hispanic population. My Hispanic
Initiative will not accomplish large-scale change overnight, but there is
already a perceptible improvement in self-pride and determination." He
gave
the example of Roy Valdez, from Wilder, who had just been hired by the U.S.
Department of Labor as the National Monitor Advocate for farmworkers nationwide.
I received a copy of an e mail sent from a Coeur d'Alene realtor to the Idaho
Association of Realtors on Friday. This is the text:
"Dear Gov. Batt:
I read the transcript of your disgusting, politically correct "State of the
State" address, in which you cited your "Hispanic Initiative."
For your information, a goodly number of Idahoans are refugess from
crime-ridden areas of the American Southwest where Hispanics predominate.
Is it not our human right to have a least one state where white Americans
predominate and live free of crime? Hispanics have captured the American
Southwest. Your "initiative" will help them demographically swamp Idaho as
well.
You "conservative Republicans" are just as evil when it comes to betraying white
Americans as the Democrats.
Your cowardice and treason are abominable and require every legal and peaceful
form of opposition the people of Idaho can mount against you and your turncoat
Republican party.
Instead of securing a future for your children you have chosen to worship
the Golden Calf and placate big business and the establishment media. It
is you,
Phil Batt, who is "beneath contempt."
The e mail was sent to the Government Affairs Director who responded, "Please
do not send such bigoted e mails to my address again. I find your positions and
your statements morally repugnant, and it is a goal of the Idaho
Association of Realtors to assure that views such as yours are not shared
by our membership
who are committed to human right for all."
Yes, as Lt. Vernon Baker said--we have made progress as reflected by the
Governor's address. However, the e mail from Coeur d" Alene, tells us that we
must be vigilant at all times and we must continue to fight racism and we
must expand our support for human rights.
Dr. Tom Trail
International Trails
2039 Mt. View Rd.
Moscow, Id. 83843
Tel: (208) 882-6077
Fax: (208) 882-0896
e mail ttrail@moscow.com