Opinion

It can be misleading when people make assumptions, as you point out in your Aug. 13 letter in the Bonners Ferry Herald. You may have made some yourself, though. It seems you’ve moved into a community that you don’t know well at all.  

Your letter states that “you’ve done nothing, but have been attacked,” which I’m assuming refers to Dr. Ivy’s letter disagreeing with you, and as you say misrepresenting you. To my knowledge you’ve taken a few “Guest Opinion” spots in our local newspaper announcing to the community how you have come to make our lives better.

Buzz words like “militia,” “combat,” “M-16 rifles,” “grenades,” “Boundary County militia” raises hair on the back of most of our necks.  You argue that Dr. Ivy may not actually be a doctor.  Calling yourself Lieutenant doesn’t necessarily make you one, either.

You describe yourself as “an untrained, unorganized group of men,” which adds to some of our assuming you might be describing what we think of as another anti-government militia group we are all too familiar with setting up camp in our backyard. 

While Boundary County may have a majority of white population, we are proud of our Kootenai American Indians, our large Hispanic population and welcoming to all non-white cultures who live here and would desire to live here.

We are sensitive to and protective against bigotry or the appearance of intolerance. 

Our community has a large percentage of our young people who graduate from high school and enlist in the National Guard and armed services serving in harms way right now. Their families, friends and neighbors are well aware of the importance of proper training.    

What you don’t know about our community is that we are already made up of warriors. Silent ones that don’t need to carry guns, except to go hunting.

These people already show up to help after a house has burned down, when a friend, neighbor or stranger becomes ill, a roof collapses or any number of incidences requiring help. These are the same people that support our educational programs, sports, the arts, our community’s youth, the elderly and all in between. 

These people don’t take out ads in the paper announcing what good things they plan to do for the community. When needed, they just show up and do it. They do it quietly, humbly and happily without arms, titles or misleading agendas. We welcome all who come here to do the same. 

Barbara Russell

Bonners Ferry