Take the time to learn about your community

“Go back to California, it’s people like you who are ruining this town”, a new mantra growing with increased vehemence has been heard directed to city and county leaders, educators, human rights task force members, any resident they do not agree with and most recently to two well respected life-long community members because of the car they were driving.

The messengers of this unwelcoming message have obviously not lived in Boundary County for very long or they would know most of these people they are telling to go home are, in fact, home and are the people who make up the fabric of our community.

The people they accuse of changing our community have lived here for decades or generations, have raised families or grew up here and returned, started successful businesses, contributed to the local work force, volunteered in countless community organizations and endeavors for a very long time. People with different affiliations, beliefs and views have peacefully lived & worked together in our community without vitriol or fear of each other.

It seems that some of the newcomers arrived with a false pretense of our community. It is time for those people who feel emboldened to tell others to leave their home, to either learn about your community or hold up a mirror. As one smart neighbor said, “Enough is enough.”

BARBARA RUSSELL

Bonners Ferry