The Rights Stuff Newsletter

Knocked Off Center

Gretchen Albrecht-Hellar
I hope most of you read the guest editorial the Task Force wrote in response to a problem a local business was experiencing. In case you missed it, I think it bears repeating:
Hate and divisiveness can only win if we let it push us off our center. It can only win when we allow it to affect our better judgement and engage in actions based not on logic and compassion but on anger and fear.
An unwanted "holiday greeting" from the 11th Hour Remnant Messenger has knocked some of the recipients off their center and has caused them to engage in actions which are counterproductive and innately unfair and unjustified. To the extent that this occurs divisiveness wins.
Anger that there is no legal way to stop the senders of the "holiday greetings" has caused some folks to engage in behavior that is little different from the divisiveness expressed in the 11th hour pamphlet. They have turned on members of their community who have no ties with this group and who find their ideas just as abhorrent as we all do. I am talking about local businesses that as a matter of course find themselves having to serve individuals involved with the 11th Hour group.
On strictly legal grounds, businesses that serve the public have no right to discriminate against individuals based solely on their ideological beliefs. This law protects all of us from being denied service because of our race or religion or just because we hold beliefs different from the business owner. What if local supermarkets agreed with the 11th Hour and decided that Jews were the seeds of satan and, consequently, refused to sell Jews and their supporters food? What if the restaurants decided that Catholics and Pentecostals should be banned from their establishments because of their beliefs? According to our laws, not only legislated but moral, a person can be denied service only if their behavior is disruptive or illegal not because of their personal beliefs.
Given that we all agree that supermarkets and other business establishments do not and should not have the right to discriminate in that way how can anyone justify what is happening to a local business? The owners of Mail Boxes Etc are being unfairly branded as supporters of the 11th Hour ideology. Why? Simply because one of the founders of the 11th Hour rents a mail box from that company and used that box as its return address-a mailbox which incidentally was rented long before the first mailing went out. As long as the box rent is paid and nothing illegal is shipped, there is little or nothing the business owner is able to do, or more importantly, SHOULD be able to do. Do we really want the owners of this business or any business to have the right to censor the ideas and personal philosophy of their customers?
Now if the business provides special breaks to organizations or individuals who espouse an ideology with which we disagree or if it provides financial support to such groups, then it is my right and your right to choose to do business elsewhere. This is not the case with this local business. If anything, this business is merely doing its job in the most non-discriminatory way possible. I personally believe that the message of the 11th Hour will fall by the weight of its own ugliness and error not because of attempted suppression and denial of its right to exist. This is especially true if we all work to build a community immune to such ideas. Indeed, the choice of the 11th Hour to make its ideology known, especially at this time of year, will do more to destroy the legitimacy of its tenets than any attempt to suppress it. Boycotting or harassing this business will not affect the ability of the 11th Hour to disseminate their ideas. The key to defeating the ideas put forth by the 11th Hour is not more anger and discrimination. Hatred of hatred is still hatred.
So if you really want to express your indignation at the ideology expressed by the 11th Hour, engage in community building activities. We had the chance to show how we really felt about its ideology in our recent city elections. I hope you made a stand then. If you didn't, you missed a great opportunity.
We have the chance to participate in community building activities every day through our schools, our churches, our organizations, our relationships, and our families. Let's build on the inherent compassion and concern for others that we all have. Let's use the energy generated by our disgust at the message of the 11th Hour to build not to tear down.

Barbara & Jim Hansen
1999 was a year of beginnings: we marched with our PFLAG banner as part of the Human Rights Task Force contingent in Sandpoint's July 4th parade; picnicked at a great location in August; and partied at a Holiday Gala Pot Luck hosted by the Hansens.
We also adopted a two-mile stretch of county road on Pine Street beginning at the railroad overpass and westward. Look for the road signs that will read: "This area of road is being cleaned by PFLAG-Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays". We have been assured signs will be posted soon. Anyone wishing to assist in picking up litter in the spring and fall, followed by a "party", please let us know.
The New Year 2000 promises to be an exciting year of growth for our Pride Family and Supporters. Hansens will host a St. Patrick's Pot Luck on Sunday, March 12th, 4:00pm. Please call to assure your place at the bounteous buffet table. And the 2nd Annual Pride Picnic will be held on Sunday August 20th
The most exciting news is the desire expressed by many folks to "get organized". It was so touching at the picnic last summer to hear folks express appreciation at having a place to gather and socialize. And Sandpoint has so many citizens supportive of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people and their issues and concerns.
So, on Monday, January 31, at 7:00pm all GLBT folks and straight supporters will gather at the Hansens, 1912 Janelle Way, Sandpoint, to discuss the organization of a PFLAG Chapter.
PFLAG-Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc. is a support, education and advocacy organization representing more than 70,000 households. It is a tax-exempt, nonprofit, and not affiliated with any political or religious institution. PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons, their families and friends through:
support - to cope with an adverse society
education - to enlighten an ill-formed public
advocacy - to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.
Organizing a PFLAG Chapter offers many benefits, social as well as legislative, both to the straight and Gay communities. Parents of GLBT children will be encouraged to attend meetings in a safe environment. We will offer outreach to youth who have no support at this time. With national headquarters in Washington, DC, our PFLAG Chapter will have access to many resources including current legislation affecting the lives of GLBT persons.
Brenda Hammond, Sandpoint, has been graciously serving as a PFLAG Representative the past few years and the Rev. Howard Bess, author of "Pastor I Am Gay", Alaska, is our Regional Director. He will be in town February 6th and will be honored by a potluck at the Hansens. Please call if you are able to attend It is now time for us to offer the benefits of a PFLAG Chapter to Sandpoint.
We are inviting YOU, and hoping YOU will attend this meeting on January 31st to express your views and show your support. We will discuss a monthly meeting time and accept any offers of assistance from volunteers. All the paperwork will be available and we have two PFLAG "pros" to guide us in creating an important network of support and love. No one will be asked to do more than they offer. Even if you have, or never had need for PFLAG yourself, please give of yourself for the love of our children.
For all PFLAG/PRIDE information call Barb or Jim 255-1213.

Gretchen Albrecht-Hellar
Again, this year the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force is pleased to be able to provide a $2000 scholarship to a Bonner County senior student. As in the past, the scholarship will be awarded to a student who demonstrates a commitment to human rights through community service.
If you know a student who represents these ideals, please encourage them to apply for this scholarship.
The student will be judged on community service and recommendations from the public. This is a major way we can honor our youth and reward those who represent the ideals that we all endorse.

Brenda Hammond
The last, extremely negative mailing from the 11th Hour Remnant Messenger stimulated a great deal of discussion at the last Board of Directors meeting.
We understand the outrage people feel at receiving something that is so against their deepest feelings and beliefs. Recipients have also expressed frustration at their inability to stop the mailings and a feeling of helplessness as far as finding a constructive manner in which to respond.
People want to DO something!
The Board concluded that the Task Force could help by continuing the development of a "Response Kit." This is a project that was begun in the past, but not completed. The concept is to have a Kit prepared so that the next time a mailing goes out, recipients can bring them in to the Task Force office, or to local participating businesses and trade the hate mail in for a Response Kit.
Included in the kit will be a window sign supporting human rights, a bumper sticker, a copy of the booklet, "Ten Ways to Fight Hate," (published by the Southern Poverty Law Center), a suggested reading list, bookmarks with appropriate quotations, etc.
We encourage the membership to contact us with their ideas of what else might be included.
Also! The original name we had given to this project was: "Hate Response Kit." We have received feedback disapproving of the word "Hate" and would like to find a positive name. Something like "Community Building Kit." Please give us some ideas!

Brenda Hammond
The Martin Luther King Day celebration this year was organized completely by the high school Human Rights Club - and they did a fantastic job! About 100 people attended the Celebration and Diversity Dinner at the high school.
Tables were set up in the commons room with colorful tablecloths, soft lighting and an assortment of quotations and poetry with human rights themes. Also, many of the signs that were made this summer for the Fourth of Julty parade decorated the room. The food was a wonderful example of the bounty of diversity - with many delicious, varied and lovingly prepared contributions.
Following the dinner, all were welcomed into the auditorium by the co-chairpersons of the high school Human Rights Club: Dana Libbey and Clarity Coffman. A welcome was also given by Gretchen Albrecht-Hellar, president of the Task Force.
High school students performed a choral reading of excerpts from the "I Have a Dream" speech of Dr. King, and Becca McIlwain gave a brief biographical sketch of his life. Mayor-elect Paul Graves spoke on "Small Things Can Make a Difference," and Frederick Weidemann also presented some of his thoughts "About Diversity."
The evening also included musical offerings by Alice Vroman's Washington Elementary Choir, "Reflection," a solo by Kristine Hale and "Amazing Grace" sung by Yancy Zimmerman.
This evening program followed a day in which a number of the students were involved in community service projects - honoring the idea of a "day on" rather than a "day off."

Gretchen Albrecht-Hellar
You have probably heard Paul Graves, our new mayor, talk about the greeting used when two Masai meet. They say "How are the children?" and the desired response is "The children are well." Implicit in this greeting is the recognition that if the most defenseless members of the community are fine, then the larger community is also.
Maybe our community will never adopt that as its official greeting, but what about asking ourselves what impact any action we take has on our children or our community's children-really ask that question!
I experimented with that question one day last week. I don't consider myself a bad person, but when I asked that question before I acted there were two instances during that day that I changed my proposed action.
The two actions changed? I took the time to completely clear my windshield even though I was late for a meeting. (What if I hadn't and because of a partially clear windshield I caused an accident). The second action changed? I had already put the recycle bin for pick up and I found yesterday's newspaper. I could have just thrown it into the garbage pail for next week's pickup, but I stopped. It would have been easier, but then the reason we recycle is to preserve the environment for the future.
Human rights issues? Yes, because the basis of human rights is human responsibility. So thanks, Mayor Graves, for giving me a method for evaluating my actions before I act.

Gretchen Albrecht-Hellar
Members of the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force tend to be active in other community organizations and activities. Our newsletter goes out to over 300 people.
If other organizations you belong to have engaged in diversity or community building activities, we would love to recognize and promote them. Just drop us a line and we will be glad to share them with other task force members. We all need to celebrate the ongoing positive activities in our community.
An Opportunity to Work Together


January, 2000
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