Letter to the Editor: Is Sanders County a no-go zone?

Is anyone else in Sanders County disgusted with the welcome mat laid out for the likes of Cliven Bundy? Two hundred people packed a gym in Paradise to listen to this violent, deadbeat, anti-government, racist, con-artist attempt to justify the criminality of his acts and his family? If violent acts and lack of respect for the laws of the USA is the type of abusive behavior approved of in Sanders County I would suggest local law enforcement, employees of State, Federal, and local government be wary of their interactions with citizens and even elected politicians in this county!

Unfortunately I’m not surprised that people like Fielder and the people who voted for her would hero worship someone like Cliven Bundy. Bundy wondered if African-Americans might have been “better off” as slaves, referring to them as “the Negro.” Not too long ago in this very newspaper (Oct 2017) Fielder and 62 Sanders County residents demonized athletes like Colin Kaepernick for his respectful, non-violent protest of police shootings of unarmed Black Americans. Mr. Kaepernick and his fellow athletes committed the horrific crime of kneeling and bowing their heads while the National Anthem was playing. Now Fielder and like-minded people honor and welcome violent, law breaking, racist, extremists to our county like heroes, I wonder if their welcome would have been as warm if Cliven Bundy and family were Black or Native American? I think NOT!

Setting aside the obvious racism of Fielder and Company, they apparently think it is acceptable for people like Bundy to threaten government officials and Law Enforcement with guns. It’s acceptable not to pay your grazing fees on public land. Does that apply to private land also? It’s acceptable to claim public land as your own and steal it from the citizens of the United States who are the land’s legal owners. What else is acceptable to people like Fielder

and the other people who support Bundy? Murder, terrorist acts, threats, blowing up Federal buildings like the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City? If they don’t respect the law and the rights of other citizens what stops such people from using violence to get their way? I would really like to know how many people agree with Bundy so I can avoid the areas of Sanders County with the greatest concentration of people who no longer respect the laws and government of our nation. Is it just Paradise or is Plains off limits now also; Thompson Falls, Noxon, Heron? I don’t see a lot of outrage published in the Editorial section of the Sanders County Ledger. Is this violent, anti-government behavior the way people believe disagreements with government laws and regulations are solved in Sanders County?

I am very proud of people like Rancher Nick Sebrasse and Ryan Busse of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers who had the courage and decency to speak out against Cliven Bundy and his lawlessness, and against a politician like Fielder who supports Cliven Bundy. I hope there are many other citizens in Sanders County who will also speak out against violence, thievery, and the disrespect for government and law; and we will hear your voices and see your words in local publications! Kathleen Stiles, Hot Springs