[Vision2020] What in the world?

[Donovan Arnold]

Right on Kai! Thank you for backing up the First Amendment. It is too bad 
that Mr. Wilson uses the amendment for destructive and cruel purposes. But 
nonetheless, he has the right to speak his bigoted thoughts and ideas. 
Unfortunately, some people believe that the First Amendment only applies to 
speech they agree with.

I personally welcome Mr. Wilson to speak his mind. The more he does, the 
more people see him for who he really is and what he is all about. The 
University also needs that money.

When I was in the student government (ASUI) at UI, we charged $10,000 for 
non-student organizations to use the ASUI Kibbie Dome. That money raised is 
used to support the Kibbie Dome and make it cheaper for student activities 
and events to take place in the Kibbie Dome. So Wilson and friends are 
helping the students present their events like the Pow Wow.

When I was involved with the Kootenai County Human Rights Task Force, and 
Vice President of the Human Equality Club (the North Idaho College arm of 
the Human Rights Task Force) we never attempted to stop the Aryan Nations 
from holding events or marching downtown in a parade. Such tactics were 
against our ideology. Instead, we held human rights events and programs at 
the same time some where else in town and got the community to do the same 
thing to boycott the parade. Free ice cream, games, speeches, and events 
were held while the Aryan Nations marched. People would go elsewhere for the 
free food, leaving the Aryan Nations with a very small audience.

In addition, we did a pledge drive. For every 1/2 miles the Aryan Nations 
marched, people would pledge money and we used that money to hold events 
like Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and other human rights events all year long 
that countered the Aryan Nation ideology and teachings.

I think if people wanted to oppose Mr. Wilson, they would create an 
organization designed to counter Christ Church ideology and teachings with 
logic and compassion, not attack Douglas Wilson. Instead of trying to deny 
Wilson and Christ Church their constitutional rights, they should just 
counter his events with events at the same time that teach the ideas of 
compassion and human equality. They should take a positive approach, not a 
negative one.

I really think people that oppose Wilson are doing it in a way that gives 
Wilson and his ideas credit and attention. Wilson is not well known and 
powerful because of his ideas that are rejected by 95% of the Palouse 
Community, he is powerful because many that oppose him all show up to his 
events and attract the media and the curious.

Take Care,

Donovan J Arnold



>From: "Kai Eiselein" <editor at lataheagle.com>
>To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Subject: [Vision2020] What in the world?
>Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 17:08:00 -0800
>
>Reality check, people!
>The U of I is a publicly funded institution, therefore it's buildings are
>open to lawful use by ALL citizens.
>Your hatred of Wilson and his group is nearing a frenzy seen at book
>burnings.
>So you don't agree with him, neither do I. But, I will remind you he is 
>well
>within his rights as guaranteed my the Constitution of the United States.
>When I see people saying that there "has got to be a way" to get him out of
>here, that makes me nervous. Then what? Are you going to go after every
>person and entity who doesn't toe your "standard" of what is correct. As a
>journalist, I find that thought frightening.
>As for the U of I providing food; food service on the U of I campus is
>provided by a private company. Sodexho to be exact, it is a French owned
>multi-national corporation. Very little of it's expenditures, minus the
>pitance paid to employees, is spent here. Nearly all of their products are
>brought in from out of state. Food for thought for those of you who think
>Walmart is the only giant in the area.
>Is the U providing the group with dorm rooms? What other lodging are they
>providing?
>So if they provide the same facilities to, say for argument's sake, a gay
>and lesbian group is that okay? There are a large number of citizens who
>would disagree with that, as well.
>I always thought universities were a place to explore differing views.
>Things must have changed since I was a kid wandering the University of
>Arizona campus, where my father taught.
>Do I agree with Wilson? No, but I will stand for his right to believe as
>wishes, so long as keeps it within the law, if he starts going out and
>harrassing, threatening or intimidating others with a "show of force", so 
>to
>speak, I will denouce his actions vehemently.
>That my friends, is my duty as a journalist.
>
>Kai T. Eiselein
>Editor
>Latah Eagle
>521 S. Jackson St.
>Moscow, ID 83843
>(208) 882-0666 Fax (208) 882-0130
>editor at lataheagle.com
>
>
>_____________________________________________________
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯