[Vision2020] Thank you for Clarifications

Fri Jul 13 11:04:42 PDT 2012

Dear Susan,

Thank you for your prompt response and clarification regarding the current
display in the Courthouse lobby.  I also appreciate your correction
regarding my use of the term "sole control"  in describing your
responsibility for management of the displays.  I must have misunderstood
the information given to me.  Believe me, I do understand how challenging it
can be to develop interesting displays on a monthly basis.  Saundra Lund and
I were thrilled with recent display of the Idaho Quilt, and certainly I have
enjoyed the many, many interesting displays of historic photographs in the
display case and on the walls of the courthouse.

Because of  your long history of service to Latah County you are no stranger
to a well-informed public who hold strong opinions and singular differences
in taste and perception.   The Confederate battle flag is, in my opinion, a
symbol of oppression and human tragedy - a filthy rag representing a
contemptible government and culture. I cannot imagine that a former prisoner
who was held in the infamous Andersonville Prison would, or indeed could,
feel an affection for or desire to be associated with - even in a display
intending to memorialize his service -  the most notorious representation of
that monstrous regime. (In that regard, I urge V2020 readers to watch
Dateline
<http://moviestildawn.blogspot.com/2012/07/dateline-nbc-finding-bookers-plac
e.html>  , Sunday evening "Finding Booker's Place."  Life in Greenwood
Mississippi, 100 years after the Civil War, that is,  in 1964, was not much
to celebrate for African Americans. )

On a more positive note, perhaps this V2020 conversation will encourage
county residents to step up and offer to help with the displays.  It is  a
terrific platform for county and state history.  Again, my thanks, Susan.

Best wishes,

Rose Huskey

From: Susan Petersen [mailto:spetersen at latah.id.us] 
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2012 9:09 AM
To: 'Rosemary Huskey'
Cc: bocc at latah.id.us
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Moles and Mole Hills

Good Morning Rosemary.

I apologize that I was not here yesterday to receive your phone call and
your concerns.

The display case was "a gift from Washington Water Power to the citizens of
Latah County to Commemorate Idaho's Centennial 1890- 1990, donated by the
Latah County Centennial Committee, June 1989".

In the Auditor's Office I am the one that takes the requests and have the
keys to the Display Case, but I do not consider myself  in "sole" "control"
of the case.

When I receive a request for a display my protocol is to bring the request
to the BOCC and discuss with them if they support that request.  

The Commissioners have different ways that they deal with the requests.
They are very conscientious about the courthouse, all things that have to do
with county government and including the display case. 

The request came from Mr. Gilmore, and he represented it was an historical
display.  The display was approved.

We regularly rotate the items in the Display case and this one will come
down at the end of the month.

Please let me know if I can answer any other questions.

Also, we always like to hear from our citizens and appreciate your comments.

Susan R. Petersen, Clerk 

  _____  

From: Rosemary Huskey [mailto:donaldrose at cpcinternet.com] 
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 04:28 PM
To: 'Wayne Price'; 'Tom Hansen'
Cc: 'Moscow Vision 2020'; 'Susan Petersen'; 'tstroschein at latah.id.us
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Moles and Mole Hills

First a correction.  I incorrectly placed the wrong email addy for Susan
Petersen.  It should be  <mailto:spetersen at Latah.id.us>
spetersen at Latah.id.us if you want to get in touch with her.

Secondly, yes, Wayne there is a remote connection between Andersonville
Prison and Latah County if a veteran of that experience died here.  In that
case, do you think if we could resurrect Mr. ????  he would wish to have his
experience memorialized at the courthouse by a large Confederate flag?
Somehow I doubt it.   <http://www.nps.gov/ande/index.htm> Andersonville is
one more blot on the Confederate sorry record. 

There is a certain level of sophistication and historical insight - not to
mention good taste - necessary in preparing displays that are especially
sensitive in public buildings.  Perhaps a photo of Andersonville Prison, or
of the rescued prisoners - who looked like twins to the survivors of
Bergen-Belsen,  Dachau, and Auschwitz would have been appropriate.  How
would you imagine we should honor the survivors of those camps who might
live in Idaho or Latah County.  What flag would you display under those
circumstances?

Rose Huskey

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Wayne Price
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 3:55 PM
To: Tom Hansen
Cc: Moscow Vision 2020; Spettersen at latah.id.us; 'tstroschein at latah.id.us
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moles and Mole Hills

YES, you were up there, I thought you would have read the display.

He settled after the Civil War in LATAH COUNTY, and is buried in VIOLA,
which is also in LATAH County, enough of a link?

Enough of a link?

On Jul 12, 2012, at 3:44 PM, Tom Hansen wrote:

Care to explain the link between the Union officer (not from Latah County)
that was held in the Confederate prison and Latah County?  This would
certainly explain a conceivable reason for the display in the LATAH COUNTY
Courthouse.

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

"If not us, who?

If not now, when?"

- Unknown

On Jul 12, 2012, at 15:31, Wayne Price <bear at moscow.com> wrote:

Vision 2020 readers.....

I've been following this discussion since it started this morning, and
decided that before I wrote anything, I'd go up and take a look at the
historic display in question to see for myself what all the fuss is about
and if it's a substantial issue. I took a look, and it is, in my opinion, a
tempest in a tea pot!

The focus of the display is primarily about a UNION CIVIL WAR officer that
was captured by the Confederates and held at Andersonville Prison during the
Civil War! The Confederate flag 

is, again in my opinion, incidental to the story of someone buried in Latah
County and is a war veteran. 

Much ado about NOTHING 

Wayne M. Price

On Jul 12, 2012, at 3:17 PM, Sue Hovey wrote:

Hi everybody I just talked with Jennifer Barrett. Haven't seen Tom's
pictures but she thought it was part of a historical display about certain
battles. She thinks  the Historical Society is responsible for the
maintenance of the case. If it's a historical display from the 1860s the
Confederate flag may be perfectly appropriate to the display. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 12, 2012, at 2:54 PM, "Rosemary Huskey" <donaldrose at cpcinternet.com>
wrote:

Hi guys,

I called the courthouse - thanks for the photos, Tom.  I spoke to the
auditor's office where I had hoped to reach Susan Petersen.  Ms. Petersen,
who is out of the office is in sole charge of the display case.  No one else
appears to know who or what group is responsible for the display.  I
encourage all V2020 subscribers who share our concern about what is clearly
a celebration of the Confederacy lodge a complaint or query (or, if you are
a jackass a pat on the back) to Susan at :

Spettersen at latah.id.us .  I also think a conversation with your country
commissioner representative is in order.  Unfortunately they are not
answering their central phone line at the moment. They can be reached:

Commissioners:

Jennifer Barrett, Chair, District I, jbarrett<image001.gif> 

Tom Stroschein, District II, tstroschein<image001.gif> 
Dave McGraw, District III, dmcgraw<image001.gif> 

If you don't know your District, send the message to Ms. Barrett.

Rose Huskey

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Scott Dredge
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 1:59 PM
To: thansen at moscow.com; viz
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Welcome to Confederate Latah County . . .

Tom,

Was there any information regarding this display.  Something like 'Donated
by [insert church name of your choosing] to commemorate the greatest
civilization in the history of the world where slaves and their owners
shared genuine affection for each other and made God smile'?

-Scott

From: thansen at moscow.com
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:17:45 -0700
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Welcome to Confederate Latah County . . .

Seeya round town, Moscow. Tom Hansen Moscow, Idaho "If not us, who? If not
now, when?" - Unknown
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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
=======================================================

=======================================================
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
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