Editor,

On Friday afternoon, January 6^th, myself and thirteen or so like-minded citizens were standing at the intersection of Highways 49 and 88 engaged in the expression of our first amendment rights. As we stood there a gentleman (and I use this term loosely) passenger in a vehicle waiting at the light gave us a thumbs up indicating he was in agreement with our sentiments. As a sign of gratitude for his expression of solidarity I returned his compliment. At that point all would have been great but he, unfortunately, took it one step further. Rolling down the window he said, and I quote as nearly as I can remember, “Everything will be fine as soon as we get hat ‘jig’ out of the White House.” At first I wanted to deny what I’d heard because I hadn’t heard it in such a long time, but unfortunately my sense of hearing did not betray me. He did say what I thought he’d said.

Obviously this fellow does not subscribe to advice given by, I believe, Benjamin Franklin: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool (or in this case a racist bigot) then to speak and remove all doubt.” I understand that he was also exercising his first amendment rights and I fervently subscribe to the sentiments of another of our founding fathers, Patrick Henry, who said, “I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” However, that statement and others like it are, at this time in this county, state and country, indefensible.

While I am certain that this fellow is in the vast minority of the citizens of Amador, I must sadly admit that this not the first time I’ve heard similar sentiments expressed in public places in the county. To those individuals (and you know who you are) who harbor these attitudes I say, ENOUGH! We are better than this. There is no place for this kind of non-acceptance and hatred in our society any longer. And for those of us, myself included, who have heard these things and not spoken out against them I also say, ENOUGH! We are good people in this county. Let’s prove it. If you hear it and you know it for what it is, let those who speak it know that it is absolutely abhorrent and totally unacceptable. Let them know that they speak the language of a regrettable time long, long past.

Brian Gray, Pioneer