California Transplants to Idaho

“The Idaho Trail” (Aug. 9) was quite disturbing. When did Idaho become a sovereign “country” with limits on immigration? What happened to freedom of movement in the good old U.S.A.? Tolerance?

Visitors, with proper “passports” should be required to take anti-venom shots, to avoid the verbal poison. Would Idaho residents survive a boycott of their famous vegetable?

BEATRICE M. CASPARIAN

(a native Californian)

West Hills

* As one who has maintained a home in both Idaho and California for many years, I assure you that the anguish of the native Idahoans is legitimate. Your article points out a perfect example of an Idahoan’s concern, the “environmentally conscious California transplant” who complains about the bluegrass burn-off.

The typical Californian’s environmentalism pales in comparison to the native of Idaho. Californians have learned their environmentalism from an armchair, watching biased “nature” programs on TV and believing everything the Sierra Club and others propound. The Idahoan, however, learns his environmentalism on the land. He lives, works and recreates there. He isn’t about to ruin his back yard or his livelihood.

Yet the Californian goes up there with his false “environmentally correct” notions and tries to change everything. Such as the bluegrass burn-off, something that has been done by the Indians since before America was discovered, something that’s necessary to rejuvenate the soil.

Go to any cafe, market or saloon in any little town in Idaho and you’ll probably see the sign “Idaho is what America was!” If Californians want to live in “what America was,” they should leave their “what America has become” back in California.

TRENT SANDERS

La Canada

* The story stated “Now Coeur d’Alene has a white supremacy group.” That group is not new to northern Idaho. I was born in Coeur d’Alene in 1963 and that organization (if it can be called such) was alive and active then. The article made it appear that this is new and due primarily to the influx of Californians and retired law enforcement (some indeed may be involved), but I still believe that people are drawn to Coeur d’Alene for its incredible beauty, and not racist reasons.

KARI SOBISKY

Moorpark

* I guess money can’t buy you love, or local status in Coeur d’Alene. It seems like the California-to-Idaho transplants are running into the same attitudes that immigrants find when they come to California looking for a better life.

MICHAEL CARR

Pasadena