To the Editor,
After my recent letter regarding the “Trump Country” billboard, I have read a lot of public responses. Some were thoughtful and respectful. Many, however, made one thing very clear: a number of commenters did not read my letter or chose to ignore what it actually said.
So let me be perfectly clear.
At no point did I suggest the billboard should be removed by force, regulation, or government action. Actually, I explicitly acknowledged that the sign is located on private property and that political expression is protected. That statement was written clearly and intentionally. Pretending otherwise is not disagreement — it is misrepresentation.
Supporting free speech does not mean I am required to stay silent in response to speech I disagree with. Counter-speech is not censorship. It is the very mechanism that keeps free expression alive. If someone can publicly promote a political message at the entrance to town, residents have every right to publicly respond to that message. That is not an attack on freedom. That is freedom functioning exactly as designed.
Several commenters suggested that if I dislike the message, I should move to California or Minnesota, etc. That response says far more about the people making it than it does about me. Bonners Ferry is not owned by a single ideology, political party, or slogan. My family, like many others here, has lived, worked, and invested in this community for generations. Disagreement does not make someone an outsider, and attempting to silence neighbors through intimidation or dismissal is not a demonstration of community strength. It’s a pathetic attempt to distract from your hollow arguments.
Others argued that I should simply purchase land and erect my own sign. Ironically, that argument reinforces my original point: messaging at a town’s primary entrance influences how the entire community is perceived, whether every resident agrees with it or not. The issue is not ownership alone; it is representation.
Some responses attempted to reduce my position to being anti-conservative, anti-gun, anti-faith, or anti-Trump. That is reductive, lazy and inaccurate. Respect for constitutional rights includes ALL constitutional rights, including the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, lawful elections, and the rule of law. Supporting one while dismissing others is not patriotism — it is selective convenience.
My reference to “undermining democratic institutions” and “interfering with lawful elections” reflects January 6th violence against law enforcement and was based on documented federal convictions, sworn testimony, and official records. Acknowledging verifiable facts is not extremism. Ignoring them because they are uncomfortable is not patriotism, it’s cowardice.
Should I have brought up the sexual assault HE was found guilty of? Or maybe the 3,000+ mentions that have appeared in the Epstein files (so far)? As for the executions we all saw with our own eyes; his Storm Troopers already litigated those live on tv, LITERALLY before the bodies were even cold. “Domestic terrorist”, “brandishing a gun”, lies you gobble down and seem to vomit out whenever you feel cornered because the truth is not on your side.
It is also worth addressing the repeated claim that the billboard represents “the majority.” Even if that were true, majority opinion has never defined constitutional rights, nor has it determined whether a community allows space for differing voices. Mature communities do not fear disagreement. They engage it.
My original letter was not an attempt to control speech. It was a call for balance and reflection about what message our town projects to visitors and to each other. That remains my position. I will continue to speak openly, and directly about the future and character of the community I live in and care about.
People are free to disagree with me. They are not free to rewrite what I said to make it easier to attack.
Sincerely,
Matthew Keith
Bonners Ferry
This is not an editorial. This is a call to suspend private land ownership (authoritarian and communist). This is a call to suspend freedom of speech (fascist). This is a call to use the power of the government to compel a private family because you disagree with them (also fascist). Veterans didn’t serve so you can put your boot on somebody you disagree with. We served so a man can put up any sign on his property that he wants without being harassed or intimidated by others. You are free to put up whatever sign on your land you want. You are also free to leave, free to not look at it and free to just be glad you live in the greatest country on earth. Keep your hands to yourself, do better.
Did you read the same post that I read? If so, I don’t understand how you could have misinterpreted what was written.
Thank you Matthew for reiterating what Freedom is. Not anything to be taken for granted. Seems a lot of folks could brush up on their civic lessons.
Thank you for your previous letter and for this clarification letter, Matthew Keith.
Your points are thoughtful, well expressed, and exhibit a deep understanding of our Constitutional rights.
I commented on your last letter and I will reiterate that we have visited Bonner’s Ferry often in the past few years and plan to build a home there.
Communities will always vary on their opinions of policies and on political leaders, that is healthy and expected.
However, when entering a town, we would hope that residents would desire signage that is welcoming to all residents and visitors.
It is sad to think that some may believe it is preferential to be unwelcoming to the stranger, regardless of their political views.
Most importantly: a welcoming community is a boost to the town’s economy and connectiveness to communities which surround them.
Those positives are well worth residents CHOOSING to exhibit politically neutral signage. There is no mandate here, it is a kind choice.
I find the sign upon entering Bonners Ferry very welcoming!
Thank you Mathew Keith for responding in such a thoughtful & respectful way with facts and consideration. Your words resonate with my thoughts & feelings exactly. I was raised in Bonners Ferry for 61 years and I love my community. However, I’m truly appalled at how people villainize and attack anyone who speaks out about things they don’t agree with or twist the truth to help them feel better. For some folks, speaking out has become downright dangerous! How sad that is.
I appreciate your discourse & honesty!!
“My original letter was not an attempt to control speech. It was a call for balance and reflection about what message our town projects to visitors and to each other.”
“should a single resident’s message be allowed to dominate the visual gateway to our town?”
You weren’t trying to control their speech, just making a mealy mouthed call for someone else to control their speech.
Matthew Keith’s latest submission and the responses make me reflect on history. The role of citizens in political affairs has been described by Greek and Roman philosophers. The term, “res publica”, is Latin for ‘public matter’ or ‘the public thing,’ and emphasizes the role of citizens in political affairs. I say this because the sign is political.
Because it’s political it is up for discussion. And that is what is happening – a discussion.
At the same time there is a discussion about a post made by the President and posted to the White House website until it was recently taken down.
There is commonality about the “sign” and the “post”. People can say what they want. That’s freedom of speech. For me, freedom of speech also involves responsibility and consequences. I can blurt out what I want but it might not be the responsible thing to do and I may likely experience the consequences.
I think that is what Matthew Keith is writing about.
Wow! Your original post was well written & this follow up post was even better. Thank you for taking the high road & speaking your truth!
You hate Donald Trump. Admit it. Nothing he ever does will ever quell your hate.
But what is there to love?
Womanizer? No.
Narcissist? No.
Liar? No.
Petty wannabe dictator? No.
Matthew, your article was well written & appreciated by many. Thanks for being a truth speaker & freedom defender when it’s awkward to do so.
I’m a true Populist and support common sense policies which benefit the majority at the least cost & trade-offs. Bombing 7 countries the first year of the “anti war president” is not leadership in our best interests. Neither is pardoning convicted drug traffickers while accusing national leaders of the same acts. (Nobody does drug trafficking better than our CIA – just ask Oliver North and a host of insiders. They have a long track record of eliminating competition and maximizing untaxed profits.)
Many people long to worship a new Caesar in the Cult of Personality. Others, in stark contrast, want a leader who is honest and defends Constitutional government with its restrictions on Executive power. Many of us still remember that Congress declares war – not the president. Our congress last declared war in 1942 but has authorized attacks against other nations over 250 times since then. Our nation has long since departed from the Rule of Law uniformly applied to instead descend into Oligarch with its unbridled political power.
In the USAF, I took an oath to defend the Constitution and American values – not to support party loyalty and massive transfers of wealth to aggressive, belligerent foreign nations or to the “Defense” contractor industry.
I’m glad to see the clean-up of our Immigration situation but *not* glad to see the foreign influence over our public officials, extrajudicial killings at sea based on verbal proclamations and the kidnapping of foreign leaders not serving our State Department & military. People in other nations have the SAME right to freedom and choosing their leaders as we do!
Every time our “leaders” send billions of dollars overseas to subsidize other nations and systematic warfare, they fundamentally betray what American citizens demanded as a majority last November.