More bad news from some Republicans in the Gem State broke yesterday.
Idaho Republicans just can't help embarrassing themselves by providing continuous examples for making our fair state live up to its reputation as a haven for xenophobes and racists. The Bonner County Republican Central Committee wrote a letter(.pdf) to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer proudly proclaiming it's affirmation of Arizona's controversial and unconstitutional immigration law.
writes 43rd State Blues blogger Sisyphus.
Nothing terribly surprising there.
But remember, these are Idaho Republicans we are dealing with.
The letter continues:
The theme of this year’s fair is the Spanish word for celebration: "fiesta". The Republicans at BCRCC want to make it very clear that English is our primary language, and call our booths "Celebrate!"
We’d like to display some Arizona license plates if you have some to spare.
Sisyphus reminds readers that the word "fiesta" has long been incorporated into the American nomenclature, and that Spanish was spoken in Idaho centuries before Lewis and Clark explored.
The history of Hispanic influence in Idaho is profound:
Spanish explorers made trips to the Northwest beginning in 1592. Spaniards introduced pigs, horses, domestic fowl, tomatoes, beans, corn and garlic to the Native Americans of the Northwest. Lewis and Clark were the first Euro-Americans to set foot on what is now known as Idaho. They encountered Spanish-speaking Native Americans as well as those who spoke their tribal language. They were followed by French-Canadian fur trappers; resulting in names of communities like Coeur d'Alene (French for "heart of an awl") and Boise (Le Bois-French for "the trees").
***Mountain men, including some Spaniards and Mexicans, lived off the land as trappers and hunters. In the 1860's, there were a number of Mexican vaqueros (cowboys) living in the Treasure Valley. By 1863, Mexicans were mining at Spanishtown, a camp near Rocky Bar. Jesus Urquirdes, one of several successful Mexican business people, came to Boise in 1863, became a prominent Pacific Northwest packer and built the Spanish Village in 1870s to house his Mexican packers. The 1870 census included 60 Mexican-born individuals.
"As I write this I'm looking at Boise's iconic Spanish architecture train depot," Sisyphus said.
This hostility isn't confined to Bonner County. Recently Idaho's Department of Labor noted that Idaho Hispanics' buying power increased tenfold while other groups languished in the down economy. And the Governor's completely illogical response to this revenue raising prospect was to permanently get rid of the Idaho Hispanic Commission.
Bloggers and responders have raised some good questions:
One vendor, who has worked the fair for many years, asked if he should also change the names of the numerous burritos and fajitas that he has been serving.
Would Bonner County have Boise State return their Fiesta Bowl trophies?
If you can't have a Fiesta can you still have a Rodeo?
Scary stuff?
Then watch out for Boise's Taco Bell Arena.