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LINCOLN COUNTY OFF-BASE IN 'TARGETING' PEACE-LOVING RAINBOW FAMILY MEMBERS

Look out Lincoln County! The peace-promoting environmentalists are here!
Better lock up your E hmm ... your what? Your prejudices and bigotry? Or,
perhaps your disposable, wasteful and destructive ways of life. Or just
your narrow-mindedness about people who do not have the same beliefs as
you. Or maybe, just your sheriff, who sounds like a bigot time-warped back
from the pre-1960s civil rights movements.

An article published June 29 in the Wausau Daily Herald states that "The
Lincoln County Sheriff's Department plans to aggressively target members of
the Rainbow Family who are traveling through the area." That's right, they
weren't even coming here, but just passing through. Lincoln County Sheriff
Tom Koth says the department will stop anyone who looks or acts
"suspicious" and will ask local food pantries and charities not to help any
members who ask for help. Am I the only one who sees something a little
corrupt about this?

Let's first take a look at what the Rainbow Family is about. Here is a
self-definition from their unofficial Web site at
http:welcomehome.org/rainbow.html: "Some say we're the largest
non-organization of non-members in the world. We have no leaders, and no
organization. To be honest, the Rainbow Family means different things to
different people. I think it's safe to say we're into intentional
community-building, non-violence, and alternative lifestyles. We also
believe that peace and love are a great thing, and there isn't enough of
that in this world. Many of our traditions are based on Native American
traditions, and we have a strong orientation to take care of the Earth. We
gather in the national forests yearly to pray for peace on this planet."

Sounds pretty dangerous, doesn't it? Dangerous enough for the Sheriff's
Department to "target" people they think may be involved. What will they be
looking for - people with long hair and tie-dyed T-shirts? That could
describe my 2-year-old daughter. Hitchhikers? I saw a boy of about 7 on
Third Street yesterday with his arm out and wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt.
Maybe I should have performed a citizen's arrest. Better yet, if you think
a hitchhiker may be dangerous, don't pick him or her up! And to instruct
local charities not to help people in need? How ludicrous! Charities are
supposed to be for anyone in need - not just if they like you, too. Perhaps
Koth is just trying to give the impression that they are all freeloaders,
when in fact the majority is not. There might be a small percentage that
needs help, just like there are people in society who need help, but for
the most part are probably more self-sufficient than most. They work for a
living, many grow their own food, and work toward spiritual awareness. They
try to respect the land and other people, even if you don't agree with our
beliefs.

Consider this, Sheriff Koth: "Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress
of grievances.

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated,
and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized."

Do you recognize these statements? There are both from the United States
Constitution. Maybe you should read it once.

Christine Rehwinkel is a reader from Wausau.