Something clever out of Pequot?

This may be - seriously, no joke - the best editorial I've ever read in the Dispatch. For those of you who don't know the background behind the story, State Sen. Paul Koering had an attempted robbery at his liquor shop about a month ago, and he scared the perpetrators away with a bat he had behind the counter. The suspects were described as "two black males, about 6 feet tall, light skinned, wearing hooded sweatshirts and scarves". He stated, of incidents like this, that "As Brainerd continues to grow these are some of the things that come with growth... It's sad."This statement apparently angered the Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission, which issued a statement saying that his comments "leave an implied idea that welcoming diversity will result in more crime and conflict", which they said was not true. Additional comments by the public were made in the Open Forum section, most of whom criticized his description of the perps as black.

Well, earlier this week, the store had another attempted robbery, and the clerk scared away the man using the same club. This time, the suspect was described as a "heavy set white male about 35." Surprisingly, there was no outcry against the description of the suspect in this case. Today, the following letter was printed in the Dispatch:

"On behalf of heavyset white males

So where is the Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission when we need them? A Brainerd Police Department spokesperson was quoted in a recent Dispatch story describing the perpetrator of an attempted robbery as a "heavyset white male about 35." As a heavyset white male about 35, I resent the callous disregard for my feelings and the feelings of that poor robbery suspect. I think that all employees of the Brainerd Dispatch and the Brainerd Police Department should be sent to sensitivity training and that the alleged perp and I should be handsomely compensated for our traumatic emotional distress.

I'm sure law enforcement officials sometimes get so wrapped up in maintaining law and order and in carrying out their sworn duties, they might overlook the sensitivities and sentiments of the socially challenged miscreants, mobsters, molesters and murderers.

In this particular case, we must remember the suspect is the product of uncaring society and should, therefore, not be referred to in derogatory terms much less held responsible for his actions.

I suggest that should a similar situation arise, the person be described as simply a "person" and save that poor person the heartbreak of having unsympathetic city officials and local reporters making cruel and hurtful comments about that person's weight, skin color, sex and age.

Okay, so I'm a little over 35, you still get my point.

Stephen A. Busch, Pequot Lakes"