Editor,

On my way to my favorite local eatery I noticed, prominently displayed on Front Street, a painted pride flag. I find myself wondering yet again why we celebrate for a whole month what people do in their bedrooms but we only celebrate people who died for our freedoms on day a month.

Everyone deserves freedom from fear and everyone should be respected, but how often do we celebrate indigenous peoples? Yes, there is a water festival. That is a weekend long event. We live and work on what was originally their land.

Let’s talk about an even small minority, the Chinese immigrants who lived and died here. They get a telephone-booth-sized display in the museum. Why are we not celebrating them? Will the city paint a Chinese flag on the street? Will they paint an American flag on the street?

I am curious who OKed this very prominent display. Is this rainbow washing? Virtue signaling? Celebrate is your choice but please be more inclusive. Permanent displays are a poor choice and a slap in the face to other disenfranchised groups.

Mabel Hansen

Oak Harbor