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6-4-08: Patty Bell wrote:

My decision Friday to stand up for one who recently passed evidently was not appreciated by Dennis Mansfield. His response was to attack my business practices and to indicate that I did not support the Federal Fair Housing or the ADA. I stand by what I said. If what appeared as casting shadows on Mr. Simplot's eternity was Mansfield’s intent, then "Shame on you, Dennis".

I apologize if my point wasn’t clear; which was that we should give respect to the deceased and that nobody but God has the right to judge a man’s heart. I’ll bet 10 to 1, Mansfield would never have said those things to J.R.’s face and I believe it’s completely inappropriate to act as an opportunist and take a cheap shot at one who can no longer defend himself.

In response to the accusation that I do not support the Federal Fair Housing or the ADA. It seems one may earn the title of being "The Master of the Spinners" to come up with that!

I totally support the Federal Fair Housing and the ADA! In fact, before I took a stand on this issue, I did extensive research to make sure I was within the Federal Fair Housing and ADA guidelines. To say I ‘phoned’ the Fair Housing Authority would be a serious understatement! On the other hand Dennis, you admitted during our 1st meeting that you never phoned them to verify your business practices were in order.

So how do I respond to someone who builds his business on an Act that he hasn’t personally investigated, but has the audacity to say that I don’t follow that Act? What I do not support is anybody who uses the Federal Fair Housing and/or ADA as a crutch to violate the Acts themselves or to take advantage of others in the process. Perhaps you may gain a new perspective from reading where the Bible talks about the Letter of the Law killeth when you do not honor the “Spirit of the Law”.

Please do not fool yourself by thinking you have corrected all the damage and dismay you’ve brought to the lives of citizens simply because you published an “atta-boy, pat-myself-on-the-back” article in the Statesman.

  1. Have you asked the 12 year old girl who is terrified to walk to school by herself for her forgiveness?
  2. Have you asked the lady who is too afraid to stay in her home alone and has to stay in a hotel when her husband is away, for her forgiveness?
  3. Have you published or even implemented a 24 hour hot line as you promised for neighbors who have problems?
  4. Have you gone to the young couple who live next to one of your homes and asked for their forgiveness because they believe they can’t sell their house now?
  5. Have you made any steps to correct where you say you have "blown it" with these people?
  6. Have you fulfilled your promise to tell the neighbors of your proposed homes that you intend to put a home in their neighborhood?
  7. How many times have you said you were the founder of New Hope Community Health? Maybe apologize for that.
  8. Have you apologized for telling the public that the State doesn’t pay for this, that the men themselves pay for it. When in reality, you have always been dual funded?

Lastly, I do believe we should love the sinner, but hate the sin and that it is important that everybody understand that God loves them and that they can be forgiven for their past.

In my opinion however, making jokes about being arrested and that wearing a scarlet “F” is in anyway funny, is simply not okay! What is this teaching our children? I believe it is equivalent to teaching babies that it is funny to tell lies. It is opening the door for kids to think that being a drug dealer, bank robber or any type of felon is humorous and is an acceptable practice.

Once you open the door, very often kids will walk through it! But then again, if kids walked through that door, that is where you would stand to profit, isn’t it?

Now it's all starting to make sense (dollars and cents, that is)!

 

P.S. Just from one business person to another, you might want to know the proper spelling for "transitional" and "sanctioned" is not "tranistional" or "sancitioned". Nice try though Den, just keep riding those camels!

~ Patty Bell