Tongue in cheek, foot in mouth

This letter is in response to Jan Metzmaker's explanation in the May 22 Pilot of her "My View" column on April 17, in which she suggested "building a fence around Whitefish" and "issuing all visitors swipe cards for later billing."

Your column on visitors to Whitefish was not "tongue in cheek" — it was "foot-in-mouth" and was hurtful to the people who live outside of Whitefish and kindly spend money in our town.

Based on recent letters in the Pilot, it was also hurtful to visitors and tourists from out-of-state (Minnesota and Missouri).

1. Yes, Jan, you have the right to your own opinions.

2. Yes, you have the right to express these views in America.

3. No, there is nothing political about the responses to your views; it's just other people's views.

4. Yes, it has likely hurt tourist/visitor spending (and business profits) in Whitefish.

You must realize that, as director of the Whitefish Convention and Visitor Bureau, any personal views/comments you express regarding visitors or tourism are also considered as views or comments from the highest level of the Whitefish Visitor Bureau.

When the city manager or the mayor speak or write about Whitefish, do you believe that they are expressing personal views rather than job views?

You have to realize by now the effect your April 17 column is having on visitors and tourists, and that it was a bad idea to have publicly expressed those particular views.

Everyone of us has had a mental lapse on occasion, but most people realize that an immediate apology is the best first step. You had the perfect opportunity to do so when you spoke before the April 28 council meeting.

You had a second chance with your most recent letter to the Pilot. Instead, both times you chose to stand behind your views. Please, at least apologize and let's start putting this ugly episode behind us.

Richard Atkinson lives in Whitefish.