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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Letters To The Editor

LAW AND JUSTICE

Stop mollycoddling convicts

As I read the article this morning’s paper, (“County officials call for chain gangs,” July 12), I couldn’t help but think back. Man released from jail on Tuesday robs bank Wednesday. Convicted rapist does it again! These are our everyday headlines. So whatever we’re now doing to, or for, the culprits, is not working.

Why not post a sign near their workplace telling all who travel by just who these folks are. Give inmates different colored jumpsuits - red for a murderer, yellow for a rapist, green for a first-time offender and pink for a child molester. The possibilities are endless. As far as humiliating them, what about the poor victim? You think the young lady who was raped has no humiliation? (Although she should not; it was not a consensual act).

Mollycoddling has led us to the problems we have. Make jail a place no one would like to see. Make it so unpleasant we would only need two or three jailers. Charles E. McCollim Spokane

Fitting punishment

Chain gangs for the county? What an enlightened idea.

Let’s put those two bureaucratic despots, County Commissioners Phil Harris and Steve Hasson, on the first one, and they can have corn bread for lunch. Mary Beth Long Spokane

AIDS victimization case a farce < This letter is in reference to Jeff Walker, the Spokane man accused of intentionally infecting his former girlfriend, Susan Wyatt, with HIV.

Having unprotected sex with anyone is a risk and a choice. While I believe people have the right to know if their partner is HIV positive, no one can be 100 percent sure they are safe unless they assume personal responsibility for their choices. So what purpose do these allegations serve?

They can’t be about educating the public on the issue of personal responsibility, since Ms. Wyatt is placing all the blame for her situation on Mr. Walker. Ms. Wyatt has invited a lot of media attention depicting her as an innocent, unsuspecting “victim,” while Mr. Walker has been depicted as a villain of the worst kind, which is completely untrue.

The time and money involved in persecuting one young man in advanced stages of AIDS is not only off the mark, but despicable. Mr. Walker has literally been fighting for his life as the complications of AIDS steadily rob him of his health. His incarceration, as well as the mere stress associated with these allegations over the past year and a half, have undoubtedly shortened his life.

This is a frivolous case. It is really about gaining notoriety and media attention for Ms. Wyatt and Prosecuting Attorney Jim Sweetser at the expense of another’s life and the taxpayers’ money. Who are the real villains here? Rebecca Morrison Spokane

Don’t shift blame to God

I take exception to lawyer L. Neil Axtell’s remark, “God has already sentenced this man to death” (“Man with AIDS says lover knew,” July 8). I don’t think so. God does not give people AIDS! Irene F. Brady Mead

Pro-gun means anti-safety

Curtis E. Stone (Letters, July 8) wants to repeal the ban on assault weapons, forgetting how Dean Mellberg got his assault weapon which killed four people and wounded 23 more.

The problem really is our public safety. The rest of us don’t want drive-by shootings of our homes, our children being threatened in schools by gun-carrying students and confrontations between armed neighbors and strangers threatening us on the streets.

To improve public safety, we should reduce the number of guns on the streets, in the homes and in the hands of criminals.

Does the National Rifle Association support laws that would prevent criminals from buying guns? Recently, I read that the NRA is supporting legislation which would allow convicted felons to buy guns legally! The NRA seems to want more rather than fewer guns on our streets, leading to more gun violence.

NRA policy doesn’t improve public safety. Walter A. Becker Pullman

Penalty priorities out of whack

One thing bothers me most about throwing Gordon Ormesher in jail over not purchasing building permits for building on his own 20 acres out in the woods of North Idaho. It is that I have been told many times by the establishment that we just don’t have enough room in our jails for child molesters, drug dealers, auto thieves and murderers.

They sure have room for someone who thumbs his nose at the bureaucrats. I wonder what George Washington would say if some bureaucrat told him he had to get a permit to work on his own property? Bob Pitcher Hayden, Idaho

IN THE PAPER

Why tear down such goodness?

I have never bothered to write in response to a news article before, but feel this warrants a strong rebuttal. The article in the July 9 paper (“Past bedevils promoter”) about People for Christ sincerely caused me great pain.

Have you ever been to one of their concerts and seen the difference they make in our community? Spokane is rapidly changing around us, and what that means to our youth saddens all of us. For the media to attack the good news that happens here is really amazing to me, and quite confusing.

As a mother of two teens, I praise God for the opportunity to support PFC and Dick Acker. God’s grace is amazing. He forgives for all our errors and mistakes, daily. May he graciously and mercifully forgive you for yours and turn this to his glory, because of his grace. Janet Manz Spokane

Paper wrong to tell Acker story

Perhaps you are familiar with these words: “Let him without sin cast the first stone.” I, in account with many, find your ethics extremely distasteful concerning the People for Christ-Dick Acker article (“Past bedevils promoter,” July 9).

May we all remember the promise given to God’s people by the Lord, “That no weapon formed against you shall prosper and every tongue which rises against you in judgment we shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is from me, saith the Lord.” (Isiah 54:17). Daniel Votino Spokane

In fact, Acker is ‘a saint’

The Spokesman-Review, in its attempt to misrepresent Christianity as well as a certain Christian (“Past bedevils promoter,” July 9), has actually glorified it.

The personal attack on Dick Acker is undeserved. I have known and worked with Dick Acker for over a year and a half, and have never in my life seen such hard work, dedication and devotion for such a selfless occupation. I consider Dick Acker a scholar, a gentleman, a friend and especially, a saint.

I believe staff writer Kelly McBride has actually glorified God in her attempt to degrade him. From this negative article, I have seen that God has taken a dirty life, like that of Dick Acker, and turned it into gold. Bob Caruso Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Good women too little appreciated

As I watched the women marching in the Fourth of July parade, celebrating the 75 years they have been allowed to vote, a stream of thoughts and memories passed through my mind.

My mother suffered to give life to me as well as to three sisters. She suffered with our every hurt. She clothed us with what she made by hand or on an old machine. She fed us from her breast and with the meals which she cooked. Sweet and gentle, unless we were threatened. Then, no grizzly would dare incur her wrath.

All of this was but a small part of her accomplishments. Most women are and have always been this way.

Had my mother found herself in government, she would have immediately attempted to cause this country to be a better and safer place for us and our children, with little thought of her own grandeur, because that’s the nature of mothers.

Yes, mother and her sisters played their part in giving us life. They fed us, cared for us, loved us, and imparted most of the knowledge we’d need in our life. Then, so we males could have someone to be superior to, took the role of inferior. Our women ancestors did all that and then fought along side their men on the frontier, bravely and fiercely.

I cringe to think that after all this, they (mothers) have to ask for equal pay for equal work, and for the right to choose the seat in which they may sit in on the bus or in this life. Richard Toor La Plume Spirit Lake, Idaho

Promise Keepers growing force

I recently had the privilege of being among the 64,000 plus men in the Kingdome to unite in worship and praise. Never in my 14 years as a Christian have I witnessed the spirit and the power of God in such an explosive way.

God is calling us to be men of integrity. Men who honor and love their wives, practice moral, spiritual, ethical and sexual purity and who have another man or group of men to be accountable to. I’m speaking of the Promise Keepers movement, which has spread across our nation at an accelerated, powerful pace.

Plans are already in the making for Promise Keepers to be in Seattle next year. It’s my prayer that the Kingdome will be filled to the rafters again. God is calling - are you willing to respond? Dave Carlson Spokane

EDUCATION

For teens’ safety, first, be real

A recent advertisement, “In defense of a little virginity,” offered a flurry of frightening statistics on the increasing incidence of sexually transmitted infections, teen sexual activity and teen pregnancy. The sponsor, Focus on the Family, loses credibility in citing studies five to 10 years old.

Current studies show a decline in teen pregnancies and abortions and a leveling off in the rate of teen sexual activity.

Worse than this reliance on outdated studies is their solution for this crisis: Tell young people to just say “no” to sex. Such a solution is simplistic, unrealistic and dangerous.

Reality-based sexuality education teaches young people about the benefits of abstinence as well as the emotional and physical risks of unprotected and too-early sexual intercourse. It provides students with the straightforward, age appropriate, accurate information they need.

This must include information on how to use birth control and, especially, on the careful use of condoms, which are the only real protection against HIV infection.

In this dangerous world nothing is entirely safe - especially not a teenager’s intention to be abstinent. When our young people make a different choice, wouldn’t we want them to have the knowledge and the skills to protect themselves? Promoting abstinence is a value most parents support, but keeping our children alive is the real bottom line.

All the lecturing in the world may not ensure abstinence. But reality-based education will protect the lives of our kids. Sandra L. Meicher, Ph.D., director Planned Parenthood of Spokane and Whitman Counties

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Meat stand could spoil chances

I’m sure I’m not the only person in Spokane who doesn’t agree with staff cartoonist Milt Priggee every day. However, today he has printed a cartoon to tell it like it is. George Nethercutt gave all the “great” speeches, and the population of Spokane and surrounding area agreed with him that he would be good for a change of leadership and so they defeated Tom Foley.

Well, folks, read the cartoon and weep! Rep. Nethercutt is not watching out for the benefit of the population in his district. Rather, he is following persons with no desire to improve ways to cut down on spoiled meat.

Rep. Nethercutt had better wake up and smell the roses or he won’t make it past the next election! Donna J. Williams Spokane

Minimum wage hike ‘stupid idea’

In the “business” section of the Spokane daily paper, “business” writer Frank Bartel calls for an increase in the minimum wage to $10 per hour. If the intent of such a bizarre recommendation is to elicit response, I’m sure he will get it.

I hope those of us who choose to respond don’t validate his motives. Studies show that even small increases in the minimum wage results in loss of jobs by low income workers as well as increases in cost of food and other goods that further erode the value of the money everyone earns, especially the poor.

I have another idea. Instead of artificially increasing wages through government interference, let’s cut the taxes that minimum wage employees pay, let’s cut the social security, the industrial insurance and the federal withholding down to zero. That way, low income workers get to keep all the money they earn.

Once you move up the pay ladder, then your taxes can be phased in. This will result in a tax revenue shortfall, of course, but should we really be balancing the budget on the shoulders of workers making only $5 per hour?

Two ways to make up the cost of this policy would be to tax mush-brained newspaper columnists for every really stupid idea they put into print. Another would be to make multi- millionaire newspaper owners pay for their own parking garages. Larry Medin Spokane

Gingrich has funhouse mirror views

So, House Speaker Newt Gingrich is a political genius and his upcoming book, “To Renew America,” will convince us.

Read his essay in the July 10 issue of Newsweek. You will discover that only conservatives (liberals need not apply) have a sense of personal responsibility and therefore are the true Americans. Self-employed people are the good people. Union employees are the bad guys.

You will also learn that America has no class distinctions, even though women could not vote or own property for many years, black people were enslaved and Indians were slaughtered.

The most astounding bit of information is that Americans’ rights all come from God, and ours is the only country so anointed. Hitler said the same thing to the Nazis in one of his speeches about Germany. The nerve of the British, singing “God save the Queen.”

If the essay is indicative of the book, save your money. You will find it full of platitudes and pompous pronouncements. It is politics at its best - worst? Janet Callen Coeur d’Alene

Prostitution boondoggle ludicrous

Perhaps it won’t be “Senseless in Seattle” if the King County Council turns down the $80,000 federal grant to teach prostitutes to use condoms in their trade and publish a newsletter lifting their self-esteem.

I can’t believe the federal government is offering such a grant. If to Seattle, then how many other cities were also offered such a grant?

I wonder how the program is suppose to be implemented? Are the feds going to accompany each prostitute each night with each guest, to make sure they choose from 26 varieties of condoms?

First, the practice is illegal. Second, where does individual responsibility come in?

I want to know how much of the $80,000 is my share? I want my money back. Linda Reed Spokane

Powell could be another Grant

Once again, Americans upset with the recent political atmosphere are positioning themselves behind a media-created false idol.

In 1869, in an effort to fill the heroic void left by Abraham Lincoln, people from across the country and political spectrum flocked to Ulysses S. Grant, to see the embodiment of hope and leadership who could deliver them to the future. As a presidential draftee, he was able to enter the race on his own terms, with the unspoken guarantee that he, like Colin Powell, would be able to keep his stands on relevant issues undisclosed until after the election. Who would care? He was a hero, and you can’t attack a hero because the country needs role models.

The president isn’t a mere head of state. He is a strong third of the government, with real decision making authority that affects real people.

If you consider voting for Colin Powell, should the occasion arise, make sure you understand who and what you’re voting for. Shawn M. Dawley Spokane