Letters To The Editor
SPOKANE MATTERS
Learn how to help the disturbed
The tragic situation in the Spokane Valley resulting in the loss of two lives and destruction of a house by arson should cause all families to realize that we must have as much concern about emotional health as we do about financial or living conditions.
Richard Ross’ family and neighbors knew for some time that he had a mental condition that could result in unpredictable behavior.
We have sympathy for the Ross family and the neighborhood. This is a shocking, traumatic loss. We often feel so helpless and uncertain when we’re involved with a person experiencing mental illness. We don’t recognize the problem to be what is or we don’t know how to respond.
If people can become as knowledgeable about QPR for mental illness as we are about CPR or the Heimlich maneuver for physical health, we can learn to respond appropriately when faced with a person planning suicide. There are organizations that educate families and individuals about mental illness and suicide prevention.
Many in our community need our understanding and support. Through education, people can learn how to handle their own problems, and we can learn to be caring members of the community. Bev and Floyd Lee Spokane
Change would not be for better
Proponents and opponents of the proposed unified city-county charter are encouraging citizens to study the charter proposal before voting. It is a good thing to learn about any issue before an election. After learning what the proposed issue states or promises, it is wise to make note of what is not guaranteed.
The charter prohibits the government from enacting new taxes. The proposed charter does not guarantee that the new government will not utilize all taxing authority to the maximum currently granted by state law. Taxpayers are supposed to trust yet unelected officials?
The proposed charter does not guarantee that citizens of the county will not become responsible for the existing debt of the city of Spokane. Why should county taxpayers fix the city of Spokane’s financial woes?
The boosters of the charter seem to be downtown business and professional people and those living in the most affluent areas of the community. I question that they have any genuine concern about making local government more responsive to the average citizen.
Yes, I spent many hours along with the other freeholders drafting the proposed charter. However, I believe that consolidating the two governments will not cure the problems each entity faces. My concerns over bigger government are too great. I will vote no on Nov. 7. Kathleen P. Nuffer, former freeholder Deer Park
LAW AND JUSTICE
Death aftermath mishandled
The eagerness of city and county police in accepting the exculpatory report of Dr. Dexter Amend, who didn’t examine the body of Mario Lozada, rather than that of forensic pathologist George Lindholm, who did and who also performed the autopsy, smacks of an incestuous relationship between city and county police. Lozada died while in police custody.
This situation underlines the need for a separate, independent investigative body with subpoena powers free from police influence or cover-up.
Aside from questions about proper or improper handling during and after the arrest, there is the question of the legality of the arrest of an uninvolved onlooker in the first place. I take little comfort in the sheriff’s promised investigation, which may well be the usual whitewash. Stan Kreshal Spokane
Case calls for severe prosecution
Concerning “Trucker seeks plea deal in killings” (Region, Oct. 1): I have to question the prosecuting attorney’s decision, if he decides to bargain with this killer. Keith Jesperson has confessed to killing eight people. How many people does he have to kill to go to trial? Jesperson deserves the death penalty.
In our society today, a prosecuting attorney’s decision can be influenced by the amount of time it would take to put a person on trial and how much money it would cost. The prosecuting attorney needs to understand saving time or money is less important than honoring the lives of the victims.
Eight lives were taken for no reason other than a killer’s entertainment. That’s wrong!
I hope and pray those people’s lives aren’t forgotten and that justice is done. Steve McDonald Veradale
BUSINESS
Killer entertainment we don’t need
“Welcome to death” is a sad but true statement about our society today. Laser Quest promotes this way of thinking.
Whatever happened to the days when we relieved stress by playing a sport, walking, taking in a movie or spending time with our families? Why do we feel there is more sport, competition or excitement in a game that promotes violence? Think about it. The whole idea of this game is to “kill” your fellow players.
We need to take a look at what is happening around us. What examples are we setting for our children? What message are we sending? That it’s OK to kill; it’s only a game? What is there to stop this way of thinking from moving beyond their walls into our streets? Dawn Rogers Spokane
Ruinous bias makes law necessary
I am in favor of affirmative action because employers in this country, and in this area in particular, do not want to hire qualified employees if it means hiring women, minorities or those over 40.
The amount of incompetence in our work force has risen to such high levels because of the preferential treatment of young white males. Something has got to be done or the whole country’s going under.
We have university professors, college instructors and secondary educators who got their degrees based on their race, age and sex, not on what they should know. We have business executives, upper-level managers and supervisors who have not a clue as to what they are supposed to be doing. And their screw-ups are costing American companies millions, even driving some into bankruptcy.
Since it is impossible for employers to do blind hiring based solely on what a person knows and can do, the only way we can get at least a few qualified people in is to force affirmative action onto them. We live in a country where bigotry is so ingrained that people will cut their own throats economically rather than hire a qualified person who is dark skinned, female or over 40. Judith Marie Jones Spokane
In the paper Junior League women do plenty
“The lack of affordable housing is getting worse and should be among Spokane’s priorities.” This legitimate and true statement introduced John Webster’s editorial in the Oct. 1 Spokesman-Review.
Yes, Spokane has a problem with very few affordable homes for those with limited incomes. However, Mr. Webster, I suggest that you do all of your homework before quickly criticizing a group of hard-working, caring women who are dedicated to helping in numerous ways the people in Spokane who are in need of shelter, clothing, food, opportunities and encouragement. If it were not for the Junior League women’s ongoing contributions and labor, many homeless women and children would be deprived of the opportunities most people take for granted.
Are you aware that this past year Junior League women volunteered hundreds of hours of physical labor and personal resources to help the homeless women and children in our city? These women initiated and took on the complete renovation of an older house adjacent to Anna Ogden Hall. Since Anna Ogden Hall, a shelter for homeless women and children, is consistently filled and overcrowded, the children had limited learning areas. Fifty-two motivated Junior League women volunteered to raise the money and do the work needed to paint, carpet, decorate, furnish and set up this house as Anna Ogden Hall’s Children’s Ministry Center. Now, the children who reside at this shelter have a clean, warm learning center staffed by a full-time professional to love, train, encourage and care for them. Marg Williams, director Ogden Hall, Spokane
Fine man treated shabbily
In John Webster’s editorial of Sept. 28, he refers to “toadies like that pathetic vice presidential candidate, Adm. what’s-his-name.” Mr. Webster is either ignorant of the fact or has forgotten that Adm. James B. Stockdale spent seven years of his life as a POW in Vietnam. I happen to know two of his sons, and have also had the pleasure of meeting the man himself. Let me assure you, sir, Adm. Stockdale is far from “pathetic.”
What strikes me as pathetic is the treatment he continues to receive from know-it-all media personalities like Mr. Webster. Adm. Stockdale is a dignified, articulate intellectual with a distinguished service record. Recently, he has served on the faculty of Stanford University. Do you consider that a “pathetic” institution as well?
Perhaps he was out of place in a presidential election. That, in itself, is a sad commentary on our political process. Does this tell us that there’s no place in American politics for a man of impeccable character? I, for one, hope not.
As a transplanted Massachusetts Democrat, I have serious misgivings about the future of our two-party system. Although I personally didn’t vote for the Perot-Stockdale ticket, I welcome the possible addition of a third party to our political system.
Inasmuch as you belittle the efforts of those involved, in the future please refrain from ridiculing those worthy of our respect. A decent, honorable veteran need not be slandered further. Jeremiah Splaine Moscow, Idaho
EWU coverage unbalanced, unfair
I take exception to the negative press your paper habitually affords Eastern Washington University, the latest being Doug Clark’s Oct. 1 column, “EWU fat cats sit in luxury at our expense.”
As an alumnus and long-term employee of the university, I resent the fact that The Spokesman-Review concentrates on these kinds of issues, without balancing them with reports on the significant contributions the institution is making. This is especially unnerving when so many of us are working so hard to make Eastern a quality institution.
Several times, I’ve contributed to press releases that detail the significant contributions of our faculty and staff to teaching, research and community service. Yet, most aren’t so much as mentioned in your paper.
Why is it that the National Endowment for the Humanities grant, one of 15 in the nation, which supports our liberal arts reform effort wasn’t important enough to mention? Why were the two faculty-industry research programs which received funding from Washington Technology Center not significant enough to report? Why was the new automated analytical instrumentation laboratory that provides chemistry students with hands-on experience similar to that found in commercial labs too inconsequential to cover?
Articles on more constructive and positive issues, far more significant than the “gorgeous 10-by-22-foot table” and the new conference room are in order. How about it? Ruth A. Galm Cheney
IN THE PUBLIC EYE
Simmons’ selection gratifying
I’m glad to hear that the Seven Sisters will get their first black president. I feel that Ruth Simmons will do a great job because she will open the doors for many minority students.
I’m glad she feels that being a teacher guiding a student’s mind toward discovery, knowledge and achievement is a powerful thing because she sees the importance of every student’s mind. I wish her luck during her presidency. Maria Kumm Spokane
Capitalizing on own child’s death
I congratulate Lori Beal on the wonderful opportunity she’s been given. Not only can a person shun their parental responsibility but, because of a comment made by an elected official who’s now in the hot seat, that parent can also shift blame to someone else and attempt to benefit from the pain, suffering and death of her child.
It’s sad that Rachel’s mother is only now concerned with her daughter’s reputation. I believe Rachel was “severely and irreparably compromised” long before her death, with the help of the very person now accusing. What a relief that Rachel is now in a much better place and no longer has to endure the nightmare she must have faced in her short life. Theresa Martin Spokane
OTHER TOPICS
Catechism gives Catholics’ position
I wish you would tell the whole story about what Catholics believe about homosexuality (“Catholics split on homosexuality,” Oct. 1).
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it says: “(It’s) psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture. …(Christian) tradition has always declared the homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. … The number of people who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not choose their homosexual condition. For most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives, and if they are Christians, to unite (their) difficulties … to the sacrifice of the Lord’s cross. … Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom … by the support of friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.” James J. Flynn Spokane
I believe in DARE
I’m in second grade at Franklin Elementary School. I know about drugs. They are bad and can kill you. I will never take drugs. If people around me are taking drugs, I will leave.
Please, let the DARE program stay in school. I also like to hug the DARE Bear. Andrea Droter Spokane
Wrongs of war a two-sided affair
Witnessing the anniversary of the end of World War II between Japan and the United States of America was a somber experience. However, I don’t see why each side blames the other for the atrocities of war.
Japan began World War II with its attack on Pearl Harbor, which it still refuses to apologize for. The U.S. believes the atomic bomb attack was justified because of the desire to end the war quickly and the need to save American lives.
Japan was guilty of Pearl Harbor, the Bataan death march and other acts bordering on genocide. America was guilty of killing civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and of detaining Japanese Americans in concentration camps under the unsubstantiated reason of protecting national security.
This action was unwarranted and resulted in local communities and the government confiscating the personal property of those interned.
It is true Japan began World War II with the unprovoked attack on the military base of Pearl Harbor, but we destroyed two cities full of civilians instead of targeting a military installation.
The hate and cruelty of war is not limited to one side. Bruce Peebles Spokane