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

Letters To The Editor

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

What’s wrong with Idaho picture?

Only in Idaho: The Ligertown Game Farm; Ruby Ridge; Aryan Nations; Bo Gritz and his ilk, grass field burning; impact fees only for cities of 100,000 population, or more; “goat trail” Highway 95; Envirosafe, the toxic waste site at Grandview; the nuclear storage at Idaho Falls; Mark Fuhrman; The Coeur d’Alene Greyhound Track and its abuse of greyhounds; and the Silver Valley toxic waste site. I could go on and on.

Idaho has always been the “easy” state. If they won’t let you do it in other states, come to Idaho. But I guess it’s a trade-off. We either get serious about enacting laws and safeguards against these sorts of things or we suffer the consequences of “getting government off our backs.”

Do you sometimes wonder if we shouldn’t use a little more care in electing the people who represent us? Bob Riddle Hayden Lake

Bogus solutions benefit no one

While everyone can agree that children in abusive environments warrant the protection of the state, I was stunned at the preposterous suggestion that the solution to such abuse was to be found in the notion of “prevention strategies (that) include home visiting to all new parents.”

The fact that child abuse is a morally repugnant and criminal act is not sufficient reason to subject the entire population of parents-to-be to the intrusive interrogation of social workers shredding the Constitution and practicing pseudoscience in their zealous campaign to “save the children.” History teaches us that zealotry in any form is ultimately dangerous.

In this case, Mary Ann Murphy (Guest Column, Oct. 8) is disingenuously misleading the public in pretending that there is some type of consensus among experts with respect to her proposed “remedy.” Nothing could be further from the truth, and no responsible body of scientists has made any such recommendation.

Child welfare agencies nationwide have lost credibility as a consequence of sloppy, biased and unscientific work, most recently demonstrated by the national furor caused by the terrible civil rights violations exposed in the Kelly Michaels case. The Michaels case and Ms. Murphy’s letter should alert us all to recognize that programs and individuals that have power over the everyday lives of people irrespective of how desirable and well-intentioned they may be, always need very close scrutiny and require our constant vigilance, lest their reach exceed their grasp. Michael Urban, Ph.D. Coeur d’Alene

SPOKANE MATTERS

Self-styled warrior only a coward

Adrian Washington, charged with beating 81- year old Peter La Beck, stated in his Oct. 1 letter, “thinking about some people too much makes me sick.” I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been thinking about the incident in which Mr. (for lack of a better word) Washington was involved and it makes me sick.

He wants the public to know the “truth” about the beating. He claims Mr. LaBeck was hit once, by one person, instead of being beaten by three. Do we believe the word of a punk with 13 prior arrests or the word of a religious 81-year old man who volunteers his time? Nice try.

Mr. Washington said he’s a “victim of society passing judgment.” He is a victim of a system that’s only given him a slap on the wrist, and allowed him to earn this 14th arrest. Fortunately, he’ll soon be 18 and will then be treated as an adult. Then, he’ll be behind bars with the big boys.

He also said, “A coward dies a thousand deaths. A warrior dies but one.” Are you calling yourself a warrior?

You are a coward. If anyone’s a warrior, it’s Mr. LaBeck, for surviving the whole ordeal and still having the heart to forgive a hood like you.

My admiration goes out to Mr. LaBeck for his kindness and big heart, as do my sympathies for what he was subjected to. I only hope justice is served and Mr. Washington gets punished in a way that will deter him from ever doing anything like this again. Anthony Lamanna, Jr. Pullman, Wash.

Children created underpass art

There is another side to the Altamont underpass artwork that has brightened my every day since its inception. I feel sorry for Jonathan H. Lundquist (Letters, Oct. 8), who apparently is not able to visualize the children from ages 6 to 16 who added this delight to our area.

Have you read any of the quotes painted there, Mr. Lundquist? They send a message to all of us, young and old, about getting along with one another. Too bad you couldn’t have been there, Mr. Lundquist, to see the delight of these children who have shared their artwork with us.

As for the Spokane Arts Commission’s part in this, the director was only there to urge the children to paint something beautiful that they envisioned and wanted to share. She was also there to see that no graffiti was painted on these walls.

I hope you don’t have any children or grandchildren, Mr. Lundquist, because I’ll bet you are a Scrooge at Christmastime. Shirley E. Wilson Spokane

GRASS-FIELD BURNING

Skittish lawmaker thwarts effort

Idaho and Washington residents affected by the grass smoke issue have reason for hope of compromise and also reason to fear that one side or another will never compromise.

I met with Rep. Wayne Meyer (R-Idaho) last week at my home in Priest Lake. He is genuinely committed to finding practical solutions. This meeting was to include Washington state Rep. Lisa Brown, who backed out at the last minute out of concern about media exposure.

If the legislators from Washington won’t engage the issue with our state officials in Idaho and show up at a meeting, it will be a very long time before an effective resolution to this tragic problem will be achieved. A commitment to meet is just that. Brown flunked the test.

There is much important work to be done. To his credit, Meyer will pursue a meeting with Brown within the next few days. The individual participants have a great opportunity to make a difference, if they would both show up for a meeting that is so important to so many people. John Savage Coolin

LAW AND JUSTICE

Slaughter of innocents must stop

It’s time to get off the O.J. Simpson-Mark Fuhrman ride. Wake up and listen to these names: Chelsey York, 10 months; Alexander Buss, 2 years; Christina Campanelli, 2 years; Kory Holbrook, 2 years; Devon Erb, 2 years; Courtney Pelletier, 3 months.

If the media were to print names of the unknown more often this list would be endless. But alas, they aren’t famous or rich and race wasn’t an issue. Perhaps no one cares about the slaughter of the innocents.

Should the names of these babies mean anything? They should break our hearts. Authorities indicate they were all murdered by men who couldn’t or wouldn’t control their angry, psychotic outbursts. These babies died because the men were jealous, egocentric beasts who believed their need for quiet was more important than the life of an innocent baby.

In some cases, these babies died because their mothers chose to live with boyfriends they knew to be abusive. They, like their murdering bed buddies, should be held accountable, not paraded around standing by their man. What man? Anyone can beat up a child.

Domestic violence, child abuse, child murder - and what’s it called? - fourth-degree assault, misdemeanor, injury to a child. It’s murder of the most heinous kind and the punishment should fit the crime.

They certainly won’t call me for jury duty, but they might call you.Wake up. The next baby could be a precious, priceless member of your own family. Stephanie Richmond Post Falls

Cheering belies gravity of case

When the O.J. Simpson verdicts were read, I was appalled not so much by the verdict as by how people around the country reacted. You would think he had just been elected president or came back from war.

The jubilation of cheers and smiles went far beyond what I expected. I can understand this kind of reaction from his family, friends and neighborhood, but to see such elation from classrooms to even a local attorney’s office (Carl Maxey’s) was disgusting. Maybe, had these people gone through the hell the Brown and Goldman families have endured the past year and a half, they would have reacted in a more sympathetic and understanding manner.

It is a very sad day when a man who is at the least guilty of wife-beating, receives such a hero’s ovation. Rob Wieber Sagle

O.J. case: It’s all so wrong

“He will kill me and get away with it.” The judicial system has betrayed women everywhere. The cheering black community should realize that he never helped them. He lived in an adoring white world. I think I’ll go home and kick, I mean hug, my dog. Bill Heilsberg Liberty Lake, Wash.

Best system money can buy

The O.J. Simpson verdict should not be a surprise to most of us. It follows a fundamental concept basic to the American legal system: “Justice” is proportional to the price the defendant can afford to pay for an unethical lawyer. John D. Brown Spokane

BUSINESS

Stealth agenda behind strike

I am a Boeing Spokane employee involved in the labor dispute between Boeing and the International Association of Machinists. I’d like to shed some light on Boeing for the general public.

Twenty percent of the cost of an airplane is labor. The other 80 percent is materials and “other.” Let’s talk about that other.

Boeing is notorious for having pork-belly management and extremely inefficient processes for building airplanes. The company has opportunities to save huge amounts of money by addressing some of its own internal inefficiencies. I see people come up with ideas all the time that could save the company millions of dollars, only to be shot down by the company’s bureaucracy. Getting anything changed around Boeing takes an act of God and at least five years, even for simple changes.

The company’s own bureaucracy is its worst enemy.

The company recently taught a class on world-class competitiveness. We all learned that things like reducing cycle time, inventory and re-work are places where the company could really save money. They never mentioned taking away employees’ medical benefits as a way to become world class. In fact, they taught us that worldclass companies have to view the union’s success as an asset.

The company wants this strike so it can slide some of the delivery schedules it is behind on in order to avoid paying late penalties to its airline customers. The company knew very well when it submitted this proposal that the union would reject it. Keith Savall Spokane

THE MEDIA

Winfrey’s words distorted

K.W. LeMay (Letters, Oct. 7) states that “Oprah Winfrey, on the other hand, made the racist statement that most whites think like Mark Fuhrman.”

I watched the entire Oprah show on Tuesday, the day the O.J. Simpson verdict came through, and her words were that she does not believe it, but black friends and acquaintances of hers believe that most whites think the way Mark Fuhrman does. She was not making a categorical statement.

I’ve heard at several places around town that Oprah said most whites think as Mark Furhman does. This is a partial quotation, like saying “Money is the root of all evil,” when the true quotation is “The love of money is the root of all evil.” If you take only part of a quotation you are going to have it misconstrued. Angie Alden Spokane

Column captured Mariner joy

I have been a Mariner fan since 1977, through everything. I did not think the sweet euphoria of this classic five-game battle with the Yankees could be put into words until I read John Blanchette’s column Monday morning. Great job, John.

P.S. Isn’t it time to trade your ratty old Twins hat in for a Mariners cap? Clete Nielsen Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Pass reform before it’s too late

In November, voters will have an opportunity to reverse the terrible trend of resources that are among this state’s most valuable - our fish and wildlife - by voting for Referendum 45.

From 1933 to 1987, this state’s fish and wildlife were controlled by a wildlife commission, which appointed the director. Now that director is a political appointee of our infamous governor, and look at the sorry state of our fish and wildlife.

No longer does the public have input into the decision making process concerning our fish and wildlife. It’s done behind closed doors, and those decisions are subject to whatever political whim this unqualified director might have at the time.

Referendum 45 will allow a nine-member wildlife commission, accountable to the public and appointed by the governor, to choose the director - someone who has the knowledge and experience to manage this state’s very precious fish and wildlife resource as they should be managed. Referendum 45 will also provide the public more access to the decision making, promoting decisions based on solid experience and informed judgment.

If this referendum fails, you will see the beginning of the end of fishing and hunting in this state as we now know it. We must get the politics out of our wildlife resources and return control back to those best qualified, with a director they have chosen and can work with. Vote yes for Referendum 45 on Nov. 7. Larry Schierman Mead

Washtucna sale handled badly

Property for sale. Contact City of Washtucna …

Those seven words are all it would have taken to get a message to the people of Washtucna. The property sold belonged to the city for quite a while. The city council said it was an albatross that was costing the city too much money for liability insurance.

The property was a gift to the city. That means it was given to me and all the city’s taxpayers. The city council sold it. All the council got for it was $2,000. The property is a corner lot, zoned commercial, on Main Street right next to a public park.

If the property had been posted for sale with a sealed bid, the city would have received more money for it. However, it was sold at a city council meeting the very night it was presented. I was told the people came to buy the property, that the city didn’t go to them.

Nothing about the sale was mentioned at the previous council meeting. Did the council have an “unscheduled meeting” to discuss the sale of this property as it was, cut and dried, and sold within the first 10 minutes of the council meeting?

The people of Washtucna should be more aware of what goes on at our local government meetings. Plan to attend to see your elected officials at work. Who do they work for? You and me, the taxpayers? Lynda J. Hamilton Washtucna, Wash.

For Christmas, emulate Jesus

We will be into Christmas again (I see decorations already in stores) so we better start planning.

I have most everything I need; a good wife, a roof over my head and a pot of food on the stove. So, for several years I’ve been telling everyone not to buy me presents.

What I want them to do is donate money they would spend on me to some charity where it could help others, copy the receipt and give it to me as my present. They will also get a tax deduction for the year.

Maybe you can find someone to help in your neighborhood. Pay their electric bill for the month. We all worked to get comfortable; some of us were more fortunate. Jesus didn’t give presents. He gave help to others. James Meyer Spokane