Letters To The Editor

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Sex education necessary, helpful

The importance of sex and AIDS education is a pertinent topic that affects numerous young adults today. Many parents disagree that these subjects should be taught in the classroom.

I could agree with their argument if it was backed by the fact that parents are talking to their children about sex and it’s consequences. However, numerous parents are uncomfortable talking about these subjects with their children. They believe that talking about it is like admitting that their child is not as perfect as they think.

Preteens and teenagers need to be taught all the facts. Abstinence is the best way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, but abstinence is not realistic. Condoms and other birth control devices are better than nothing but they have failed at some point.

Sex education should be taught in schools by teachers who are comfortable talking with teens and answering some awkward questions.

Talking about sex is not admitting failure for the parents, but educating their children so they can make the best decision for themselves. Katie L. Allen Spokane

Teacher ranks include contrarians

Many teachers, veterans all, responded to Doug Clark’s column on self-esteem with a hearty “It’s about time!”

Some of us have never accepted the pervasive feel-good-no-matter-what philosophy our society (not just schools) promoted during the last 15 years. We have insisted on high expectations, responsible behavior and real consequences all along. Not all educators are those “namby-pamby” wimps described by Clark.

Indeed, the young lady smoking her joint that he mentioned probably spends very little time in school. At the most, kids spend six hours a day, 180 days a year, in school. That leaves lots of free time when teachers have no control over what a student does.

Parents do bear some of the responsibility for their offspring. Students who skip school, drink, smoke, do drugs and sleep around with parental knowledge and permission are getting a stronger message from home than we teachers could ever counteract. Peggy Herbert Spokane

Letter altered perspective, sort of

Re: Steve Haxton’s March 7 letter about computers for schools and candy sales.

Recently, a St. Thomas More/Gonzaga Prep/Northwest Christian/Sunrise Church of Christ student came to my door to sell a product to raise money for the respective school. Realizing that education, public and private, is a tough business, I said yes.

Now I will hesitate, thinking, don’t their parents pay tuition to these institutions? I will suggest that these schools could either raise tuition or be better stewards of their funds.

No, Haxton, the maintenance and operation levy we voted for does not cover updating technology. And yes, taxpayers do pay for a debatably fair wage for teachers and for educating students who are disabled, including those who attend St. Thomas More or who are home schooled. Remember that the next time you vote. Karen Simpson Spokane

SENIOR CITIZENS

AARP highly informative

I welcome Frank Bartel’s columns on retirement issues but disagree with the March 3 headline, “Advocacy group for senior citizens is out of touch.”

The group referred to is the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

I’m a member of the AARP/Vote team Bartel visited. I agree some members of AARP chapters may be out of touch. Many are older folks who meet for lunch and entertainment, but they do hear the latest legislative reports and they are invited to attend the important forums our team sponsors.

Our recent forums on managed care and presidential election issues were well attended, and excellent handouts were available.

I disagree with Jim Osman, president of the Valley chapter, who said he doesn’t’ think AARP publications are attuned to anything. In the monthly AARP bulletin, I find timely reports on every important issue: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the presidential campaign.

The new format of AARP’s bimonthly magazine, Modern Maturity, is designed to appeal to the baby boomers as this generation turns 50, but the content covers health, consumer news, financial concerns and leisure opportunities for all older Americans.

I also receive a monthly Health Update, a report from the Division of Legislation and Public Policy, a new Washington State quarterly. I believe AARP helps me tune in on any subject I wish to focus on, except perhaps the one Bartel mentions: member apathy.

I’m one of hundreds of AARP volunteers who would like to have the answer to that one. Elinor Nuxoll Spokane

IN THE PAPER

Reporters’ accounts welcome

I just want to say how much stature The Spokesman-Review gained in my eyes since I saw the stories it ran by your wonderfully talented reporters, Putsata Reang and Gita Sitaramiah, on March 10 (“Undercurrents: Spokane’s racism isn’t overt, but flows just under the surface,” Perspective).

On top of demonstrating the forward-looking vision to hire such reporters and to celebrate this nation’s original immigrant ideals, I’m proud of your willingness to allow those reporters to put the paper’s own warts on display on the way to illustrating that none of us are exempt from weaknesses that limit all of us.

From the perspective we’ve gained from these reporters’ stories, and your paper, I’m confident an increasingly cosmopolitan and diverse Spokane will move into a future in which racism will become less of a burden and limitation to us all, even if human nature can never let it die. Philip J. Mulligan Spokane

Racism articles encouraging

I was pleased to read the March 10 Perspective articles on racism.

I am English and recently bought a house here. I love Spokane, but on arrival here was very concerned about my daughter as she is biracial. Apart from the military base, Spokane seemed almost free of anyone of color.

I was thrilled to read you have different races working at The Spokesman-Review and I hope their experiences educate people here, as racism comes only from ignorance.

We English also experience the stigma of being different. I was once told, “I have never seen one of you before.”

Keep up the excellent work so that we can all live in this beautiful place in harmony together. Gay Strons Medical Lake

Cartoons send divisive message

As participants in the Pullman-Moscow Interfaith Dialogue group, we found the editorial cartoon of Feb. 12, “Muslim Madman March,” to be offensive not only to the Muslim community but to all who represent the other religious traditions in our group. In spite of several letters protesting this type of stereotyping, a very similar cartoon appeared in your paper of March 1, stereotyping Muslims as terrorists and identifying Islam with Louis Farrakhan, Saddam Hussein and Moammar Gadhafi.

The Interfaith Dialogue group has, for more than a decade, sought to promote harmony and respect among our diverse religious traditions as represented by Muslims, Christians, Jews and Hindus. We feel that publication of editorial cartoons such as this perpetuates discrimination and misunderstanding, rather than promote harmony and dialogue between diverse groups in our community. We expect a higher standard from our local newspaper and urge you to be more sensitive in the future. Jim Nielson and Ahmed Admedullan Pullman

Bravo for cellist story

Please accept our sincere appreciation for the excellent article about Ruth Boden, cellist.

We applaud vigorously your emphasis about excellence in the music programs of our schools in general and the outstanding example of Boden in particular. For the greatest percentage of youths, sports involvement is short-lived, while music can be enjoyed for lifetime. Rev. and Mrs. W.L. Boone Coeur d’Alene

Liberal paper - not

It is amusing to see letters to the editor referring to The Spokesman-Review as liberal.

The editorial of March 9 (“Court’s role is not to play God,” Opinion) used the phrase, in a comment of derision, “notoriously liberal.”

Notoriously liberal - the implication is clear, and the Review has once again revealed its inherent right-wing, ultraconservative psychological basis in the true tradition of the Cowles family and Shaw McCutcheon. F.W. Blackwell Pullman

LAW AND JUSTICE

Watch for abuser to reoffend

I was appalled when I read (News, March 6) that Superior Court Judge Neal Rielly sentenced Gavin Ritzler to only one year in jail for slamming Kory Holbrook against a wall.

Child abuse in this country is out of hand and a lot of the blame can be put on the judicial system.

I have never heard of any other diabetic killing someone because of their disease. If Ritzler felt this coming on he should have called for help.

I operated a foster home for years. I saw children who had been burned with cigarettes, beaten and scalded. I saw so many broken bones I couldn’t count them. In every case it was Mom’s boyfriend and all were repeat offenders. Ritzler will be out in less than a year. I believe there will be more abuse. I’ve seen it over and over again. Too bad a child’s life isn’t more precious in our society today. Gwen Ruegsegger Otis Orchards

Bring ATF, agent to justice

I wholeheartedly agree with several letters as well as D.F. Oliveria’s editorial concerning the Ruby Ridge affair, not only for what they had to say but also for having the courage to take a stand against a government agency that is out of control.

There were no heroic acts performed at that standoff. There were only three needless deaths. Those deaths are the responsibility of an arrogant, responsible-to-no-one agency that felt free to violate laws, change evidence and kill whoever they wished without fear of meaningful consequences.

Until that agency is held accountable for every law violation it committed, especially for the wrongful deaths, another Ruby Ridge or Waco incident is likely.

It’s time to take back those valor awards and prosecute Lon Horiuchi for killing Vicki Weaver. Ron Norvell Spokane

Supposed right is just hype

Curtis E. Stone (Roundtable, March 12) repeats the false National Rifle Association propaganda that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to keep and bear arms.

If there were such a right the NRA could go into court and have the Brady law and assault weapons ban declared unconstitutional. That they don’t indicates that Stone’s statement is incorrect.

In 1993, handguns were used to kill 82 people in Japan, 76 in Canada, 33 in Britain and 40,000 in the United States. Could it be that strict gun controls would make you and your family safer? Walter A. Becker Pullman

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

They’re your kids; You pay for them

The rants and whining of those who want things handed to them instead of earning them have hit the quiet city of Cheney and Eastern Washington University.

Student body President Justin Franke has decided it prudent to cancel the child care subsidy and use the money for its intended purpose - clubs and activities that benefit the entire student body of over 6,000 people.

Many of the 118 people who eat up a large portion of the budget have complained the change isn’t fair or that Franke has no right to make it.

The reality is, these people should say thank you for the gifts they have been given up until now, and be on their way. One doesn’t complain about getting fewer Christmas gifts than in past years.

If it were done the right way, parents would think twice about having children they cannot support. If they don’t make that choice, parents should take responsibility for their children, support them themselves and not complain when someone else won’t do it.

You say, put the children first because the children will suffer. But when you complain about the inconvenience this will put on you, who is being considered? Not the children.

If it means a cutback in lifestyle or giving something up, that’s what being a parent is about. It’s not the day care’s or state’s responsibility to raise your child, it’s yours. Justin Carey Cheney

Dole’s just as bad as Clinton

Sen. Robert Dole, the great upholder of the status quo, is now starting to win in the primaries. His handlers’ panic has energized them to turn the machine on to full power, slandering, denigrating and condemning the opposition.

Isn’t it sad that the opposition can’t fight back because Dole has yet to say what he stands for?

We do hear over and over that he is the only candidate who can beat President Clinton. That’s hard to believe, in view of his poor showing against Clinton in the budget battle and his subsequent role in shutting down government.

Dole failed to stop Clinton’s adventure in Yugoslavia, failed to hold up Clinton’s appointment of radical leftist judges and carelessly threw away the great opportunity given him by the Republican Congressional landslide of 1994.

Dole is more like Clinton than any of the other candidates. He’s with Clinton on the World Bank and World Trade Organization. He supported Clinton’s sloppy crime bill, the crazy NAFTA agreement, the Mexican bailout, etc.

So, doesn’t it seem like we are already under a supragovernment, a one-party system, and that with Dole winning the nomination, they win regardless of which party’s candidate is elected? George B. Valentine Rathdrum