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

Letters

Greed bringing us down

I read an article about four TSA screeners turning a blind eye toward suitcases full of cocaine and methamphetamine for a bribe the other day, and I started to think of what a reflection on our country that is. Money is taking a bigger and bigger priority with every day that passes. Who cares if illegal substances are passing right under our noses when there is $2,400 in our back pockets?

I’m sure that saving people from a meth addiction and the possible brain damage that goes with it is much preferable to a wad of bills. Reading this article, it seems like that isn’t the only opinion, and quite frankly, I’m appalled and embarrassed for our country.

Just looking at the example set by these screeners, you’d think that we only care about money and getting high. We have prided ourselves on how fantastic a country we are, but I doubt we’ll be able to say that if more people succumb to this level of greed.

Rebecca Tucker

Spokane

Support thoughtful Iran bill

The recent visit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have pressured many legislators to support measures on Iran that would inhibit peaceful options for resolving the conflict. A very dangerous Senate resolution, SR 380, implicitly calls for a military attack on Iran when Iran reaches a “nuclear capability.”

A war with Iran is not in our national interest, or in the best interest of any nation.

But a tiny ray of sunshine on this dark horizon has appeared. This is House legislation HR 4173, introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., which encourages vigorous, sustained diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran. It creates a special envoy for Iran and ends the decades-long no-contact policy between U.S. and Iranian diplomats.

However, there is one important name missing from the list of co-sponsors: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. By co-sponsoring Lee’s bill to prevent an attack on Iran, and another pre-emptive war, McMorris Rodgers would join such statesmen as Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who said, “I urge that we not begin a new war without a full debate, without a vote, without careful consideration of the ramifications of a third or even a fourth war in this past decade.”

We urge McMorris Rodgers to demonstrate nonpartisan leadership in preventing military confrontation with Iran by co-sponsoring Lee’s bill.

Lois Kieffaber

Spokane

Schools should innovate

In today’s world, it’s become so important to spend time with your family, and be physically active. People like Michelle Obama and Ellen DeGeneres promote the same message: that we should value our families and battle unhealthy habits. This message is especially geared toward the teens of today.

However, being a teen in high school comes with a price: a lot of stress from school. When teens spend their afternoons doing homework or stressing over a final exam, they lose precious family time, and time to be active. It has been proven that stress on any level is unhealthy. So how do we reduce the stress for a healthier future?

Salman Khan, founder of Khan Academy, believes in a new system he calls “Flipping the classroom.” This system is less stressful for all students who tried it. The idea is that kids learn using video lectures at home, and use class time to master the material. Teachers agree that it is a better use of their time, and students think that it’s much easier.

As the world around us is moving forward, changing and becoming more innovative every day, why not innovate our school systems, too?

Alex Britton

Spokane