Letters To The Editor

Sat., April 1, 1995

DOUG CLARK

Column was short on humor

I was appalled to see that your publication has reached a point where it would print the March 26 opinion of Doug Clark.

If this was an attempt to put some humor into the distressing fact that this city does not feel the need to support the Walk in the Wild Zoo, it fell short. It sickened me to think that anyone would think in such terms as were repeatedly expressed in this column.

While I realize The Spokesman-Review and the Cowles family may have a different agenda that they feel necessitates the demise of such a lovely area, I did not think they were as unfeeling as the ideas expressed would suggest.

I do not think the county commissioners “nixed a chance to accept the zoo land as a freebie from the paper company” as was suggested. It was my understanding they were seriously considering the option but they were given such a limited time frame that they were not allowed to properly research the legalities of the deal.

As a supporter of the zoo I resent being called a “zoo boob” and I will never be a supporter of such a piece of trash as The Spokesman-Review. I will not pay for your publication until you begin to positively support the community through activities which enhance the quality of life, not just your pocketbook, and you get rid of Doug Clark. Kirby Clark Cheney

Ugly, mean, despicable journalism

Doug Clark has surpassed himself in meanness, ugly and despicably opinionated journalism. I found the cruelty and inhumanity of his March 26 column shocking.

Perhaps if he had been so inclined to support the very admirable and tireless efforts of Walk in the Wild boosters instead of tearing them down, the zoo might have been an attraction he would have been proud of rather than what he calls a “zoological embarrassment.”

Relatives living in Norway visited two weeks ago. Although they were here for only six days, one precious day had to be devoted to this “third-rate roadside attraction.” Both the adults and children have always looked forward to visiting Walk in the Wild every time they have visited Spokane.

If Clark spent more time researching he would realize that the limping bear, three-legged fox, tailless coyote and some other less-than-perfect animals and rejected creatures of God wouldn’t be alive were it not for Walk in the Wild and its supporters. These animals include the lioness that limps because there is a surgically-implanted pin in her paw which enables her to walk without pain, and a majestic lion who had previously been a “pet” in a tiny cage.

If the purpose of Clark’s column was to evoke tears, he succeeded admirably.

Many times in the past 20 years I have wanted to cancel my subscription to your newspaper, but never so much as now. Elaine Bartlett-Martin Spokane

Zoo deserves better than this

In Doug Clark’s tasteless column on Walk in the Wild (March 27), he has hit a low with his degrading remarks about the people at Union Gospel Mission and the staff and volunteers working at the zoo.

Walk in the Wild has entertained thousands of people, young and old. They have presented many educational events, including the “rubber dinosaur” referred to by Clark. Perhaps he could have obtained for the zoo a real, live dinosaur exhibit.

They have held “Zoo School” sessions in the summer for the children of school age, teaching about animal life on this planet. They have held many educational and entertaining events for the public. People from Spokane and the surrounding area, as well as visitors from outside the area, have expressed appreciation for the good times they have had at the zoo.

Walk in the Wild could survive with favorable publicity and open-minded support from your “good paper.” There is great potential there for a beautiful facility the community could be proud of. None of the zoo staff nor the volunteers who give of their time and support, nor the many donors, should be called “muddle-headed” or “boobs” by the newspaper or its “journalists.” Namecalling is very childish.

Please don’t be so negative toward something that could be such a plus for the city and community, and the supporters. Shirley McManamon Veradale

Restaurant right, Clark wrong

Doug Clark’s tasteless and crass column on Walk in the Wild Zoo offended us, but now he has hit a real low by attacking Chuck E. Cheese.

For those parents who are aware of dangers to children, this is a thoughtful and caring policy. Why a parent would object to it is a mystery. The management and staff of this establishment work very hard to offer a clean, safe environment in which children can play and parents can relax, knowing their children are safe. We wonder if Michelle Lowell’s objection was merely a case of disagreeing for the sake of disagreement.

Instead of our local newspaper taking on a respectable business that is trying to provide a safe environment, try seeking out some of the real problems in this city and direct your do-good efforts where they will do some real good. Jean and Charlie Barker Spokane

POVERTY AND SOCIETY

Who’s the better parent?

The most appropriate metaphor for current political discussion seems to be a truly bitter custody battle. In this scenario, the Democrats have cast themselves as the compassionate, permissive - but recently rejected - spouse. Republicans, especially House Republicans who currently act as the custodial parent, wish to take the role of a tough-love disciplinarian. Both parties stridently accuse the other of being unfit parents.

A few Democrats have engaged in rhetoric reaching hysterical proportions about the cruelty to children that block grants will entail, completely ignoring the fact that the state governments that spend these grants will be the agents responsible for cruelty, if any actually occurs.

The Republican defense, somewhat too intellectual to be very popular, seems to be that they are only trying to break a cycle of dependency that the Democrats created when holding the custodial duty.

Is the man in the White House who promised to “end welfare as we know it” the presiding magistrate in this scenario? God help us all, children and adults alike! Donald M. Barnes Spokane

Compassion is solution to poverty

Permanent solutions and progress on the problem of poverty will require compassion, personal impact and spiritual inspiration. All government efforts, past and present, to fix poverty cannot succeed. Compassion cannot be legislated. It arises as a voluntary, sincere reaction to inspiration. Government programs are, by definition, bureaucratic and coercive, not personal and voluntary. Spiritual connection through government is not possible; God has been officially excluded from government, in contrast to the 200 years before 1965.

After 30 years of President Johnson’s war on poverty, massive expenditures and massive government programs, we have more people living in poverty now than in 1965.

President Clinton and his brand of Democrats have had 30 or more years to make their approach work. It is time for new approaches and to emphasize volunteerism. B.M. Bauman Veradale

Love and discipline can stop violence

I get tired of hearing that poverty causes violence. If that were the case, those of us who were living during the Depression would have spent much of our time bashing in each other’s skulls. There was poverty all over the place.

Here is an example of our sometimes-faulty thinking:

A person drinks a mixture of ginger ale and bourbon and becomes intoxicated. He drinks ginger ale and vodka and becomes intoxicated. He drinks ginger ale and gin and becomes intoxicated. We therefore conclude in our most scientific manner that which causes intoxication is obviously the common ingredient: ginger ale.

Likewise, poverty seems to be a common ingredient in much of the violence, but it isn’t the cause.

Before people became obsessed with doing their own thing and marching to their own drummer, most children were raised in the security of a stable family. There was a word called sin and the Bible was used as a guide to determine right from wrong. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Teach a child how he should live, and he will remember it all his life.”

Tender, loving care and a reasonable amount of discipline are as important to the psyche of most children as vitamins are to a healthy body. A substantial amount of both poverty and violence is the result of unguided and misguided children. Today’s proliferation of police, jails, judges and social workers trying to undo the damage is like closing the barn door after the horse is out. Clyde F. Meredith Clark Fork, Idaho

HEALTH

Energy wasted making judgments

In response to Edward Hanson’s March 28 letter regarding Greg Louganis and Magic Johnson, the AIDS virus and lung disease: I cannot see where these two men are being canonized by anyone because of the AIDS virus.

I recently read the book written by Greg Louganis. Nowhere did I find that he was asking for sympathy because of his illness. Louganis states in the book that he hopes that by speaking out he can raise awareness about the disease. I did not see him in any way looking for pity.

Having worked in the health care profession for 25-plus years in the area of respirator care, I cannot recall any instance of anyone considered or put down as “low life” because they were suffering from lung disease.

It seems to me that a lot of time and energy is being wasted on people making judgment on other people. A lot of this time could be put into positive action and education.

It would do us good, when we we occasionally feel it necessary to judge people, to remember what the Bible says: “Judge and you shall be judged.” John Sicilia Spokane

Don’t smoke around children

My first reaction to the article on smoking around infants was that you should not smoke around children, period. I, as a kid, should know. Also, all of the kids I’ve talked to find it extremely annoying to have people sitting by them smoking. Kids usually end up coughing, choking, gagging or even throwing up because of second-hand smoke, and these are fifth-graders. Think about how it would be if you were a baby and you had to deal with second-hand smoke!

Please do not smoke around kids. Courtney Thomas, fifth grader Spokane