Letters To The Editor

LAW AND JUSTICE

Show sex offenders no mercy

I’ve never been so angry and astonished at the same time. Sam Francis (“Sex offenders need more compassion,” Opinion, July 28) feels we need to “re-learn the meaning of mercy.”

Mercy for a grown man who preys on little boys? Would he be asking for mercy had he not been caught? He doesn’t expound on how “the action became public.” Some little boy who cried himself to sleep every night, only to find more horrors in his dreams, brought this “action” into the limelight. Some little boy trusted this man.

Francis worries about pouring salt in a molester’s wounds. What wounds? Shame? I’m sure his victim will be feeling shame for years. Humiliation? Only being caught. Did he come forth on his own, or wait until being caught to beg for mercy?

He worries “televised floggings” interfere with the healing of abusers. He says some sex offenders deserve hard-line punishment, but not his coach. He’s sorry, so be merciful. Don’t publish his name or picture anywhere so we don’t embarrass him.

I have a child who molested by a man who was “real sorry.” He spent 30 days in jail. My child has spent 10 years dealing with and paying for the assault. My child asked the judge to “put this bad man in jail and put chains on his feet so he won’t hurt someone else.”

Broadcasting offenders may not be as good as chaining their feet, but it’s a start. We have the right to know who is preying on our children. If broadcasting names saves one little victim, then it’s worth it.

We should be ashamed to live in a society that slaps the hand that assaults our children. They should be executed on the day of conviction; that’s mercy. Keep them away from my children. Laurie Ryan Spokane

FARM SUBSIDIES

Farmers do their best to feed all

After reading The Spokesman-Review the last couple days, I just would like to put a few things straight.

Farmers didn’t ask for subsidies, they were forced upon farmers years ago.

The article in the July 30 paper by (Opinion editor) John Webster gives people the real answers on subsidies. Please get off the farmers’ backs and let them try to feed you all. They have enough problems trying to make a living, what with Washington, D.C., and Mother Nature.

While you’re all enjoying your meals remember that your food was raised on a farm, not the grocer’s shelf. Myrtle Melhus Cheney

Subsidy story disservice to farmers

Regarding the July 23 headline, “Subsidies ingrained in region”: How true this is, the biggest being on Highway 2 just west of Airway Heights. Where would Spokane’s economy be without this huge federal subsidy?

I remember your paper praising Congressman Tom Foley for his efforts to keep this multimillion-dollar aid to Spokane. How sad you can’t be honest and report news from both sides.

Farmers have a hard time making ends meet. They live with constant federal regulation changes, markets controlled by a few large wheat exporters and equipment prices that have risen as much as 200 percent in the last 20 years.

What gives you the right to publish misleading information about their operations? To be fair, publish their operating statements, talk to their bankers and get the true picture of what life on the farm is all about.

When I attended Washington State University, I was fortunate to attend journalism classes that taught reporting was unbiased and gave all the facts. It seems you would rather publish your opinion than the truth!

The old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never harm me,” is false. This article has caused great harm to this region’s farmers. A retraction should be printed and the farmers apologized to.

Another subsidy you’ve overlooked is the RiverPark Square renewal plan. Look who the big gainer is: the Cowles family, owner, publisher and controller of the newspaper. H.A. Dunning Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Ritalin wasn’t answer for our child

Twenty years ago a pediatrician prescribed Ritalin for my “hyperactive” 7-year-old. The classroom teacher, whose husband was a pharmacist, balked, refusing to participate in medicating the child.

Subsequently, a competent, no-nonsense psychiatrist ferreted out the underlying family problems.

Look at Cooper’s angry little face on the front page photo (July 30). Look at mommy “bargaining” with Cooper, attempting to avoid his anger as she negotiates with a 13-year-old child what he chooses to do or not to do. What will Cooper do as an adult when the only bargaining chip he will have with his employer will be to do his job as stipulated, and in return he’ll receive his paycheck?

By the way, could those of us who raised difficult children please have our $458 per month from Social Security in a retroactive lump sum payment? If Social Security does indeed go belly up, I’m sure those who will miss out on retirement payments will be happy to know the program also supported ADD/Ritalin before expiring in bankruptcy. J.K. Pearson Spokane

Please, deposit offal elsewhere

I’m really amazed and dismayed at how long you’ve held out against a flood of negative sentiment about Mallard Fillmore. It seems you’ve taken a public-be-damned attitude and won’t budge.

If you have a long-term contract with the distributor, you were crazy to have entered into one. If you’re reluctant to admit a terrible mistake, I can understand that, but you’ve tried out and quietly retired other strips in the past, why not this one?

The strip is drawn in a cute manner. There the good points end. It’s strident, unfunny, unrelentingly one-sided and shrill against President Clinton, “liberal” media and Democrats (all of whom I have some warm feelings for). It’s truly funny and nonpartisan barbs are so few and far between, one has no incentive to search for them through the offal of the everyday offerings.

Please, so I don’t have to save $137 each year for an annual subscription to The Spokesman-Review, get that downer experience (pun intended?) off the comics page and let me enjoy that section. Paul M. Tanners Spokane

God, men working together

In response to “Promise keepers dollar reapers,” on July 27: Obviously, Edward Thomas Jr., hasn’t attended a concert at the same location Promise Keepers was held. A three-hour event cost my daughter $85! One thing no one mentioned, probably because of your liberal bias, it was relegated to page B4 in a small left-hand column.

It hardly seems insignificant, nor merely a coincidence, that in the days surrounding Promise Keepers meetings, the city of Seattle experienced, and I quote your newspaper, “the city’s longest homicide-free period in at least 11 years has ended at 46 days.” While over 64,000 men determined to seek the face of God, change themselves so he can work through them, and intercede for this nation, God has indeed shown he is able to break down the evil stronghold of murder in a major city.

I wish to commend each man who was courageous enough to admit what he has been doing hasn’t worked, taking this time, and seizing this opportunity to gather and work on changing SELF, rather than casting blame. Men, you have accomplished in the spirit what can’t be accomplished in the flesh.

I’m thankful God is turning the hearts of men to take up their rightful place in society. I’m convinced this is only the beginning of what God will accomplish through your obedience in following through with the commitments you made during this time. God bless you all! Sandra K. Walker Spokane

Do not rewrite, distort history

The Eleventh Bomb Group (H) was present on Hickam field, Honolulu, T.H., when the Imperial Japanese Navy perpetrated the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. The squadrons of the Eleventh Bomb Group lost many members on that fateful day.

They recovered and regrouped to fight valiantly with their B-17s and B-24s from the New Hebrides, Midway, Guadalcanal, the Northern Solomons, Eastern Mandates, Western Pacific, the Republic of China offensive and the offensive against Japan. Their planes were on the runway preparing for takeoff to attack the Japanese mainland when the war ended.

Distinguishing Unit Citations, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation were all awarded to this group and its squadrons.

The present members of the Eleventh Bomb Group Association, Inc., wish to express their indignation at attempts by modern revisionists to rewrite the history of events leading up to WWII, and to assign the U.S. the role of aggressor and avenger.

These efforts serve only to deny present and future generations the true sense and feelings of the nation and times preceding the war, the rallying together after Pearl Harbor, and the heroic acts of those who fought. The Eleventh Bomb Group Association hereby urges all individuals and organizations involved in this great conflict to insist the truth be told and reflected in our National Archives and exhibits, and that attempts to revise the true national feelings during this crucial period be defeated.

The true portrayal of America’s role in history can only come when all veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam combine their protests whenever such revisionists efforts are detected. Donald H. Murray Rice, Wash.