Letters To The Editor

IN THE PAPER

Alas, Priggee’s no Churchill

Fifty years ago, the distinguished statesman of the 20th century, Winston Churchill of England, was abruptly thrown out of power.

Churchill had led his people through two wars and was responsible for delivering civilization from the horrors of Hitler. Why, at his zenith, was he cast away by his electorate to the inglorious position of back bencher in a socialist-controlled parliament? Precisely because he misjudged the people and demonstrated that he could be a demagogue. He thought he knew what was best for the voter and when he exercised the ultimate blunder of comparing his political opponents to Nazis, his fate was sealed.

Milt Priggee and The Spokesman-Review exercised the same pathetic judgment by portraying Newt Gingrich as a Nazi (Opinion, Dec. 17). In so doing, does Priggee wish to simply insult Gingrich and his supporters with name calling? Well, if Naziism is now just a naughty word of our lexicon, then he is taking for granted and cheapening the 30 million deaths and countless more who were tortured by the Nazis in World War II.

On the other hand, perhaps Priggee actually believes Gingrich is a Nazi. If he does, he implies that over half the American electorate are Nazis as well. If that’s the case, then his affront to these citizens is indeed vile and contemptible.

The world eventually forgave Churchill for his excesses because of the totality of his greatness. Priggee deserves no such consideration; he has no such reservoir of meaningful contribution to our society, especially when his lack of understanding for history belittles and insults so many. Andrew A. Thostenson Washtucna, Wash.

Business group may get better

Reading Frank Bartel’s (Dec. 28) column on the National Federation of Independent Business, and as the owner of two businesses who belongs to the NFIB, I do have to agree on certain aspects of his column. In particular, about slanted questions.

However, Mr. Bartel must realize that before the NFIB, we had no voice as small-business owners. Everything must be modified in its time. Maybe we can smooth this out also. Nate Narrance Mead

Story unworthy of police candidates

The format of “Learning to toe the thin blue line” (Dec. 11) fools the reader into believing that (staff writer) Bonnie Harris labored the entire 11 weeks in preparation for “her” day in the limelight. The content proves otherwise.

It is very apparent that she spent a great deal of time probing into the personal lives of several officers and stepped far over the line of human decency in her attempt to call into question their character. I question the relevancy of most of Harris’ comments. I was confused about what the article actually represented.

As an associate of one of these candidates and someone who has followed this academy class since the induction ceremonies, I would like to offer further insight to this article.

A great many of these new officers began preparing for this field of service many months, if not years, before being accepted to the academy. They have diverse experience and backgrounds. Some have served in the military, some have previous law enforcement experience. Relatively few hold degrees in criminal justice.

All began with the utmost pride and determination to succeed. They spent many hours of their own time, as did some of their instructors, perfecting those attributes that exemplify a superior police officer. Their goal was to become the kind of police officers the citizens of Spokane could be proud of, to promote community-oriented policing and, last but certainly not least, to never forget the power of being gentle human beings. Kim Buergel Spokane

Scolding clerics? Where? When?

Another celebration of the birth of Christ has come and gone. The Spokesman-Review included several Christmas-related stories in the issues leading up to and including Christmas Day. I was disappointed about the watered down treatment Christmas was given by your writers.

The piece which prompts me to write, however, was Rebecca Nappi’s editorial about the “Christmas and Easter bunch.” In her editorial, she criticizes priests, ministers and pastors for heaping guilt upon people who only come to church on Christmas and Easter. I belong to an association of Protestant and Catholic ministers in Stevens County. I am also one of some 50 active priests in the Diocese of Spokane. I do not know one single priest, minister or pastor who spends Christmas heaping shame and guilt on C&E Christians.

Where does Ms. Nappi go to church? My suspicion is that she is exacting revenge from some insensitive comment made decades ago. The one example she does cite is some 30 years old.

Most priests, ministers and pastors are open to valid criticism. This critique, although fashionable, was simply unfair. I suggest Ms. Nappi do a little more homework before digging out her “shame on the clergy” piece for next Christmas. Father Darrin Connall Colville, Wash.

NEW-TECHNOLOGY BULLET

What we have is barrage of hype

Regarding unsubstantiated claims by the “inventor” of the proposed Rhino ammunition:

The parroting of whatever sensation comes off the wire is why media credibility suffers. As one of several local experts in this field (director of Security Awareness & Firearms Education) contacted by local TV stations for information, I declined comment for lack of true facts. As I watch TV, listen to radio and read newspapers, I am amused by the reporters’ display of ignorance. We should be thankful the average police officer/investigator is held to a higher standard in recording and reporting facts.

Wake up, folks. Not everything you are told is true. The amount of hype and hyperbole surrounding this ammo’s performance should set off anyone’s B.S. alert.

What probably will materialize now are more legislative answers to nonexistent problems. Expect to see more ammo bans, including on existing Rhino-like brands already on the market.

The why and wherefore of different ammo is too lengthy a subject for this letter, but legitimate end user needs are what drive a manufacturer’s research efforts. No one wishes to use deadly force against a violent felon. However, doing so is sometimes necessary. Modern, high performance, controlled expansion ammunition better protects the innocent and incidentally is also more survivable by the felon.

I welcome anyone to stop by my office; I will be happy to share volumes of documentation regarding true bullet performance. Or, if you prefer ammunition with “thousands of exploding, flesh-rending razors that sear a hole as big as a softball,” I can also recommend some great dime store pulp fiction. Robert B. Smith Post Falls

This we do not need

Thank you, Rebecca Nappi and the editorial board, for citing your views and opinion of the Rhino-Ammo bullet and its inventor.

I find it difficult to understand why anyone would spend the time or money developing such a potentially devastating item. Just how long, I wonder, will this particular product remain under lock and key? In a separate article (Dec. 27), David Keen himself says, “I cannot promise anyone this round won’t fall into the wrong hands. I assure you we will sell only to the right people.”

Who is he kidding? As your editorial pointedly states, “Keen’s bullet is evil. The bullets now on the market will kill people dead enough.” I hasten to agree with you.

Dare I ask, what will they think of next? Denise E. Marsh Spokane

This is all too disorienting

The new plastic wonder bullet has screwed up my reality. I am a product of the TV-baby-sitter generation, and it was my understanding that the cop shot the bad buy in the leg or extremity to disable him and bring him to justice. Now it is clear that really they need to blow the whole leg off because the old way just didn’t quite work.

Actually, they should have gone a step further, so you could shoot the body off of the head, since the head is all you need in court anyway.

It was also my understanding (again, must have been from TV), that cops usually are the bulletproof-jacketwearing majority. But his can’t possibly be true because we want the wonder bullet to pierce the bad guy’s bulletproof jacket.

Hmmm. Interesting that we would develop a new weapon of war when the war on crime is against ourselves. M.L. Folyer Otis Orchards

LAW AND JUSTICE

Immunity deal conduct unbecoming

Late in life, the British Army’s official historian of the first world war, Gen. Sir James Edmonds, compiled a fascinating list depicting the fate of his fellow students on the Staff College course of 1896. After detailing the obvious generals and casualties on the battlefield, the count becomes somewhat more exotic:

Placed on retired list for quelling a riot by machinegun fire in India: 1

Joined the Sudan Civil Service: 1

Retired on coming into money: 2

Shot his mother-in-law and her lawyer and then committed suicide: 1

Last heard of keeping a brothel in Smyrna: 1

Col. William C. Brooks, Fairchild Air Force Base’s commanding officer at the time of the B-52 crash earlier this year, should be added to the list:

Placed on the retired list for accepting immunity to testify against a subordinate: 1

Col. Brooks had a duty to bring evidence in a courtmartial against a subordinate. It is a basic principle of military service that a commander can delegate authority to accomplish a task but can never delegate responsibility.

The general officer granting immunity has made a serious error in judgment and the secretary of the Air Force should rescind this dangerous and destructive precedent. Robert B. Hunt USN, retired Post Falls

Time to deal with deadbeat dads

1995 will shed a light on America and the Republicans will lead the way. One main issue at the tip of their sword will be reforming the welfare system. In doing this, the Republicans will be taking on that powerful lobbying group, the political action committee of all political action committees - you know who I’m talking about - that powerful group of poor women and their children. Theirs is a formidable force, to be sure.

Now, I am as tired as everyone else of paying for other people’s children. Two adults, or so-called adults, should be responsible for their actions, emotionally and fiscally. The problem is that only one part of the equation is taking responsibility and the women and children are the ones being attacked from all sides.

Deadbeat dads are the ones who should be getting all the heat. Court-ordered child support payments need to be rigorously enforced. Employers need to quit paying these guys under the table so they go undetected. One solution is to make these so-called fathers get jobs themselves or else pull their driver’s licenses or put their names in the newspaper when they fail to make payments.

By the way, Newt, that $4.5 million sure would have helped you catch up on your payments - wouldn’t it? Ragan Faylor Spokane

Immigrant invasion being ignored

I would never condemn the burning desire of any alien who wants to enter the United States illegally through the southern states to have the opportunity to secure the benefits of our established American way of life.

This nation, except for Native Americans, is composed of immigrants or descendants of immigrants who have entered this country by faithfully complying with this county’s immigration laws.

Elected politicians and armed forces commanders are politically passive spectators to the absolute disregard of this nation’s immigration laws by virtue of allowing a massive invasion of illegal immigrants and those with contraband drugs to take place.

How can our armed forces justify sending thousands of American soldiers around the world in defense of foreign nations and their borders and yet not dispatch a single soldier to our southern border to defend against this obvious and continuous invasion of illegal immigrants with their drugs?

I condemn our commander in chief and our military commanders for neglecting U.S. borders while spending billions of taxpayer dollars in the defense of other nations and their borders. Victor J. Felice Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Administer welfare with firm hand

My father died in 1934. My mother, having four small children, had to go on welfare. We received enough to survive but nothing more.

Instead of food stamps there was a food bank, staffed by welfare recipients, where you could get beans, cabbage, etc.

If we needed clothes, they were also available. They were made just different enough so everyone could tell where you got them. They were made by welfare recipients.

Life was never easy for us but it did give us one very good thing: determination to get off welfare as soon as possible. We are all in our 60s now and have never been on welfare since.

Today, I own a rental duplex. One of the former tenants was on welfare with subsidized rent. She could afford to go out to dinner and play bingo two or three times a week, which her landlord couldn’t even afford.

Some people have no desire to ever get off welfare. How can we change this?

Eliminate food stamps. We pay farmers every year to destroy good, healthy food. Have a food bank, without cookies.

Furnish clothing as needed.

Every able-bodied person should either work or be training for work, especially if their children are in school.

Have a social worker visit each family once a month to discuss the current situation and make changes if necessary.

Many have working boyfriends living with them. This shouldn’t be allowed. Find out and cut them off.

Give them the desire to get off welfare. Sharon Ranney Spokane

Revise GOP contract

As Congress prepares to convene, we watch for implementation of the Republicans’ contract with America. Although many of us agree with at least some aspects of the contract, there are dangerous components which must be dropped.

Disguised in the contract as “private property rights” and “regulatory control” is an attempt to dismantle the environmental, health, safety and consumer protections enacted over the years after such disasters as Love Canal, Cancer Alley and the near loss of our national symbol, the bald eagle.

Consider for example one target of the contract, the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

An endangered species is our alarm that we are not taking care of the environment that takes care of us. The ESA is the tool to pull us back from disaster. Without a strong ESA, it would be more appropriate to select the German cockroach as our national symbol - one creature guaranteed to thrive under a weakened ESA. I’ll take the eagle.

Using private property as a smokescreen to dismantle environmental protections such as the ESA is an obscene, shortsighted misuse of our constitutionally guaranteed rights.

Our elected officials need to know that Americans want their natural heritage and quality of life protected, not contracted out. Robert Wilson Richland

Quickly, tell leaders what you want

Now is your chance. The politicians are having a hard time finding things to cut.

It is the same old panic: cut entitlements, the sky is falling. You surely have identified lots of waste they’re not talking about. Write and tell them.

How about the lifetime Secret Service protection and royal treatment for all ex-presidents? Is Clinton going to cost the taxpayer a bundle! There are also ex-presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush. England has only one royal family. The United States has as many as there are ex-presidents.

How about the millions being spent right now on ecosystem management, the new plan of Vice President Gore to identify every little thing and see to it “all ecosystem management activities should consider human beings as a biological resource.” That’s just getting started. It will take your money and your freedom.

All that aid to the whole world to help everyone but the American poor. All that money to the United Nations. The government bureaucracy that uses 72 cents out of every $1, leaving the welfare recipient only 28 cents.

Write to the U.S. Senate, Washington, D. C. 20510 or the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515.

Let the government know that we are paying attention and that we are not completely stupid. Now is the time, while we have their attention. Once this game to impress the public is over, they will just ignore what they have always ignored. Drown them in mail. It is your kids’ future. Betty L. White Tonasket, Wash.