Letters To The Editor
SPOKANE MATTERS
A Neighbor Day to beat all
Congratulations to Lee McLeron and the Neighbor Day Committee for their wonderful gift of the 19th Annual Neighbor Day to Spokane.
In spite of incredible financial challenges to stage this major event, Lee and her committee gave us wonderful, varied, live entertainment; hands-on children’s activities, great ethnic foods and unquestionably the best ever fireworks display. The fireworks finale drew loud praise from thousands who showed their appreciation through their loud cheers and sustained applause after the final spectacular multiple burst of more than 1,200 fireworks shells! Add to these Neighbor Day activities the great weather, Riverfront Park’s rides and attractions, two public markets and over 100,000 neighborly park guests, and Spokane experienced the best Neighbor Day ever! Hal McGlathery, manager Riverfront Park, Spokane
Early blood bank was sanitary
I am dismayed to read the headline about the blood bank’s “unsanitary past” on July 4, 1995.
I am proud to have been a member of Spokane’s original blood bank’s professional staff. Not one of those registered medical technicians or nurses would condone any “unsanitary” action relating to the drawing, typing or cross-matching of blood.
May I congratulate today’s blood bank for 50 successful years. Its mastery and use of all modern techniques is to be applauded. Joanne Costello Spokane
If Harris wants it, it’s good
There have been many letters to the editor concerning county courthouse reorganization. Most of the letters have been one-sided in criticizing County Commissioners Steve Hasson and Phil Harris for firing County Planner John Mercer.
I don’t know Steve Hasson or John Mercer, but I do know Phil Harris. He has been a good friend for many years and I trust his judgment. I also know that the courthouse has been corrupt for over a decade. The Democrats have controlled things down there for years and have done things that have pushed progress backwards just to benefit themselves.
I’m not suggesting Mr. Mercer was corrupt. I do know changes down there have been long overdue. I, for one, welcome these changes and give Commissioner Harris my support. Justin Childers Spokane
WASHINGTON STATE
Back referendum to avoid being bilked
Do you as a taxpayer want to have to pay big landowners and big business interests to be good, to not build a shopping center next to your residence, to not pollute the air, water or soil, to not dig a gravel pit next to you?
Initiative 164, passed by the 1995 Legislature - and by law cleverly bypassing the possibility of the governor’s veto - will force you to do just that unless we stop it.
Referendum 48, for which signatures are now being gathered, will allow you to vote on this special-interest legislation in November.
Top contributors who financed the passage of Initiative 164 include: Boise Cascade, the Building Industry Association of Washington, Longview Fibre Co., Issues PAC of Washington (builders and real estate), Murray Pacific (timber), Plum Creek (timber), Rayonier Timberlands, Simpson Timber, Washington Association of Realtors, Washington Cattlemen’s Association, Washington State Farm Bureau and Washington State Dairy Federation. If you want to have a say in your state government, to prevent big taxpayer expense that will be incurred to protect against the effects of Initiative 164, sign Referendum 48 that will give voter-taxpayers a voice in this special-interest legislation.
After all, we will be paying the bill if it’s not stopped. Tom Rogers, Sr. Spokane
LAW AND JUSTICE
Exercise control where it counts
It’s time to wake up, America!
Let me get this straight. A man kills his wife, stuffs her in a suitcase, is sentenced to life in prison, is released after serving only 10 years, is now in violation of his parole, and all I read and hear about is how wonderful this world would be when they take my gun from me.
This is just one puny example of how law-abiding Americans are losing their rights. First, the right to bear arms, which we’re all aware of, and second, the right to be protected against killers and thugs who continually are let out of prison early so they can have a second, third and fourth opportunity to do damage to innocent people.
Our tax dollars are used to capture, convict and contain criminals. Our police officers risk their lives daily to remove bad people from the streets our families and friends live on.
Think people control, not gun control. Nuff said? D.W. Spiker Post Falls
It’s about false accusation
Do you suppose Interactive editor Doug Floyd gave much thought to his (Our View, July 3) “Questioning authority at your own risk”?
He begins with a bland headline and moves smartly on to a Washington State trooper who was falsely accused of pushing and threatening, at gunpoint, a Seattle doctor. Mr. Floyd admits the doctor’s allegations sound farfetched, but what he fails to understand is the allegation placed the officer in jeopardy of losing his job and being prosecuted for assault and battery under color of authority, which could result in a prison sentence. The socalled editor believes that once cleared, the officer should merely go back to work as if nothing happened.
If that wasn’t enough, Mr. Floyd instructs the Court of Appeals to reverse the lower court’s ruling. What gall.
I have a vision of Doug Floyd’s background. Let’s see, worked on the high school paper but received numerous tickets while delivering same. Worked on the college paper and also delivered pizza, managing to accumulate even more tickets. Little experience with real life but fairly knowledgeable of U.S. History 101.
I would strongly suggest that Mr. Floyd’s superiors point out to him the difference between questioning authority and false accusation. The bottom line message should be that anyone, and I mean anyone, should have the right to defend himself against false accusation. Michael J. Murphy Hayden Lake
Left-wing sympathies hard to take
Doug Clark’s June 27 column (“Waco, Weaver paintings assault viewers senses”) was read with interest. To any discerning individual, it would seem to be very revealing.
Do Mr. Clark and any of his left-wing colleagues ever think about the hypocrisy of his attitude? He and his colleagues somberly observe the anniversary of the deaths of students at Kent State University, who were killed while attacking National Guard troops trying to maintain order at an anti-Vietnam protest.
In the meantime, they lightly pass off the murders of some 90 people at Ruby Ridge and Waco who were attacking no one. They then attribute the results as “mostly of their (the victims’) own making.” Anyone with half a brain should recognize the left-wing, big government, socialist ideology exposed.
The phrase “jack-booted government fascists” coined by Michigan Democrat John Dingell has never been more evident than the display at Ruby Ridge and Waco, yet media sympathies lie with the “thugs,” rather than with the liberty of those citizens targeted by the federal thugs.
If mainstream media would spend more time defending liberty, rather than promoting left-wing politicians, the general public would feel more comfortable with “their” government. Lowell J. Torkelson Walla Walla
CHILD CARE
Getting quality is up to parents
While the horror of inadequate child care is a serious concern that shouldn’t be minimized in any way, I believe recognition should also be given to those unsung heroes who provide quality care for our children.
I have the great fortune of having my daughter in a private day care home where the primary provider has a teaching degree, special education credentials and extensive experience in the field of early childhood education. Above and beyond her accreditation, she also has a genuine love and talent for relating to young children.
This woman,could work in any school district or educational institution in the state with a comfortable paycheck, prime benefit package and a nine-month schedule. Instead, she is following her heart by providing quality child care in her home, sacrificing higher wages, personal privacy, paid holidays or vacations, overtime pay and the enjoyment of professional status. Unfortunately, in a society that measures quality of life and self-worth in terms of economic gain, we offer little incentives to those trained and skilled in the care of young children. Perhaps we place too little value on our children and those who care for them in our absence.
I don’t know what the political or economic solution is to our day care dilemma, but I do know that parents are ultimately responsible for monitoring the quality of their child’s care. When parents are diligent enough to locate a competent and loving provider, every effort must be undertaken to support them, financially, politically and emotionally. Carol Glenn Spokane
Story, report had single focus
Concerning the July 3 article, “Inspections find scary day Care.” It is important to note that this article was written in response to a statewide child care safety and health review.
The review was done to see how child care is being run and what the needs of child care are. This review was done on a small number of day cares and does not reflect on every licensed home or center in the state. Most of these facilities had some form of a prior complaint. This article did not set out to show problem areas as well as quality child care. It set out to show the results of this one review.
A positive aspect of this review is that it shows that that parents, providers, business and the community at large need to become involved with child care. Child care has many needs and as providers we have very few resources to draw from. Businesses should help their employees pay for child care. Providers need grants to pay for an assistant and supplies donated for art projects etc.
The loving, caring, providers are in place. If we all work together, we can make child care across this state a warm, safe place for all children.
There are many day cares across this state that meet every requirement and they should be recognized. Shannon Selland Spokane
OTHER TOPICS
Skip fads and teach what works
As (syndicated columnist) George Will writes, “Why is it common for high school graduates to be functionally illiterate, uncertain when reading and incapable of writing even a moderately complicated paragraph?” (Roundtable, July 3).
Maybe one reason is because many curriculums, such as the one utilized by Coeur d’Alene Schools, deemphasize phonics as the approach to teach reading in favor of the inferior whole language approach. Empirical research by the National Right to Read Foundation found that children taught using intensive, systematic phonics can read and understand at least 24,000 words by the end of fourth grade, as opposed to just 1,550 words for those taught by the whole language method.
Maybe another reason is because in writing the “process” has become more important than content. Teaching spelling, style, and grammar is often thought of as archaic by the current establishment.
Educators often blame the failure of schools on a changing social mixture of students. In reality, test scores decline at the top, not because there are more low scores averaged in.
When all else fails, they blame a lack of money. Perpupil expenditures rose 56 percent in real terms from 1970-1990. During this same period, test scores declined dramatically. Our schools are turning out some of the most expensive incompetents anywhere.
Illiteracy affects the kind of world our children will grow up in. Educators need to teach what works, not new, unproven academic fads that will breed disaster. Susan MacRae Hayden Lake
Show NW compassion, help family
A challenge is now presented to the citizens of the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene area.
Dawn Driscoll, mother of three, was almost killed by a runaway boat at Lake Coeur d’Alene. She was an innocent victim. She and her fine family seem to have been plagued with bad luck lately. These strike me as good, honest people - the type who are the heart of the fabric of the United States.
The people in this area can now show their “colors” by exhibiting what we are made of. Funds can be set up for donations, others can hold fund-raisers to earn money to help them. No doubt an employer can be found who can hire this fine, young family man.
Let’s all dig in! Quality people helping people of quality. Lester L. Smith Spokane