Letters To The Editor
SPOKANE MATTERS
‘Extremist’ ploy won’t work
My opponent, George Marlton, who is also running for county commissioner, was quoted in The SpokesmanReview as saying he (Roskelley) “tends to be more of an environmentalist than I am.” Further, he said “I tend to be more of the center because I’m not the extreme.”
This statement infers I am an extremist. I wish to clarify my position with regard to the environment.
If an environmentalist is a person who cares about our quality of life, wants a comprehensive plan for growth, feels that clean air and water are vital to our community, will strive for government accountability and good service, then I’m proud to be counted as an environmentalist. It’s just common sense and good business to protect our homes and way of life.
Egghead Software, an internationally known vendor of software, recently announced that its corporate headquarters would be moved from Issaquah to Spokane. Officers of the corporation said that one of the primary reasons why the company will be moved here is because they want our quality of life for their employees. Businesses and citizens benefit from intelligent and wise land use planning.
Labeling a candidate “extreme” is simply a political strategy employed by politicians to try to discredit their opposition. I’ll let my integrity, community service, teamwork and global views speak for themselves. John Roskelley Spokane
THE MEDIA
Quit sensationalizing Internet
After watching a news program on July 19 about how easy it is for children to get into the erotic areas on the Internet, I have finally had it with the media always pointing out the worst and never the best of what is available online!
After the show, I went to the Internet and tried to get to the area they described. After 35 minutes online, it still denied me access to this area. If a child works that hard and finally gets in, then it’s the responsibility of the parents to learn about the Internet and control its use, just as they would a television program.
It’s easy to place the blame on something you don’t fully understand. The Internet is probably the newest frontier in education we’ll see in years to come. Through it you can visit universities around the globe, art galleries, the White House, Annapolis, NASA and SunSite, where you can go to any museum in the known universe.
Stop the bashing and begin to tell the public what’s really good about the Internet, and how they can get into these areas. David Mechals Spokane
Media whitewash some genocide
Judging from the lack of coverage as the 50th anniversary of the World War II defeat of Japan approaches, it looks like Japan’s WWII genocide, which killed an estimated 2 million, is going to be ignored by our liberal major media.
This politically correct media, which has inundated us with coverage of a white European Germany’s WWII genocide, is batting a thousand with it’s politically correct mantra, which blames the world’s problems on white Europeans or noncommunist governments, ignoring any and all atrocities by third world, nonwhite, and communist governments.
First, in this 20th anniversary year of the communists’ winning of the Vietnam War, it ignored the communist genocide that killed 2 million people. Now it’s ignoring the WWII Japanese genocide.
Before this liberal media is through, it will probably have, as the politically correct officials at the Smithsonian tried to do with the Enola Gay-Hiroshima exhibit, turned the Japanese into the victims of American aggression in WWII. In any case, this liberal whitewash insults the memory of all this century’s million of genocide victims, and the millions of Americans and others who have died opposing genocide, shows just how hypocritical, hollow and morally bankrupt the liberal community’s self-proclaimed concern for human rights really is.
This selective liberal concern for genocide and it’s victims is as odious as the actions of those who deny Hitler’s genocide took place. Brunton Larsson Anaconda, Mont.
LAW AND JUSTICE
Homicide: Simple justice will do
I agree with D.F. Oliveria’s July 15 editorial, “Justice from law, not from passion.” Ken Arrasmith should be tried for shooting Ron and Luella Bingham for raping his daughter.
If the events regarding the rape were as reported, the court scenario should be as follows: The judge would ask Mr. Arrasmith, Did you shoot the Binghams, as charged, for raping your daughter?
Mr. Arrasmith would say, Yes, your honor, I did.
Then the judge would say, In retrospect, do you regret the way you handled the problem?
Mr. Arrasmith would say, Yes, your honor, and I apologize. I’ll never do this again.
The judge would answer, In that case, I find you guilty of justifiable homicide, and sentence you to write “I will not shoot people who rape my daughter in the future” 100 times and bring the promise to my clerk within a week. Since you’ve apologized for your actions, I in turn, apologize to you on behalf of the judges who let the Binghams go on previous occasions, thus creating the problem. You’re free to go.
Such a solution will save the taxpayers countless dollars and will simultaneously serve justice, right in a court of law. Claude E. Parker Priest Lake, Idaho
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Best government big money can buy
Apparently, State Rep. Todd Mielke, R-Spokane, isn’t the only Republican allowing lobbyists to draft their own legislation, as per his health insurance bill last session.
The Washington (D.C.) Monthly’s latest issue cites several very disturbing cases involving Sens. Slade Gorton, Bob Dole and Rep. Bud Schuster (R-Pa.). It states, “Gorton was as eager as a 6-year-old boy with a new toy” to get his Endangered Species Act (reform bill) introduced in the senate, “Just as soon as the coalition has a better than adequate understanding of it’s provisions.”
The coalition is a group of major paper and timber industry lobbyists who contribute heavily to Gorton’s campaigns.
Schuster, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman, ignored committee Democrats in writing proposed new clean water legislation (concerning wetlands pollution). He instead convened a group of industry polluters of wetlands to draft the legislation that affected them. When Democrats demanded to see a copy of “their committee’s” legislation, Schuster inadvertently faxed them a copy still on the fax paper of one of the firms lobbying against restrictions!
Even Dole’s lobbyist friend C. Boyden Gray drafted Dole’s bill, which makes it extremely difficult for the public to protest industry Clean Water Act violation. As per the above, it’s apparent the new majority party is openly targeting well-funded interests and giving them the license to rewrite our laws, which can directly boost their bottom line.
The GOP calls it “citizen involvement” and their chests swell with pride - their campaign chests, that is! Andy Kelly Spokane
Chenoweth, Craig sicken me
I have been a Republican for as long as I can remember. I came of age during the 80’s, worked on Ronald Regan’s 1984 reelection effort and George Bush’s 1988 campaign.
For the fist time in two decades, I am embarassed to be a Republican, and it’s because of Rep. Helen Chenoweth and Sen. Larry Craig, both of Idaho.
Chenoweth and Craig’s relentless attacks on law enforcement agencies make me ill. I remember when the Republican Party was the pro-law enforcement party, and Democrats constantly pushed for more rights for criminal defendants. What happened?
Chenoweth and Craig are leading the fight for low-life Randy Weaver, who caused the death of two of his own family members and of a police officer. When an obviously guilty person like Randy Weaver can retain a slick lawyer and get off, it demonstrates a need for reform in the criminal justice system.
Why don’t Chenoweth and Craig push for those reforms, instead of criticizing public safety officials? Michael Johnson Spokane
Minimum wage shouldn’t exist
In reference to “Boost minimum wage? Right on”(Letters, July 18):
The writer said, “The Clinton administration wants to raise the minimum wage by a piddling 90 cents. That’s ridiculous.”
Yes, that is ridiculous. It’s ridiculous our federal government should be able to set wages in any segment of the free market system in this country at all. Government’s business is to govern, and business’ business is to run businesses, via competition.
Why stop at even $8.50 per hour? Even that pay can’t begin to meet the ordinary expenses of the cost of living today. Let’s just mandate all employees be required to start out at $35,000 per year.
The naive liberal-minded notion that welfare simply be transferred by the middle class to the working poor via McDonald’s and such, instead of through a government check, should be educated out of the hearts and minds of our people. Dennis Marx Spokane
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
Skin deep is just not deep enough
Let’s end this debate with a wake up call for society to stop focusing on appearances.
Pocahontas, it is true, you are no role model. You are my goddess, my liberator. Let’s disregard your beautiful, animated, physical traits and imagine how you might look in today’s violence-idolizing, cyberspace-infatuated society. You might be called an outdated hippie for your love of nature. You might be called dreamy and unrealistic for your desire to love. But one thing is certain; you wouldn’t be able to wear todays fashions without being called a slut.
Why is your choice of clothing so limited? Because you have a beautiful body and society wouldn’t be able to see beyond your curves. Currently, their “politically correct” voices call you unreal. Why? It can’t be your curves. I’m among the minority of oppressed women who have similar curves.
Is it because Disney gave you the freedom to wear a curve-accentuating dress without it being the focus of attention? Yes, now that is unreal.
If people could look beyond appearances, I, too, might be able to wear a tank top in the summer without being ogled by men or scowled at by women. These people will never know the magic behind my smile.
Your appearance is very real. As long as people in today’s society continue to disagree, I can’t be liberated. What does my infant son see when he sees another woman with large motherly breasts, round post-baby hips and an athletic waist? Not an object of sexual fantasy. He smiles and flaps his arms as if to say, “You resemble my mama, the woman who taught me how to laugh.” Nakita Fleurant Spokane
Hold the dolls; we have role models
I haven’t seen “Pocahontas” or read Nathan Mauger’s review, but I did read Michelle Ostlie’s letter to the editor. Does she know what she’s saying?
She stated, “Too bad Native American children can’t have a role model to choose from. I guess they better stick with their Barbie dolls.”
I can personally introduce you to many excellent role models for our Indian children, including: traditional dancers, storytellers, drummers and singers, educators, engineers, accountants, mental health professionals, EMTs, firemen, students and business owners. These are all good, decent, hard-working people, and they’re just members of my family.
My 12-year-old daughter is also a good role model. She could help you with issues like respect and stereotyping. Michelle, I can assure you Indian children have many role models to choose from and I think you owe me, my family and the Indian community of Spokane an apology. Leslie Arnoux Spokane
Fornication is a sin
My letter is in response to Michael Gurian’s column of July 13 (“Don’t let dogma block your feelings”).
In his column, Mr. Gurian tells Frank of Spokane that he shouldn’t choose to be sexually abstinent based on unexamined dogma. Therefore, I suggest Frank and Mr. Gurian read and examine, for themselves, what the Bible has to say about “sexual immortality.” A good place to start might be 1 Corinthians, chapters 5 and 6.
Frank might also ask the men in his group to suggest some scriptures they can read together on this matter. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
Finally, I pray Frank will realize that “fornication” is indeed a sin, and he will ask Jesus Christ to help him overcome this sin. Kevin McMulkin Spokane