Letters To The Editor
HOOPFEST
Tournament a total slam-dunk
Once again, the Spokane community banded together for an unforgettable Hoopfest. This edition was the best yet. The Hoopfest organizing committee and volunteers are to be commended.
The finals at Center Court in the open division were exciting and competitive, but no more so that the fourth-graders on Riverside and Post.
As a player, I enjoyed the emphasis on clean play and witnessed more acts of sportsmanship this year than in previous years. I applaud the excellent court monitors who took an active interest in the games and kept them under control. This contributed to the success of the event.
My teammate, and son, perhaps captured the Hoopfest tradition best when he told me, “We lost, but is sure was fun!” Allan McEachern Spokane
Slovenliness mars event
After spending this past weekend watching family and friends participate in Hoopfest ‘95, I have decided to write this letter concerning those people (you know who you are) who cannot seem to locate a garbage container anywhere within their sight.
I am appalled by the vast amount of trash left by spectators and players. Sure, there were times the garbage containers were overflowing and there was no room left for more garbage. But I am talking about the morning hours when the containers were empty and there was still garbage everywhere you looked.
Ironically, most of the trash could be found within a few feet of a receptacle.
What kind of values do these people - both Spokane citizens and out-of-towners - teach their children? Is this the way they were raised?
Why can’t they walk a few more feet and dispose of their garbage properly? Just because there are volunteers to clean up, why don’t these people help out by taking care of what belongs to them? If everyone would do that, oh, what a cleaner world we’d have!
So, citizens of Spokane, let’s make Spokane our city to be proud of. And you tourists, stay home if you can’t learn to pick up after yourselves. Kathy Altieri Spokane
SAFETY FIRST
Kids’ welfare foremost concern
After reading Shirley Gardner and Susan Kelley’s letters in the June 23 issue, I feel very fortunate that my daughters go to two schools (Madison and Glover) that place a child’s safe arrival every morning as their top priority.
Gardner and Kelley are missing the point when they state it’s a parent’s responsibility to notify the school when a child is absent. Of course, we as responsible parents know that!
The point at issue is when we think our child is safely at school and something like the Rachel Carver incident occurs.
The couple of times I have been late notifying the schools that my daughters were ill, the secretaries at Madison and Glover were right on the phone calling me.
A child’s unexplained absence should be any school secretary’s main concern. After everyone is accounted for that day, then the secretary can move on to what she deems next in importance. Nadine Presta Spokane
Never underestimate river’s power
Last weekend at the Bowl and Pitcher, I witnessed a near tragedy.
Two young and inexperienced couples in light rafts were paddling the Spokane River. One couple made it to shore before the swift river rapids caught them. The other couple was not so lucky.
The girl was sitting on the bow of the raft, legs dangling over the edge. Neither was wearing life vests or helmets. As they went past the bridge and under my feet, they hit big rocks and got stuck in an eddy right near the shore, but still far enough away to not be able to get to shore.
They tried to pull themselves through and paddle, but the water’s force kept them in the same spot.
Off I went to the rangers to summon help. When I returned, the woman had fallen into to water, been sucked under and carried downstream. The man made it to shore. She luckily bobbed up again and was pulled ashore by rescuers.
When will people learn that the Spokane River, especially in early spring and summer, is a very powerful river? They should wear helmets and life vests whenever out on the river.
Nature usually doesn’t give second chances. This young couple is lucky to be alive. Mary Martin Spokane
MEDICAL ETHICS
Abortion hustlers rule
Re: the editorial, “Doctors shouldn’t have to kill to heal” (Opinion, June 21): With all the political correctness about discrimination on every side, I wonder whatever happened to discrimination against people who would be healers only and not killers of the unborn. Whatever happened to freedom of religion to regulate curriculum in accordance with one’s conscience?
If the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has its way, all Christian medical schools and Christian medical students will be forced to turn their backs on the core of their belief or give up the practice of medicine. One more freedom down the tubes. One more offense to the Constitution. Soon, it won’t be worth the paper it’s written on. What a shame.
Then, Planned Parenthood of Montana shows its true colors when it fights to keep girls and women from knowing alternatives to abortion or about the physical development of the baby. It is also fighting letting women have 24 hours to think about their decision. It’s kind of like buying a used car: Hurry up and do it or the sale is lost.
Abortion being a billion-dollar-plus business, I can clearly see why they don’t want anyone to have the time to rethink her decision. Carol Ann Lewis Liberty Lake
IN WASHINGTON STATE
Make culprit pay for tree damage
What a comedy of errors (except that it isn’t funny) the situation of the tree screen at Spalding Auto has become.
It’s unbelievable that the state Department of Transportation cut down about 60 beautiful, large Austrian pines planted by the state because it “thought” the trees were less than the legal 30 feet from the pavement. Why in the world didn’t anyone measure the distance before cutting down the trees?
Now, a company (presumably professionals) hired to spray weeds in the car lot also apparently sprayed the replacement poplars, which cost the state $15,000. Al Gilson, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, is monitoring the situation and may try to replace the trees, although he feels the soil under them may be ruined “forever” by the poison.
No, Mr. Gilson. The soil can be removed and replaced, if necessary, and this should not be done at taxpayers’ expense. As Max Spalding stated, he has asked the company that sprayed the herbicide to do whatever else it takes to bring back the trees. If necessary, that company can remove the soil and plant large new trees in their place, at no cost to the taxpayers.
Also, since Spalding is conducting a business which is unsightly to passers-by, he should have been required to plant the protective tree screen in the first place, rather than the taxpayers having to foot the bill - TWICE! Phyllis J. Brooks Spokane
Criticisms just biased carping
Business columnist Frank Bartel trashed the Washington state Legislature in his column on June 25.
Bartel, who in the past has raved over Clinton’s socialized medicine plan, was hard on this year’s reactionary legislation. Bartel specifically blames Republicans, although 50 percent of our Legislature is controlled by Democrats and our governor is a liberal Democrat.
What’s the Republicans’ sin?
The legislation passed this session is favorable to business. About 95 percent of us are employed by a business or own one. It kind of makes sense that if it helps business and the economy, it might be fine for the rest of us, too.
In his zeal to discredit the Republicans, Bartel makes two contradictory statements. First, he says “due to the intransigence of right-winger hard-liners, no action was taken on welfare reform. Zilch.” Then, toward the end of his diatribe, he says, “It doesn’t take a liberal to question the benefit to society or to taxpayers of curtailing welfare for the poor on one hand but continuing corporate subsidies on the other, while enacting tax breaks for the upper crust.”
Huh? You want them to take the rap for no action and for making substantial cuts as well?
Bartel (and many others in the media) say an excess of right-wing enthusiasm could bring down last year’s electoral revolution. Maybe, but more likely it will be leftwing media lies like the ones he’s peddling. Look for more and bigger ones as we get to 1996. It’s their only hope and they know it. Hal Dixon Spokane
RELIGION
Founders not anti-Christian
Re: “Founding Fathers not exactly devout,” (Letters, May 25): S.S. Howze is greatly misinformed. Our forefathers admired Christian beliefs as fundamental to our nation.
In the John Adams quote, “This world would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it,” shows the author is wrong or John Adams was a hypocrite. Why else would Adams write to his son, saying, “You are accountable to your maker for all your words and actions,” if he didn’t respect Christian beliefs.
Thomas Jefferson described the First Amendment as “a wall of separation between church and state,” which was understood to be beneficial to the church, keeping the state out of it’s affairs. The Declaration of Independence, does not mention Christianity, but rather “Creator” and “nature’s God.” The quote used in The Declaration, “The laws of nature and of nature’s God,” was formerly used by John Locke and Blackstone. They had declared their respect and admiration for Christianity.
True, our Constitution does not mention God or Christianity. This is solely to establish separation of civil government and church government. Some of our Founding Fathers didn’t label themselves Christian, but understood that no other religion brings liberty, character and self-government.
It’s also interesting to know that the Ten Commandments are engraved upon the walls of the Supreme Court, establishing that our forefathers were devout. Joseph Kuykendall Colville, Wash.
Lear made fine spiritual speaker
I’d like to add to (staff writer) Kelly McBride’s coverage of Norman Lear’s address to the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly the things that seemed most important to me.
Lear cited de Tocqueville’s assessment of the fall of Rome, that it was not from an attack from without but by a “leaching away of meaning and a loss of faith … a barbarization from within.” He noted that business has replaced the church as the defining institution of our faith and values. We’ve largely accepted the notion that “we are what we consume.”
In this context, only that which can be qualified is reckoned to have worth. His characterization of “one of the little guys,” his Everyman, illustrated this idea succinctly: “Last year, we even tried Amway - like joinin’ the congregation and makin’ a buck at the same time.”
But Lear also offered a message of hope. We share an original gift for pondering the universe we live in, a capacity for awe at the wonder of creation. He demonstrated the credentials - which he claimed he lacked - for speaking on spirituality by speaking to us from his heart, speaking of the technique he has found with the help of this gift. And that is to recognize the divine spark within other people at first sight. Thomas Von Alten Boise
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
Bigotry, homophobia not God’s work
I’ve had enough and cannot take it any longer. I’m getting sick and tired of people like Steve Tanner (“Only heterosexuals are acceptable,” letters, June 26) who hide behind religion to justify their hateful and bigoted beliefs.
These homophobes use “God’s word” and the Bible in ways enabling them to persecute people who are different from themselves.
People like Mr. Tanner twist and distort such things as the Bible in ways to fit their own little scheme as to the way things should be in the world.
Their narrow-mindedness causes them to be hateful and intolerant of others, and thus allows them to use religion as a tool in order to justify their beliefs.
Mr. Tanner used God as he wrote about our forefathers, who “left us with a heritage of freedom founded upon the laws of God.” Our forefathers left us with a country that utilized slavery and didn’t allow women the right to vote. How great is that?
My God does not want me to practice slavery or repression. My God does not promote hatred toward minority groups.
The type of belief system held by Mr. Tanner is both archaic and hateful. Homosexuals aren’t causing America to lose its greatness. Homophobes like Mr. Tanner are causing America to lose its greatness. Shawn Wash Spokane
Even a right to display ignorance
Concerning the letter by Steve Tanner (“Only heterosexuals are acceptable,” June 26): I have never read a letter by a more ignorant man in my life (although it was well-written).
Living with a disability all my life, I know what discrimination feels like. If you want to have a parade for Bigots of America or Ignorant and Proud, you may. That is your right, just as the people participating in the Gay Pride March exercised their right.
You base a lot of your argument on the thoughts of our forefathers. Well, they believed in slavery. I guess you must think that was a great institution, too.
The reason America is great is because its people have freedom of expression. You don’t have to agree, but at least let people speak their mind.
You had your chance - let them have theirs. Jay Minnerly Spokane
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Insurance safeguards are needed
While Congress debates enacting dramatic Medicare changes, the system is already undergoing quite a transformation. Private insurance systems are actively recruiting seniors to join new managed Medicare programs, and seniors are signing up in droves.
What’s problematic is that many plans fervently relay the positive aspects of managed Medicare - zero premiums or better drug coverage, attractive to anyone on a fixed budget. But they often skim over how the policy differs from the benefits seniors now receive.
As a result, many patients who are new to managed Medicare ask, “I have just signed up for this great new program. Can you explain it to me?” Their confusion sometimes turns from surprise to anger once they understand the details.
Traditional Medicare allows direct access to physicians and services, which, of course, is one of the reasons for its rapidly rising costs. Managed care’s primary goal is to control patient use of services, and therefore, costs. While this is laudable, it makes a real difference for seniors. Most have established relationships with multiple physicians who care for diverse health problems. Limitations unknowingly placed on care can be disruptive and frustrating.
Recognizing the impact of a widening information gap, several Democrats in Congress recently introduced legislation that would set rules for marketing and sale of managed Medicare policies.
Given Congress’ wish to control Medicare costs, we know there will be growing incentives for managed Medicare. At the same time, let’s make sure there are adequate protections for patients. George Rice Spokane
Paper plays to headline skimmers
Accustomed as I am to the liberal slant on the news, I was nevertheless amused to note the headline of June 24, “GOP tax plan doesn’t mean tax cuts.”
The article goes on to explain that it really will mean tax cuts, except if people at the state and local level want those governments to tax them for feeding the growth of services and daily interference in our lives.
You have no doubt discovered the fact that many people read only the headline of an article - the facts can be hidden farther down.
Even for The Spokesman-Review, this reaches a new low in your efforts to convince readers that the Republicans want to starve your kids and abandon your grandmother. Allen Larson Spokane