Letters To The Editor

ICE STORM ‘96

Utility can’t be fully disaster proof

Jack Tritt (“WWP mismanagement shows,” Letters, Nov. 30) says that the administration of Washington Water Power was slow to react and unprepared for the ice storm. To my knowledge, this is the first storm of this type to hit the Inland Northwest. Asking WWP to predict and allow for such an occurrence is like telling people in Omaha, Neb., to predict and allow for the next major earthquake that will strike their area. It is not economically feasible to ask companies to draft plans to deal with disasters that occur only every 100 years.

He also suggests protecting power lines from trees and branches that could damage them and putting power lines underground. But those measures seem impractical at best. Not only would underground lines run the risk of being dug up, as phone lines often are, but would pose the risk of electrocuting whoever unearthed them.

I am not sure how to protect lines from falling trees, other than by cutting all the trees down within 100 feet of them. Obviously, this could not be done since the easement is not wide enough.

I think WWP and its employees have done an excellent job in dealing with an unexpected situation and restoring power to customers. They deserve our gratitude, not our complaints. Ed Stowe Coeur d’Alene

WWP critic went overboard

The venomous attack on Washington Water Power Co. in M.C. Morrison’s guest column sounds like it comes from someone who still thinks milk comes from a carton.

We live in a mountainous area that’s subject to severe weather. To think our service providers can plan for every disaster, no matter what the magnitude, borders on hysteria.

I have lived in the intermountain area all my adult life, including some time in eastern Montana, and I’ve never seen a storm as bad as the one that struck Spokane. Service providers in that area aren’t as well equipped as the one in Spokane. So the people, knowing they are subject to severe weather, take a little more time preparing for winter.

Is it possible that Morrison failed to take a little personal responsibility to provide something for an emergency?

I’m sure there are going to be some regulations, such as requiring property owners to cut trees that could interfere with service lines (as on the West Coast), but that will be good. It’s their responsibility. Underground services are being put in in new construction and some remodeled areas.

The time without power was very trying for all of us, no matter if you had power or not.

So, Morrison, thank the Lord you still have your health, and let WWP analyze where the problems happened. Be thankful for what all of the service providers did for this community under such trying times. Stephen R. Vance Veradale

So, if there’s a next time …

A few reflections on our recent loss of power:

At first, it was something of an adventure. But later on, as I squatted in front of the fireplace roasting a piece of meat on my spear point, muttering an occasional “Ug” and trying to suppress an almost irresistible urge to draw primitive pictures of animals on the walls, it occurred to me that I could have been better prepared.

I think that in the future I will occasionally designate a weekend for no power, and practice. Leon R. Mayer Spokane

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Job choice, not gender, is key

In the “Low women-to-men pay ratio” article of Nov. 26, women’s scholar Heidi Hartmann comments that in Washington state, as well as in Idaho and Oregon, the average full-time earnings of women is less than 70 percent of the average full-time earnings of men, indicating that this is a problem that needs to be addressed.

The problem with such averages is that they have no real significance at all, except to create the impression of a crisis where no crisis exists.

For these figures to mean anything, women’s-to-men’s wages would have to be compared on a vocation-tovocation, education-to-education, company-to-company basis. For example, more men than women choose to enter such high-paying fields as engineering, while a high percentage of women opt for lower-paying fields, such as teaching. On the average, engineering jobs will pay considerably more than teaching positions.

The disparity between the average yearly incomes of men and women comes from a choice of vocation, not some gender-based inequity. If you choose a lower-paying field, you will earn less, whether you’re a man or a woman.

As more women make the choice for higher-paying careers, the difference between their earnings and men’s will be less and less. It’s their choice, simple as that. Charles Hermann Sagle

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

Vote result mischaracterized

Re: staff writer Fenton Roskelley’s “Passage of Initiative 655 leaves hunters up a tree,” Nov. 13; and Don Clower’s Letter “Defeat of Proposition 2 appreciated,” Nov. 22.

Roskelley and Clower missed the whole point. Idaho bears lost the chance to a fair hunt thanks to a small group of unfair hunters armed with two powerful weapons: money and lies.

The Sportsmen Heritage Defense Fund absolutely refused to discuss the real issue: Why is Idaho the only state in the lower 48 that has to manage bear population using dogs, bait and spring hunts?

The facts:

193,563 Idahoans voted for it.

The Fish and Game Commission is composed of seven members, not one of whom is a scientist of any sort. All are political appointees whose primary qualification is that they be approved by the hunting lobby for unfair practices to benefit their individual interests, like those of hunting outfitters that sell bear hunts 300 percent guaranteed. Sweet deal!

This situation is the primary reason so many wildlife management initiatives have been put forward and passed in recent years. Even Alaska passed one to stop the shooting of wolves from airplanes.

Idaho remains pinched in between Oregon, Washington and Montana as the Neanderthal state that continues to allow such primitive and unethical practices.

Proposition 2’s failure doesn’t mean 60 percent of Idahoans approved of business-as-usual bear hunting. Many voted no so the commission can make needed changes.

Now, we expect the commission will listen to all of us, not just to a small minority of unsportsmanlike hunters who do not have exclusive ownership rights to the bears. Cecilia Nolthenious Coeur d’Alene

Gangs, war come from spiritual ills

I wouldn’t categorize myself as an opponent of hunting because I have no problem with hunters, at least ones who respect the sacred dimension of the hunter and the animal hunted.

I do question the idea that the diversion and/or neglect of male instincts has resulted in gangs and their social system of initiation and order.

In many cultures throughout the world, the role of males is vastly different than it is in Western civilization. In some cultures, the gender roles are almost completely reversed. This suggests that gender roles have a lot to do with social values and slightly less to do with inherent, biological values.

Warfare and gangs are a result of the spiritual imbalance of the human race, not the neglect of the male ego.

Their are many cases throughout history of psychologically and spiritually healthy individuals who choose not to eat meat. Buddhists practice what is called “ahimsa” or nonviolence.

I don’t think this is because they neglect or divert their masculinity. I think it is because they simply don’t desire to eat meat. Charles M. Miller Coeur d’Alene

Picture showed wrong kind of shopper

I would like to know what the paper was thinking when it printed a photograph of a woman with an Aryan Nations patch on her sleeve, purchasing a turkey dinner.

As a longtime Hayden Lake resident, I resent the implication these people are an accepted part of this community. They are not! Karen B. Leitner Hayden

OTHER TOPICS

Choking on a glut of attorneys

In response to the many letters concerning grass burning, I think our civilization is in considerably more jeopardy from the many (not all) attorneys who seem to dominate our way of life than from the grass burners.

The United States has about 5 percent of the world’s population, yet it has about 80 percent of the world’s attorneys. One can easily see how we are on our way to destruction by litigation, the fate of the other great democracy, Greece.

We should not fear a little smoke. The movement against grass burning will not stop there. When the antiburners get their way, we will not be able to burn slash or be allowed to burn wood in our own stoves. The attorneys will then have to bring suit against the county and state, should a forest fire develop.

We do not have three branches of government for checks and balances any more. We have a government by attorneys, for attorneys.

Have we digressed to a point in this society where we can blame everything that happens to us on something or someone else? When one finds the area one lives in a detriment to a family member’s health, perhaps a move to an area with less pollen, dust and smoke is in order. Many choose Arizona. Gary Tucker Oldtown

Clinton and his kind are no good

Re: “Whipping boy mentality of little help,” Letters, Nov. 15.

With her allegation, “Clinton is a representative of his age,” Joan Harman managed to smear an entire generation as being as totally unprincipled and fundamentally immoral as Clinton.

In no way is the vast majority of that generation as devoid of character, indolent, dilatory and libidinous as he; nor is it as craven.

The only part of that age Clinton represents are the 1960s misfits - the pot-smoking, cocaine-sniffing faction and gutless draft dodgers. To profane, as Harman does, that majority of dedicated, hard-working and family oriented people by comparing it to someone who has only slopped at the public through is an insult.

Clinton was elected to a second term by those he represents. They’re representative of nothing but a paucity of intellect. Charles C. Starr Coeur d’Alene

GIVING THANKS

Help for Humane Society gratifying

The Spokane Humane Society wishes to thank the businesses and individuals who joined hands to help us care for the critters of Ice Storm ‘96.

Our shelter lost its power the first day. It was pretty traumatic for a few hours, trying to figure out how to keep our huge animal population warm. At that time, we housed over 200 dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and a pot bellied pig.

Our sincere thanks to Washington Water Power for getting us back on line as quickly as it did.

Since the ice storm began, we have taken in over 60 animals for shelter and care. We set no preconditions and asked no fees. As a Humane Society, we could do no less.

The Humane Society of the United States contacted me after hearing of Spokane’s plight, and contacted pet store chains for us. We thank both Petsmart and Petco for their generous donations. We also thank Northwest Seed and Pet, which is always there in the front row of support for us.

We’re also grateful to the many people who brought in food, blankets and money. Your caring has served us well in the past and superbly now. Dona M. Van Gelder, interim director Spokane Humane Society

Thanks to all who helped Red Cross

On behalf of the Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross, I thank several members of our community who assisted us as we provided service during Ice Storm ‘96.

To the Seventh-day Adventist Church for generously and cheerfully allowing us to use its facilities as a shelter. To the many restaurants and food stores that donated food and meals to victims. To Washington Water Power Co., Lamonts and the individuals who made financial contributions to the chapter to help defray our expenses. To the many people who called and offered help. Many thanks to all of you for your wonderful support.

Last but not least, thanks to our own Red Cross volunteers whose around-the-clock efforts again demonstrated that when help can’t wait, they’ll be there to make a difference! Carol A. Hall, manager American Red Cross, Coeur d’Alene

Hug, humor, spirituality helped

Thanks to the woman who hugged me on Ice Storm Tuesday, after a pine tree crashed down in front of my moving car on Rockwood Boulevard. Her hug eased my shakes and terror on the drive home.

I’m also grateful for two policemen’s sense of humor and spirituality. The officer directing traffic around a downed power line told me, “Go buy a Lotto ticket!”

The other roared up behind the uprooted tree, lights flashing, walked through the branches to announce, “God has plans for you!”

Luck and providence; both were right. Keeping a cold, dark household going for six and a half days came from a grateful heart! Betty Pontarolo Spokane

Restaurateurs acted on Golden Rule

This letter is a public thank you to Bruce and Cheri Poole, proprietors of Papa Murphy’s Restaurant, 2522 E. 29th.

On the night of November 22nd, in the midst of Ice Storm ‘96, our car malfunctioned. My three children and I, after walking several blocks, took refuge in the Pooles’ establishment. The children were quite cold and upset.

Bruce, Cheri and the whole Papa Murphy’s staff welcomed us in, provided us access to the phone to summon help, and provided caring concern and free sodas (they refused to accept payment) to help calm my children. Their actions were true expressions of the Golden Rule. Their willingness to help those in need is a testimony to themselves and a reaffirmation of the goodness of the people of Spokane. Robert Kerr Spokane

So many are deserving of thanks

I thank the Washington Water Power Company lineman, the power station engineers, for keeping our power stations operating.

I thank the Glover Middle School students for collecting food for the poor. After they collected the food, they took time to come back with big thank you notes to everyone who donated - these students are our future. I hope these students know they are wonderful. I hope they will stand tall and strong, and reach their goals.

I thank the Red Cross, the shelters and those who are caring for people who are in so much need. I thank Ziggy for keeping us supplied with Presto logs as did many other stores. I thank those who did their best to fill baskets for Thanksgiving and to fill food bank shelves.

I thank the TV stations and staff for collecting clothing, blankets and food for the hungry and cold. Vivian Hay Spokane

Thanks to friends, it wasn’t all bad

Many thanks to John and Ed for making the ice storm bearable. You opened your hearts, refrigerator, wine cellar, gourmet food and a warm place in front of the fire for me to sleep. Plus, we had a lot of laughs. Loretta Ryals Spokane