Letters To The Editor
IDAHO VIEWPOINTS
Gambling rightly condemned
Opinion editor John Webster’s Dec. 25 editorial, “Casino is not a wise gamble,” was excellent.
This entire nation seems to be sliding down a path toward universal legalized gambling. The only economic benefits come from transferring money from one person to another. In most cases, the ones who pay can afford this transfer the least.
The deleterious effects of gambling are well documented and unmistakable: family instability, increased crime, poverty and higher costs for government.
I appreciated this informed and timely editorial. Gov. Philip E. Batt Boise
Taxpayers want a cut, not a shift
Idaho’s first shopping tax (others call it a sales tax, but I shop and they tax me; therefore, I call it a shopping tax) came around 30 years ago and was 3 percent.
Then, because we were told more money was needed for schools, it went to 4 percent. And then, a temporary problem required a temporary increase to 5 percent. Now, I hear our new Republican legislators are thinking of reducing our property taxes - yeah! - by raising the shopping tax over 20 percent. Boo!
This is not a good idea. As a housewife who has supported almost every Republican in office today, I believe that this very un-Republican idea will dramatically increase the so-called gender gap and cause an enormous credibility gap for those now in office.
Women in general, and wives and mothers in particular, want to keep more of their own money. We are not just paying too much in property taxes, we are paying too much in income taxes and in the current shopping tax.
The argument that taxpayers must somehow pay for their own tax cut sinks under its own weight. What I have said, and what I believe most voters have said, is to cut taxes and spending, not shift taxes and spend more.
If there is more spending to be done with my money, I’ll do it. I can shop better for my family than the government. Violet Morgan Post Falls
BUSINESS AND LABOR
US West leaves customers in lurch
The ice storm of Nov. 19 was really something to behold. The Washington Water Power Co. crews are to be congratulated on the way they worked.
However, I have a brother-in-law who lives in the Garden Springs area of Spokane who has been without a phone since Nov. 19.
Calls to US West were something of a joke. They kept promising “by 11 o’clock tomorrow night.” We just kind of neglected to nail them down on which night. Here it is, Dec. 26, and they still have no operable phone.
This man is disabled and his wife works. If he gets in a bind he can’t even call out for help. At the end of the street lives a young man who is paralyzed from the neck down. He is bedridden and has to be transported in a wheelchair.
These people should have been provided a cellular phone as soon as the phone service went out.
If any other phone company ever comes in and offers any kind of competition to US West, everyone should try it. US West corporate headquarters are located in Phoenix, Kalamazoo or somewhere, so it can’t see the problem.
Had this happened to a big business instead of a lowincome community there wouldn’t have been a problem. They would have had phone service in a very short time, even if it had been a major line failure. Ted Theodore Medical Lake
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
Black, yes; African American, no
Regarding “black English” as a second language, I believe that again it is time to unite, rather than point fingers and divide.
I am of the black race. I do not want my grandchildren growing up using such language as “He be going to work.” If black students are kept back because they are poor achievers, then teaching them bad or incorrect grammar is not the correct way to make achievers out of them.
Whatever language the black man now speaks was first taught by plantation owners and whatever race that shipped blacks to this country. If the blame was on the white race it is now our problem to see that our race now uses the correct language.
I wish someone would clear up why we now hold the title of African American. I was born in his country. I am not African American. I am an American.
Fifty-seven years ago, I was called colored or Negro. Twenty years later I became black. Thirty years from that time I am now African American.
I just want to be an American. James E. Williams Sr. Wellpinit, Wash.
Being gay a matter of choice
I am constantly amazed at the pro-gay and lesbian editorials and letters to the editor which try to portray anyone who finds their behavior immoral as hateful and intolerant, and then try to use the life and words of Jesus Christ to justify it.
Recently, I received an issue of the Washington Family Council’s Community Impact Bulletin in which an article told how a former homosexual with AIDS had become a Christian. He said he was labeled a “hatemonger, a rightwing extremist and a bigot.” His life-changing story was carried on three Bellingham radio stations until several pro-gay and lesbian organizations pressured the radio stations enough to take them off the air.
Where is their tolerance and what are they so afraid of? That people might hear the truth that this lifestyle is not genetic, that it is a lifestyle choice? Others have left this lifestyle but you won’t hear about them from psychologists or the liberal press.
As for their using Jesus’ words and life, even Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, “From now on, sin no more” and made a reference to Sodom and Gomorrah; they were destroyed for their immorality, including homosexuality.
As for homosexual marriages, what’s next? Pedophile marriages, incestuous marriages, etc.? It’s sad enough that AT&T, MCI and Sprint are supporting pro-gay causes.
Yes, Jesus loves homosexuals, but he doesn’t want them to remain as such. Wake up, America. Our judgment is coming soon. Byron Scott East Wenatchee
No defense for homosexuality
While Jini Wolski’s letter (“Homosexuals don’t belong,” Dec. 15) was a somewhat harsh attack on homosexuals, I feel the letters by Lee Wolfand and Lisa De Freitas (Dec. 19) were misrepresentations of Jesus.
By the content of these two letters, one can safely deduce that neither writer has a personal knowledge of Jesus. As a Christian myself, I would like to clarify a few things.
First, while Jesus is the author of peace, he came to divide sin and righteousness (Matt. 10:34-35). He also commanded his disciples to judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24).
Furthermore, the act of homosexuality is not love; it is sin (Lev. 20:13, Rom 1:26-27).
While God loves each and every homosexual as much as he loves his own son, his desire is that they turn away from their sin and turn to God.
The only way to achieve true peace is for all of us to repent of our sins and turn to God. This includes the sins of apathy and ignorant acceptance of unrighteousness. Kayla Schuler Spokane
Too quick with a first stone
In Hal Robinson’s Dec. 24 letter, “It’s not about love but Jesus’ will,” he accuses two people of not understanding the Bible in reference to their views on homosexuality. However, it is quite clear that Robinson’s understanding of the Bible is severely impaired.
He begins his letter by saying, “Jesus plainly states,” and then quotes Leviticus. Excuse me; Jesus’ teachings are not found in Leviticus but in the New Testament. Jesus actually never said anything about homosexuality, which is quite amazing, given the importance many Christians attach to this issue.
However, Christ did say quite a bit about love, kindness toward others, forgiveness and not being judgmental; in addition to denouncing spiritual arrogance, pride and hatred. Perhaps Robinson needs to re-read Romans 3:23, which states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Homosexuality is a sin among a host of sins. If homosexuals accept Christ as lord and saviour, they will become Christian just like anybody else.
It will be a great day when we get past this insane hatred of homosexuals and realize that they are ordinary people, just like us, in need of God’s love and grace.
So, Robinson, put on some spiritual humility and realize that you, too, are a sinner, just like everyone else. Bruce Evans Spokane
BELIEFS
Don’t belittle turn toward Christ
Re: Doug Clark’s column, “Lengthy jail term brings out old-time religion.”
I don’t condone drunk driving, nor am I defending James Barstad. Indeed, we should severely punish those convicted of such crimes. But I find myself greatly moved to speak about Clark’s shameless attack on Christian conversion.
For Clark to sit on the throne of God and judge who has or hasn’t accepted Christ as his savior is the most nauseating thing I’ve seen in a long time. I feel that he speaks of things he has no real knowledge of.
I’ve been a minister at the Spokane County Jail for over eight years and I’ve seen many people come to the Lord there. I have seen people whose lives have been changed forever by Jesus Christ.
Just because they come at a time when are they facing a lengthy jail term is no measure of their sincerity, for it has been the pattern of men throughout history to finally seek the Lord at the lowest moments of their lives - the loss of a loved one, divorce, terminal illness. A lengthy jail sentence is no exception.
It’s at times like these that we finally come to the conclusion that we need Jesus and seek the comfort of his love.
Clark, as you pointed out, a Christian should be Christlike. Do you think your column was Christ-like?
Instead of laughing at anyone’s misfortune, let’s pray for Barstad, his family and the families of his victims. Let’s pray that, in the midst of such great sorrow, they all discover the solace only Jesus can give. Marlon Jamison Rockford, Wash.
People often quote chapter and worse
I am responding to Hal Robinson’s letter, “It’s not about love but Jesus’ will,” (Dec. 24), in which he says “Jesus plainly states from Leviticus.”
It’s very hard for Jesus to have plainly stated in that chapter since he wasn’t even born yet. So Robinson may be accusing people of not reading the Bible, but I’m a little concerned that maybe he wasn’t reading it either.
This is where all the misinterpretation comes from and why nobody really understands the Bible. People are so quick to quote it without really saying anything directly right. Lori Belnap Spokane