Letters To The Editor

RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AD

Society means help in any language

In response to M.D. Stewart’s letter about Saint Vincent de Paul’s ad in Russian: The Russian ad was placed by the Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store to reach individuals not yet adept in English. The dual mission of the thrift store is to make money for the society’s extensive charitable endeavors and to provide jobs and training for its employees.

The Saint Vincent de Paul Society is a Catholic lay organization made up of men and women from parish conferences, dedicated to helping the poor without regard to age, gender, race, national origin, political or religious persuasion. The only criterion is need. Further, the society is entirely self-supporting, receiving no funds from Catholic Charities, United Way or any state or federal agency.

The society’s service center dispenses food, clothing, furniture, household goods, auto parts and major appliances. Funds are provided for rent, utilities, medicine and travel. Sleeping bags, blankets, backpacks and camping gear are given to transients.

The Saint Vincent de Paul Society is the fairest and most selfless organization I know of. Thirteen years ago, as a 47-year-old alcoholic just out of my sixth treatment center, with a terrible work record, the society gave me a job. The values I learned there helped me to regain my self-respect. I am still in recovery and Saint Vincent de Paul is still doing great work in Spokane.

Don’t be offended, Stewart. Rather, rejoice that there is still Christian charity in Spokane. Someday you might need it. Gene Howard Spokane

No problem for the educated

I compliment the Saint. Vincent DePaul Society store for placing the recent ad in Russian, for the Russian community of Spokane.

I’m sad for the illiterate people who don’t understand or recognize a language that’s used by people who inhabit one-sixth of the world’s land surface. I encourage those who didn’t understand the ad to take classes at Spokane’s community colleges. I hope they get a chance to learn more about the world they live in. Dan Sharp Spokane

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

Library measure, plan flawed

Bonner County needs a new central library facility. But that’s not what we’re about to vote on.

Read the wording of the $3.9 million library levy on Feb. 6. There is no mandate that a new library be built or even that the funds be preferentially used for a new building. The levy merely says that a new building is one of the uses to which the funds may be put! It gives the library board a blank check.

Well, what of the building? The board did not publish plans and elevations in the paper nor did it call for significant public hearings in advance of the levy vote. The board must offer us alternative designs and hold public hearings if it expects our support.

The proposed building provides little opportunity for future expansion. Ceilings appear to be 20 to 30 feet in height. Do we want to pay to heat this huge volume of air? Is $156 per square foot for 24,735 square feet reasonable?

A multiple-floor building is the most efficient use of space, materials and energy, and could accommodate our projected needs. Additional multistory wing(s) easily could be added years from now, should more space be needed. Total construction costs would be lower, total operating costs lower, and future expansion possibilities maximized.

Mark your calendar and vote no on Feb. 6 to a blank check and a poorly designed building. Send a message to this hard-working and well-intentioned board that you want your money spent wisely. Dr. Karl Ottenstein Sandpoint

Nikiforuk doing a fine job

I recently read a very disturbing article in The Spokesman-Review about the resignation of Peter Nikiforuk, director of the Kootenai County Humane Society.

I volunteered at the Humane Society for several months last year. During that time I saw the fruit of Pete Nikiforuk’s labors. The shelter is a clean, well-maintained building. Dogs are each in a large chain-link kennel and there is a separate room for cats.The shelter also has its own spay and neuter clinic and a few special cages for sick or injured animals.

Bravo to Nikiforuk and his employees for the work they have done. Criticizing them is an easy escape from the truth. They should not be the scapegoats for irresponsible, lazy pet owners. They are left with little choice when confronted with hundreds of unwanted or abused animals each month. There is not enough room to house that many animals, and most that are put up for adoption are never sold.

Nikiforuk is not a cruel, insensitive person. The next time you think about criticizing the society or Pete Nikiforuk, ask yourself how easy would it be to euthanize thousands of unwanted animals each year because of the actions of irresponsible pet owners? Natalie Joy Coeur d’Alene

Venture means no harm to the land

Apparently, Julie Titone was allowed to form her own opinions in her recent “gold rush” article.

We could have been asked how we intend to conform to the state regulations, which we are ready to do. We don’t intend to ravage the area. Our concerns are as serious as the general public’s.

I find it amazing that regulations allowing previous contaminations, such as improper creek bed restoration, terrain neglect and forest care, should result in our being denied the chance to do this mining.

I have proper fish protection procedures in mind, and not just a few logs thrown into the creek, as apparently the state has allowed. The natural flow of the creek beds would be considered when restoring fish habitat.

It has been the right and freedom of all who wish to do so to pursue mining projects. This isn’t a gold rush by any means; it’s a project we have considered for quite some time. The price of gold will help with the expenses.

We are not mining with chemicals. We plan to restore the land after each claim is finished. Living in this area, we of all people respect our natural resources. It has been our income for too many years not to. We also expect to be able to harvest these resources when needed.

If logging and mining issues are reported one-sidedly, the public will need to resort to living in a plastic world. Wood and ore will always be needed. The general public will have to trust those of us who know and love the natural lands. Orville Boller Fernwood

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Divorce bill hurtful, chauvinistic

In “Rep. Dorr withdraws divorce bill” (Jan. 24) Dennis Mansfield, lobbyist and head of the Idaho Family Forum, relates the sad tale of three men whose wives “found someone with more money.”

Now that’s some real male chauvinistic ego. If the truth were known, these women - and many like them - decided to liberate themselves from the oppressive religious philosophy of the husband being the lord and master of the family and dictator of all things.

Does all this sound familiar, sisters? Could it just be that requiring both parties to consent to a divorce and to publicly humiliate them by substantiating their differences in court, results in keeping the sister under control and in the kitchen, where some hard-line religious zealots believe she should stay?

Is Tom Dorr addressing the high divorce rate throughout all segments of Idaho’s population or just within certain religious circles?

The present Idaho divorce system grants an uncontested divorce to be final in just 21 days, allowing the couple to end their marriage with some degree of dignity, less trauma and perhaps to part as friends. Divorce, at best, is never easy on any member of the family, so why should it be made difficult by a group out to satisfy the members’ personal religious interest and bank accounts?

We do not need divorce reform, just honest representatives who do not promote their self-serving interests.

All citizens of Post Falls, please remember Dorr at the next election. And Coeur d’Alene, remember Jeff Alltus, Dorr’s strong supporter. William R. Huston Naples

Clinton, at least, takes high road

I just read a brief but glowing tribute to President Reagan in a popular magazine. Only when I reached the bottom of the page did I realize that the article was written not by a Republican but by President Clinton.

In all the lamenting over the decline of respectful debate in our nation, few seem to notice our president’s gracious, strongly positive words and actions. While he and his wife are treated with unprecedented disrespect by opponents and journalists, he has consistently refused to lash back at his opponents and has kept his focus on solving problems.

I only hope that if the public harangues continue, the American people will notice the markedly more civil quality of the president’s discourse. Robert M. Stevenson Spokane

At last, campaign finance reform

We have now before the U.S. House of Representatives HR2566 and a Senate companion bill, SB1219, which are bipartisan reform bills on campaign financing.

The first bipartisan reform bills in 10 years, they contain the essential elements of reform. The bills shut down the huge, unlimited contributions from special interest individuals and groups. Let us inform our representatives and senators of our opinion on these measures. Kathleen M. Taft Spokane

NRA critic used faulty ammunition

In response to “NRA getting return on investment” (Letters, Jan. 26) by Marilyn Ream, M.D., it is such a shame that political discourse has come to the point where information presented as fact is blatantly false. I wish to set the record straight.

In her letter, Dr. Ream claims that the National Rifle Association gave George Nethercutt $75,000 for his campaign for Congress. This is false. Federal election guidelines allow only $5,000 per campaign in direct contributions. This means that a candidate could receive $5,000 during the primary campaign and $5,000 during the general election campaign. Congressman Nethercutt received a total of $10,000 from the ILA, which is the NRA political action committee. The NRA feels that protecting our constitutional rights was worth this investment.

Dr. Ream also mentioned that more children die of gunshot wounds in this country than die of cancer. This is false. The National Safety Council considers those who are between the age of 0 and 14 to be children. In 1992 this age group suffered a total of 49,585 deaths. Of these deaths, 2,924 were from accidents, 1,679 were from cancer, 992 by drowning, 984 from fire and 893 were gun related. Of these gun-related deaths, 216 were accidents. The total of gun-related deaths amount of 1.8 percent of all childhood deaths.

As a father of three, I regret the loss of any child. As an American, I lament the prevarications that permeate our political discourse. Michael Furrer Spokane

Data don’t support charges

Apparently Marilyn D. Ream, M.D. (Letters, Jan. 26) is unhappy with Rep. George Nethercutt, dislikes the National Rifle Association and dislikes these “heinous weapons in our midst.”

Information published by the National Center for Health Statistics lists the 12 leading causes of death in the United States. Firearms are listed as number 13. Listed as number 11 is “surgical and medical misadventures.

She stated more children die of gunshot wounds in this country than die of cancer.” The same report that totaled 2,127,000 deaths states cancer was responsible for 477,190 deaths and firearms for 1,649 deaths.

I suggest Dr. Ream obtain accurate information on firearms and the NRA before she represents her own bias as fact. Dick Dubell Colville, Wash.

Sue elected underperformers

According to the Washington Post, Congress usually has the budget to the president by Oct. 1, the beginning of the fiscal year. This Congress has yet to submit three appropriations bills three months after they were due. The bills haven’t been vetoed; they haven’t even been submitted.

Perhaps it is time for a class action suit, not against the government but against certain congressmen’s personal assets. These congressmen took the oath and receive the salary, but they are not doing their jobs.

The fortunes of these congressmen, such as House Speaker Newt Gingrich, House Majority Leader Dick Armey and Rep. George Nethercutt, have not been affected by the threat of a new government shutdown. Perhaps a suit could be brought by those in the private sector whose businesses and livelihoods have been affected by this political gamesmanship.

I work in a public place where income tax forms are usually available at this time of year so people can begin to pay their taxes or file for refunds. At this time we have no income tax forms, nor does the post office in our town.

While those clowns on C-SPAN, in their blue suits and red silk ties, are playing games, Rome is beginning to burn. And in spite of their posturing, they are to blame. Sandra Sweetman Republic, Wash.

OTHER TOPICS

Sign Idaho bear initiative

The Jan. 19 letter, “Group seeks end to hunting, fishing,” by Ed Lehman, chairman of the Idaho Wildlife Council regarding the Idaho black bear initiative, is inaccurate.

The black bear initiative is an attempt to reform bear hunting in Idaho, not eliminate it. It would outlaw the spring hunt, when the bears and their cubs come out of hibernation. While the spring hunting of sows is already illegal, I am convinced that many hunters cannot tell the difference between a sow and a boar.

The initiative would also make illegal the practice of baiting the bears. It is noteworthy that the baiting of elk and deer is already illegal.

The initiative would also outlaw the unsportsmanlike practice of hunting bears with dogs. The dogs are used to find and chase the bear up a tree, and then the mighty hunter merely clips it out of the tree. In Montana the use of dogs for bear hunting was discontinued in 1921 and the baiting in 1948. Why not in Idaho?

Please note that the initiative would still allow the regular bear hunting season in the fall.

I am an avid deer and elk hunter and I have signed the initiative because I feel that hunting with dogs and bait and killing bears in the spring is an unethical hunting practice.

I urge hunters and nonhunters alike to sign the Idaho bear initiative. Juergen Nolthenius Coeur d’Alene

Mormon way voluntary, fair

I am a student and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I do not think that Opinion editor John Webster knows the whole situation (“Mormon welfare model not a cure-all,” editorial, Jan. 23).

We as members pay 10 percent because we believe that it is right. In the Bible, the scripture Malachi 3:8 states, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.”

We as members also give fast offerings for the people who are needy. We don’t give our money just for the church we give to people who really need help. Some people say they need help but they don’t do anything to help themselves, so they don’t really deserve help. They are asked to help around the church and they have to be worthy, like pay tithing whenever they earn money, attend church regularly and obey the laws of God.

I myself don’t feel pressured into paying tithing but I try to do it whenever I get paid. We have our free agency to pay tithing, but if we don’t pay tithing we won’t be able to get welfare if we need it. As members, we understand that. Birdeena Bakly Spokane