Letters To The Editor

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Federal workers do their share, more

Henry Warlow (“Get rid of unneeded workers,” Letters, Jan. 24), shame on you for your obvious ignorance about federal employees. You taunted federal workers because they received full pay for being furloughed.

Federal workers weren’t given the option of working. We were held hostage by mindless bureaucrats.

Paid vacations? Get serious. By the way, more than 200,000 federal workers have been eliminated by the Clinton administration - not because the jobs weren’t needed, but because of pressure to reduce federal spending. Guess who will pick up the slack? Your state, which will ultimately raise your taxes to provide those needed services.

Federal workers overpaid and underworked? The fact is that most federal workers are underpaid relative to private industry.

Lumping all federal employees together based on your limited information shows ignorance at its worst. We pay a large percentage of our medical insurance. For example, the medical insurance my family receives is from my wife’s employer, because it’s cheaper.

Any time you want to go 5,000 feet down a mine shaft, work with me from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and risk your life to do research toward improving miner safety, you are more than welcome.

I know I speak for all the dedicated federal workers who pay taxes, pay medical insurance, pay for their retirement, give their time to community efforts and are consistently the leaders in giving money to help local agencies when I suggest you get the facts straight before you criticize federal workers. Doug Scott Spokane

Emotional abuse overlooked

I don’t understand how we, as a country, can cut back on the protection of our children. The current definition of abuse, printed in the Jan. 29 edition, wasn’t even a complete one. To cut back on that definition tells the children that their country doesn’t care.

Mental abuse happens probably more frequently than physical abuse, but isn’t even mentioned in the current definition of abuse. Parents who continually insult their children need to be stopped. Turning our backs to the problem doesn’t solve it.

How is it that in a country where a license is required to drive a car, we can have as many children as we want and make steps to destroy their lives? Heidi Reitsch Spokane

Russians welcome; They’ll learn

I, too, saw the ad by St. Vincent dePaul. Although I don’t speak Russian, I recognized it as the Russian language.

Living in an apartment complex which has newly arrived Russian families, I’m surprised at how quickly they’re learning English. It takes time.

It took all of us who were born in the United States time to learn to speak English. Our parents were thrilled to hear “da da” as we attempted to speak words, English words, one by one.

It’s exciting to be able to speak more and more to our new arrivals. They’re warm, friendly, caring and educated people. Their special friendliness and warmth made my Christmas what it hasn’t been in a long time. It was refreshing to feel the real meaning of Christmas again.

I hope we can learn from all our new people in this great country. As they learn, I hope, the best from us. Donna J. Cleveland Spokane

Snowboard thief contemptible

I’m writing to advise parents to warn their children about those who prey on children’s innocence and trust by stealing their treasures, when an adult can’t always be there to watch.

Last Sunday my son’s K-2 snowboard was stolen. I was told this happens a lot, especially to children. My son was previously warned, but a quick trot to the bathroom cost him his treasured snowboard.

This Christmas gift was given to him by his mother, who worked two jobs to save up the money so her son’s wish might come true. Simply put, it broke his heart.

It’s just so easy to steal from children. My message to the thief: “Get a life.” Brent Palmer Coeur d’Alene

THE MEDIA

Term not fit for printing

The paper’s lack of editing, and in particular the totally irresponsible reporting of Bonnie Harris in “I’m not guilty in my eyes,” (Region, Jan.31) is inexcusable. Not to minimize the glaring issues of being accountable for one’s actions, particularly their own medical care, is secondary in the loss of human life of 2-year-old Kory Holbrook.

I’m upset by the reference to “a diabetic fit.” We have an adult daughter who has epilepsy. An M.D. friend advised us years ago to say that she had a “seizure disorder.” The acceptance by community of “seizure disorder” was like night and day. Robert Nebergall Deer Park, Wash.

Internet editorial commendable

I want to thank Opinion editor John Webster for his responsible comments on Internet “censorship.” CompuServe is doing what business should do. Social responsibility is a virtue.

Pornography undermines our society, especially the dignity and worth of women and children. Pornography traps men. Employers see that it ruins their work ethic, and production in the work place.

Accountability balances rights with responsibilities, which leads to a healthy freedom of speech. I want to challenge the “surfers” to have the personal integrity to only use companies that block smut. The sex industry oversteps its boundaries.

Thank you, Spokesman-Review, for allowing the “censorship” issue to be framed from the perspective of virtue and character. This editorial heralds the journey America must take to make the 21st century worth anticipating. LeAnna L. Benn Spokane

Grant, other good reporters, valuable

The Spokesman-Review’s Jan. 29 story, “Reporters at odds in sex ring case,” illustrates the power of the press to help protect innocent people from government officials gone totally mad with power lust.

This ability to make a difference in the lives of people by searching for the truth, instead of just reporting the government party line about what did or didn’t happen, is at the heart of what a free press is all about.

Anyone can report what is said at a press conference or issued in a press release. Reporters in the former Soviet Union and Nazi Germany did it every day. In contrast, to find out the truth about a situation involves work and sometimes a bit of courage. Fortunately for us, some reporters are more industrious and conscientious about doing their job than others.

Thank you, Tom Grant. By competently doing your job, you helped to protect not only innocent people in Wenatchee, you helped to protect all of us. Hans Sherrer Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Researcher should be emulated

“Researcher on trial after finding radiation” (Region, Jan. 21) was a report about Norm Buske, who has many times successfully passed by Naval security to test the water and seaweed in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for radiation.

He twice found low levels of radiation. He believes this radiation could be leaking from the nuclear-powered engines used by the Navy. If Buske is found guilty of trespassing he could be charged a $500 fine and sentenced to six months in jail.

I am alarmed that more action hasn’t been taken to test this site. The Environmental Protection Agency should be working harder to get more-accurate results. If the levels of radioactive materials in the shipyard are not harmful, then the Navy shouldn’t have a problem with allowing independent studies on the kelp there.

I also believe it is unethical that our system would consider punishing a man who is trying to expose environmental problems

Hopefully, Buske’s example will encourage more people to take action against agencies that ignore warning signs of environmental hazards. Laura K. Wohlers Cheney