Letters To The Editor
CONFLICT WITH IRAQ
Let others deal with Saddam
Again, Saddam Hussein and Iraq have reared their ugly heads to the world by invading Kurdish territory, supposedly on the premise of helping a Kurdish leader deal with a “feud” for control with a rival who has received help from Iran. How long must we submit to this inhumane and deadly individual?
I’ll never forget several years ago when Saddam maliciously tried his new gas on the Kurds, slaying thousands. Pictures of that grisly event will never leave my mind.
The gulf war was a united effort involving the United States, Britain and France. Several guests on “Meet the Press” on Sept. 1 indicated there had been no reply from Britain or France on the current events. Is the United States to stop this psychopath alone?
Our nation has its own, more important obstacles to clear. We have unemployment, teen pregnancy and drug problems, murders by children, etc. The holy wars between Persian Gulf states have been in existence for many, many years. Let’s address our issues before becoming involved in another police action against a foreign country.
Most Americans are exhausted mentally and physically from trying to be the world’s peacemaker, and then, if it doesn’t work out, we are looked upon with disdain and criticized by other countries for not having done enough to overpower the aggressor. It’s time for the other major powers to take command of this situation and try to eradicate the demented Saddam. Suzann O’Sullivan Embury Hayden, Idaho
No cause for cheering
Is missile-related death and destruction not only to be accepted but also celebrated?
Do you imagine that an Iraqi, even an Iraqi soldier who is duty-bound to obey his superiors, has no family or friends?
If a bombardment leveled a part of Eastern Washington, killing perhaps hundreds of women, children and men, you could imagine the grief of those close to them. Blame surely would be assigned, but no one could be sure who will be blamed.
It is the same anywhere in the world. Just because someone was born in Iraq, does that somehow remove him or her from our sphere of kindness?
This is repulsive beyond words, no matter what is called “justification.” To hear otherwise kind people do the bloodthirsty dance of demonization, as orchestrated by bloody news, is so very sad. Their bloodthirstiness always leads to the uniformed mass murder we call war. Tom Lande Spokane
THE MEDIA
Snow sarcasm demeaning, offensive
Tony Snow’s Aug. 29 column (“A huge wake for the Democratic Party”) regarding the Democratic convention contains highly derogatory and offensive language regarding individuals with disabilities.
Snow writes of Christopher Reeve “gasp(ing)” his speech and of Jim Brady “croak(ing)” his greeting. Such terms are degrading - grossly so.
Another point of view regarding the convention is that rarely in history have individuals with disabilities been able to present their views during prime time. Some of us can recall the time in this country when individuals with disabilities - our children, adult relatives and friends - were, as the saying went, “kept in the closet.” This country has made remarkable progress in changing social attitudes regarding those of us who, by birth or later illness or injury, live, work and study side by side with the rest of us.
Let’s not revert to the callous and rejecting language, prejudices and restrictions of the past. When commenting on the political views of those of us who are disabled (or their advocates), let’s address the views only.
And let’s always remember that our young and old disabled Americans include - among many others of equal worth - former presidents, war veterans and injured police officers and firefighters. John B. Severinghaus Spokane
Expose made paper worthwhile
About eight years ago, I kissed off the newspapers. I was fed up with being spoon-fed.
Recently, a friend told me of an article in The Spokesman-Review. I didn’t believe it, so I got a copy of your Aug. 21 issue.
I was almost dumbfounded. There on the front page was “U.S. policy helped start crack plague.” I want to congratulate you on your guts and for the service you have done the people of Eastern Washington. Our nation is in dire straits due almost entirely to the government.
Only an awakening of the people can save it now, and that awakening can happen only when newspapers begin to expose what this government has been allowing and subsidizing.
You took a first major step. Now for God’s sake, keep going. Nick Fezzey Tonasket, Wash.
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
Lesson may have been subverted
I have been reading with interest about Lacy Hourlland and her problem of her 4-H project entry having been turned away from the fair in North Idaho.
It was indeed a sad thing for the young girl and the consequences may seem harsh. But the fact remains that one of the goals of 4-H is to teach its young participants responsibility. Lacy ultimately was responsible for the entry form and fee, a more than reasonable amount, being received by the coordinators in a timely manner. Because space was limited, which entry should have been removed to make room for her or others who did not comply with clearly established rules?
The generosity of the community in contributing to Lacy to enable her to continue with her 4-H project is commendable. But to contribute because of the sentiments of Lynn Humphreys and people like him is to send the wrong message (“Girl, horse won’t be separated,” Aug. 27).
If Humphreys’ daughter was a 4-H member for years, he should know that lessons in responsibility are not meant to trick youths. They are meant to teach them that neglecting responsibilities often can lead to negative consequences. Andrea Fendrick Wallace
Irresponsibility triumphs again
In regard to the 4-H pig and the Hourlland family (“Girl, horse won’t be separated,” Aug. 28):
I find it very interesting that these people did not turn their entry form in, did not pay the $2.50 fee and, because they did not follow the rules, now are getting all these donations and everyone is feeling sorry for them, whereas the people who did follow all the rules get absolutely nothing.
I like the way our system works: You don’t get your way, you whine, you get something. You follow the rules, you do what you are supposed to do and you get nothing.
What a wonderful lesson everyone has learned. Laurie L. White Spokane
Retro view not appreciated
I am outraged by the “Our Generation” column (“Today’s youth are too self-absorbed,” Aug. 28) by Joshua Gibbs of Moscow, Idaho.
Not all teenagers are bad. I am a 3.4 grade-point-average student. I do not go to church. I know people who do, but many of my friends don’t. I do misbehave at times, yes, but what teenager doesn’t?
I think Gibbs is stuck in the 1800s. Adam Castle Spokane
ILLICIT DRUGS
U.S. policy costly, wasteful
Are money and taxes important to you? Please consider how much of your money is spent tracking down, trying and incarcerating marijuana smokers.
Forget that perhaps 30 million American adults use marijuana with virtually no ill effects. Ignore the fact that every 60 seconds, another American is arrested for using something far less harmful than the drugs it is classified with - even far less harmful than alcohol and tobacco.
Ignore the growing assault on the Bill of Rights. Forget how much money pours into organized crime, thanks to our stupid marijuana laws.
Just think about the enormous governmental monster gobbling your money to fight something less harmful than the monster itself. It’s a monster feeding out of control, a malignancy with an appetite that only grows. It’s something to which $1 billion is a mere crumb.
Ultimately, the monster stands between the people and fantastic economic and environmental benefits of an industrial hemp renaissance. It’s your money - and lots of it - feeding an enormous failure. Humans will always use marijuana and other drugs. This is a health problem, not a criminal problem.
One thing about truth: The longer it’s hidden, the harder it is to suppress. If you’re sick of feeding the monster of stupid marijuana laws, learn the truth. Rand Clifford Spokane
DARE program worthless
Recent Republican attacks on President Clinton concerning the rise in drug use among teenagers are somewhat confusing.
First, Clinton is criticized for eliminating 120 jobs in the anti-drug force. Doesn’t it seem ironic that the Republicans are complaining because a Democrat is reducing the size of government?
The only thing Bill Clinton has done wrong is stick with what has been proved to be the most ineffective drug abuse prevention program around today - the DARE program. Yes, the program popularized by Nancy Reagan and the one George Bush saw fit to give federal subsidies often does more harm than good.
This is not just my opinion. It also is the opinion of organizations such as Cornell University, the Family Council on Drug Awareness, University of North Carolina and the National Institute of Drug Abuse. It also is the opinion of Carl Rogers and Dr. William Coulson, the two men who founded the non-directive therapy DARE is based on. Coulson now warns parents, teachers and school officials of the harm done to children by the DARE program.
It’s no coincidence that the extra number of fifthgraders “enrolled” in the DARE program under President Bush are today’s drug-using teenagers. M. Amos Clifford said it best in the California Prevention Network Journal, “Every expert prevention specialist I know, without a single exception, believes DARE should be ranked somewhere between a sham and mediocrity.” Allen Moody Medical Lake
LAW AND JUSTICE
Prosecutor attitude worrisome
Two women have accused James Edward Jones of rape. Spokane County Prosecutor Jim Sweetser and company supposedly were going to put Jones someplace where he could not rape women. But, for reasons I will never understand, they gave him an eight-day vacation.
According to Sweetser, “Nobody could have anticipated that he (Jones) would go out and rape someone while he was out for a week.”
I hope Sweetser was misquoted or that his quote was taken out of context, because if he believes what he supposedly said, we are in deep, deep trouble. Greg Johnson Spokane
OTHER TOPICS
Bad rap for good organization
The writer of the letter “Humane Society procedure a sham” (Aug. 30) clearly is ignorant of the facts.
Everyone adopting a Humane Society animal must complete an extensive form, detailing the adopter’s family members, pet experience, veterinarian and how the pet will be cared for. The Humane Society then determines if the home is appropriate. If there is more than one acceptable applicant for a specific animal, a lottery is held.
I’m happy the Lab pup got a good home. What I can’t understand is how anyone could leave the Humane Society empty-handed. There are so many Lab and Lab-cross pups and dogs, not to mention all the other pure-, cross- and mixed-breed dogs needing homes.
Diane Rasmussen and the Humane Society staff serve Spokane well and deserve our gratitude. Each year, thousands of animals come in. They’re strays, unwanted, sick, abused, injured, starved and not immunized. Seldom are they spayed or neutered. Often, they are the leftovers that breeders couldn’t sell.
The Humane Society provides shelter, food, vaccines and needed veterinary care. It does its best to find these animals good homes but can help only a few of the many animals that are abandoned.
Too many animals are permitted to breed by puppy mills and careless owners. The suffering is horrendous and the costs are astounding. Spaying and neutering should be almost mandatory and only proven animals should be bred. Kay Rivera Spokane
Center a basis for agreement
Choice is the common ground that should unite the pro-life and pro-abortion sides. If choice is the issue, we ought to be standing on at least some of the same ground.
Offering a woman a place to go to explore options; providing financial assistance for her and her baby’s care; supplying prenatal vitamins, maternity clothes, diapers and formula; counseling those whose lives have been ravaged by choosing abortion and are seeking healing; opening our homes to women in crisis wanting to have their babies - I have witnessed all of these things from individuals and organizations such as Spokane’s Crisis Pregnancy Center.
Oddly, I know of no pro-abortionists who have provided any other alternatives but abortion.
Perhaps one of the most alarming areas of failure to stand on common ground is the notion that pro-life people wouldn’t care if abortions returned to back alleys. I have yet to hear a pro-abortionist acknowledge the maimings and deaths that continue in abortion mills. I am not referring only to the babies. Legalizing abortion has made it neither safe nor rare. It has only legalized a further victimization of women at the financial gain of others. It has, unfortunately, left many with few places to turn in their grief and remorse.
Thank God for the counseling offered by the Crisis Pregnancy Center for post-abortion trauma.
Joan Harman (“Anti-choice arguments lacking,” letters, Aug. 27) might be surprised to find which side of the abortion issue truly offers Christ’s compassion, mercy and forgiveness, plus real choices. I welcome her to join me and others on the common ground we do have. Connie Heermann Spokane
Martian rock assumption flawed
The more I hear about this Martian rock, the more I wonder if there is intelligent life on planet Earth.
If this rock came from Mars, it came as part of a meteorite. The outside of the meteorite, where evidence of life would be, burns off upon entering our atmosphere. The only part of the meteorite that survives is the center, where no life could be. If there is evidence of life on this rock, it is evidence of Earth life.
Science is good, but scientists make mistakes. This is the kind of science that tells us evolution is true and we are the intelligent life, I believe. Steve McLachlan Davenport, Wash.