Letters To The Editor
(From Letters, December 9, 1997): Clarification: The last paragraph of Eileen Deaton’s Dec. 5 letter about national spending priorities should’ve read: If we could be more concerned with making a difference than making an impression, we could make the changes this country desperately needs.
IDAHO VIEWPOINTS
Show value for children
On Oct. 26, 1996, Anthony Mitchell was brutally beaten to death by his mother’s boyfriend, Ralph J. Reyes.
This defenseless, innocent 18-month-old boy was repeatedly beaten with fists over several hours until his internal organs were ruptured and he died of internal bleeding. We attempted to resuscitate his bruised, lifeless body without success.
Anthony’s attacker has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder, saving himself from a death penalty or life sentence. Unfortunately, the minimum and usual sentence is 10 years. If this occurs, he would be released at age 32, young enough to potentially again commit a similar atrocity. The judge has the authority to make this prison term substantially longer.
As an emergency physician, I see many terrible things, but Anthony’s pale, bruised body is something I cannot forget.
If Reyes gets the minimal sentence for this hideous murder, we have failed as a society and as human beings. If we will not protect our children, what is important to us?
We need to send a strong message to our judicial system that our community does value the life of a child. You can do this by your presence at the sentencing hearing of Reyes in Judge Gary Haman’s courtroom in the Kootenai County Courthouse at 3 p.m. today. Mark E. Manteuffel Coeur d’Alene
Individuals must choose morality
D.F. Oliveria’s recent editorial about hatred had some good points and some very bad points.
The people who are hollering the most about hatred are the ones who are causing it. When skinheads march, most people ignore them. But when good people make an issue of it, they only become more popular.
Teaching multi-language divides our people and adds to the hatred. When people can’t speak English, they are shut out from jobs and lots of other things. This causes them to become resentful and stirs up more hatred.
When immigrants had to learn English before they could become citizens, they became American and were proud of it. That is why we became the melting pot of the world.
Now, laws against hatred are drawing a line between people and are increasing hatred. They will eventually cause divisions that will destroy our country.
Morality cannot be improved by force, it must be the conscience of the individual. Leo K. Lindenbauer Spokane
City shines at Christmastime
Re: “CdA puts on its Christmas shine,” (Nov. 29). Having been born and raised in Coeur d’Alene and watching it grow, this story made me smile and wish I was there.
We left the area in 1992, have been back several times but never at Christmas time. The story was a joy to read on Virtually Northwest. Thank you. Janet L. Fristoe Medford, Ore.
Will forests always be so abundant?
Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for the things we have. I am thankful for the abundant and beautiful forests that cover over 40 percent of our state, but am beginning to wonder if we have too much. Many of our national forests are sick and dying at alarming rates from overcrowding and outbreaks of disease, yet the U.S. Forest Service refuses to actively manage their lands - our forests.
We cannot take this tremendous resource for granted. Perhaps they won’t be so abundant in the future, and we won’t have quite so much to be thankful for. M. Scott Atkinson Grangeville
McEeun name should grace fields
What a wonderful write up about Mae McEuen in the Spokesman-Review on Nov.28. I don’t know anyone in the Coeur d’Alene area that deserves a write up more than Mae. It’s wonderful how she helped all the kids. I don’t know anyone who deserves to have her name on our ball fields more than Mae McEuen.
It seems about once a year or so, some greedy person wants our ball fields, boat launch and tennis courts. I think the majority rules and they have ruled in favor of McEuen Field. The survey the city did proved two things: It wasted $45 and got a lot of local people upset.
Why should we relocate our ball fields, launch or tennis courts? Let them build somewhere else and leave ours alone. Oscar S. Peterson Coeur d’Alene
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Tickets reward for supporters
I find amusing the clamor that has arisen concerning the distribution of the Washington State Cougars allotment of Rose Bowl tickets. A large number of disappointed fans will be unable to purchase game tickets because they are not members of the Cougar Club, season ticket holders or meet any of the qualifications deemed necessary to purchase the tickets. These fans do, however, have the option of booking through travel agents who will provide packages containing game tickets.
Consider if you will the plight confronting Michigan Wolverine fans. Washington State is allotted 35,284 tickets for fans who barely averaged 30,000 attendance per game. A large number of fans are now coming out of the closet, wanting to go to the Rose Bowl because the Cougars haven’t been there in 67 years. Most of these people haven’t been to a Cougar game in years, yet they’re upset because of the limited number of tickets available.
On the other hand, the University of Michigan’s share of tickets is 27,499, nearly 8,000 less than WSU. This despite the fact Michigan fans regularly fill their stadium, which seats well over 100,000.
Cougar fans, or those of you who are now, will be well advised to make your presence felt at Martin Stadium next season. Or perhaps shell out a few dollars in support of Cougar athletics. Unfortunately in the world of Division One college football, season ticket holders, university athletic club members and financial donors are always going to get first shot at bowl tickets as a reward for their continuing support. Terry A. Hontz Spokane
Local agents have expertise
As a former travel agency owner with more than 25 years experience, I feel it’s important to comment on Rick Dickson’s statements and those in Eric Sorensen’s Nov. 27 Rose Bowl article.
The statement that “no local travel agency has the experience and financial wherewithal to coordinate WSU Rose Bowl attendees” couldn’t be further from the truth. Dickson chose to enter into a contract with out-of-state, self-proclaimed “bowl experts,” who apparently aren’t properly licensed to conduct travel business in this state. He insults and demeans not only Pullman travel agencies but other fine agencies in the area that are undoubtedly qualified to transact the Cougar fans’ travel needs. He chose not to offer the assignment to any area agency. Are the fine Seattle area agencies ruled out, too?
In my opinion, many area travel companies meet Dickson’s criteria for expertise, experience and financial stability.
Let’s say Dickson receives notice from the state attorney general advising that the contract with Dodds Co. is void because they aren’t properly licensed, or that the bidding process wasn’t followed. He’ll need some big help in a hurry. I suggest he immediately choose a local travel company to be in charge of Rose Bowl travel. Also, instruct that company to form a consortium including Pullman agencies, some in Spokane, Tri-Cities and Central Washington, as well as agencies in Moscow, Lewiston and Clarkston. Also, a multitude of Cougs could be better served with some West Side agencies as part of the consortium. Daniel C. McDougald Spokane
CLINTON AND THE NATIONAL BUDGET
Make a difference, make changes
Re: The budget which was scheduled to be balanced by the year 2002.
Nothing has been done yet to reduce the national debt. For one reason, Clinton vetoes practically every bill Congress sends before him. The national debt is still between $5-6 trillion. The deficit, however, was $330 billion in 1995, when the republican congress took over the budget office. Today it is closer to $2 billion. By the year 2002, we will have a $32 billion surplus.
If we would be more concerned with making a difference and making an impression we could make the changes this country desperately needs. Eileen R. Deaton Spokane
HEMP AND POLITICS
Re-examine hemp, marijuana
I don’t believe that Randall Clifford (Letters, Dec. 1) is far off of the mark, but neither is Doug Clark. Marijuana and hemp, for the most part, were made illegal with the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937; principally and guilefully propelled by DuPont (about to release a new synthetic fiber called nylon), and Hearst papers who were heavily into yellow journalism at the time.
As Jack Herer states in his book, “The Emperor Wears No Clothes,” “The introduction of high-volume machinery to separate hemp’s long fibers from the cellulose hurd, and the outlawing of hemp as marijuana all occurred simultaneously.”
To date, DuPont is still the largest producer of man-made fibers, while no citizen has legally harvested a single acre of textile-grade hemp in over 50 years. Moreover, marijuana is once again a prevalent theme of conversation as a medical therapy (used to treat glaucoma, arthritis, cancer, AIDS and more), and its use was up more than 200 percent last year.
Clearly both hemp and marijuana are increasingly tolerated, used and re-examined. They should be re-examined. We might bear in mind that this is a plant we’re deliberating. It is natural, renewable and historically significant.
There is nothing inane or trivial about the discussion; however there is room for satire. I appreciate Clark’s column and Clifford’s reply. Perhaps the most meaningful element of this discussion is that we’re expressing the issue reasonably. Scott Riane Hampton Spokane
Save us from the PC police
Someone finally has the courage and foresight to offer Spokane a good line of industrial hemp products, and Doug Clark calls it a ploy, a calculated step toward a country of potheads. (“Hemp boutique makes a dubious political statement,” Nov. 18)
Industrial hemp products and marijuana are two entirely different things. Back in 1938, when hemp was being touted by Popular Mechanics magazine as the most profitable and desirable crop we can grow, W.R. Hearst feared hemp’s effect on his paper mill profits. Using tabloid sensationalism in his chain of newspapers, he created and reinforced the mindset of marijuana being the killer weed from Mexico. Greatest threat to civilization!
American political infamy gave the mindset teeth. And now the rest of the world is embracing hemp, while we wring our hands over marijuana.
Hemp is used to produce thousands of high-quality natural products. Farmers around the country are clamoring for the right to grow hemp again. John Deer’s publication, “The Furrow,” had a September article about the great potential of hemp. Smart consumers are making hemp one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide.
Clark says it’s all because people want to get high. A politically-correct position, perhaps. God save us from political correctness. Ralph W. Schneider Medical Lake
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
Driving routes no piece of cake
Re: “Only driver’s side of story told” (Dec. 1).
I have read most of the letters on this subject and none have moved me more than this one.
I am a professional school bus driver, and for this lady to state that the company seeks inexperienced drivers, does not do background checks and provides no orientation is very wrong.
First of all, you must have a clean driving record for three years. Orientation consists of two weeks, eight hours per day, five days per week, in class and on the road with experienced drivers, with a lot of emphasis on student management.
As for the background checks, police reports are done on us, we are finger printed (those are checked out), and we have to do the drug and alcohol test all before we are hired.
By the way, these are all state tests. After employment starts we are still being trained every day on the bus with the students.
Drivers are shifted around only in extreme cases, not just when someone complains. There is a lot involved when transferring a driver to another route.
Parents are not allowed to ride on the bus as monitors because the state law says so, along with the school district. This is where the field support specialists come in. They are the veteran drivers who ride or even drive the routes to correct the problems.
I applaud the way things have been handled. Because I have received the training myself, I can say it’s not a piece of cake. Deborah R. Dilley Spokane
OTHER TOPICS
Festival of the Arts newsworthy
Maybe I missed it, but I saw no picture or report in The Spokesman-Review of the wonderful Festival of the Arts held in the Opera House on Nov. 25.
How is it that a winning football team gets pictures and publicity while a winning and superb group of musicians and artists gets ignored?
More than 400 of the best musicians and artists were selected from the five public senior high schools in Spokane. After two days of intensive practice with nationally recognized conductors they put on a wonderful program. The band and orchestra performed brilliantly, as did the chorus. All groups received standing ovations from the audience.
Shouldn’t such a performance honoring the arts be as newsworthy as a sports event? In the future, I hope The Spokesman-Review will give this annual event the attention and praise it deserves. Herbert L. Coon Columbus, Ohio
Driver, not boy, doing wrong
Re: Nov. 19 letter from H.D. Lebsock I agree 100 percent.
Regardless of the darkness, no helmet, or the split shift of the school day, the boy was doing just exactly what he should have been doing. The culprit it the person who has the nerve to drink and drive and kill our children.
The news media were very careful to point out all the things that parents and bike riders should be doing, but not once did they mention about what people should be doing besides getting drunk and getting behind the wheel. The boy would be with his beloved family and friends if the driver of the car had been doing the right thing. Don’t blame the school district or any thing other than drunk driving. Irene Schmidt Spokane