Letters To The Editor
HIGHER EDUCATION
Prince’s position seems surprising
Re: Sen. Eugene Prince’s opposition to Sen. Jim West’s proposal to merge Eastern Washington University with Washington State University a proposal which would certainly cause a significant increase in tuition at Eastern.
Doesn’t Prince realize that we live in a plutocracy in which only the rich should be allowed a decent education? What an incredible lack of insight for a professional politician, especially a Republican. Robert Bordeaux Medical Lake, Wash.
Statement may explain a lot
If Brian Levin-Stankevich, vice president of enrollment services at Eastern Washington University, handles everything as professionally as he handled Sen. West’s proposal for merging EWU and Washington State University, to quote: “It may take five fingers to make a fist, but it only takes one to send a message” then that may be one of the reasons EWU’s enrollment is down. Grace E. Bostrom Spokane
Clark slams last thing EWU needs
Re: Doug Clark’s column on Eastern Washington University (“Eastern has rich tradition of upgrading,” Dec. 7).
Clark is definitely not an EWU alumnus. What he said can only come from someone who doesn’t care about others. Clark never cared to ask anyone else, did he? His column really cut deep and hurt.
Maybe our little Chevy Vega of a university isn’t his style, but don’t suggest that a used Taurus is ours, either. I hope that he takes heart and writes a better article, one that is based on people who truly went there and loved the school.
I’m a successful professional because of EWU and so are all my friends who went there. We recently came from Seattle to buy EWU sweatshirts and support our football team. We hoped you wouldn’t be there, Clark, because we didn’t want to cramp your style.
I’d call you a selfish jerk but I know this letter wouldn’t be printed then. Thank you for your support, caring and wonderful opinion. Thanks also for asking those of us who think the merger issue really matters. Alan A. Plummer Kirkland, Wash.
PEOPLE AND ANIMALS
Help improve awful situation
Re: “Sheltered lives” (Nov. 30).
Mary Sagal’s excellent article provided us with timely information concerning the importance of respecting our pets for the length of their lives and of providing a good quality of life.
Craig Brestrup is correct, most people are truly not aware of the fear, loneliness and helplessness that shelter animals feel. The photo of the boxer shown in Sagal’s article was quite an eye-opener for people who prefer to not think about the emotions and reactions of animals released to a shelter. I’ve seen tears in the eyes of shelter workers who must face every day the results of uncaring or uninformed people.
What can the public do to end a horrific situation in which 200,000 pets are killed in America’s shelters each week?
1. Spay and neuter your pets. If cost is a problem, ask your veterinarian for suggestions. A caring and conscientious vet will go the extra mile to help solve this serious problem.
2. Legitimate AKC breeders should make an effort to offer “pet quality” cats and dogs at an affordable price, thus helping to eliminate the backyard breeders’ market.
3. Push for legislation requiring permits to breed dogs and cats. High fines for indiscriminate breeding could be used for public education, to aid shelters and discourage puppy mill operators.
4. Before selecting a pet, research the animal’s personality, adult size, needs, etc.
5. Remember, owning a pet is a lifetime commitment. You are fully responsible for its quality of life.
6. Support and visit your local animal shelters. C. L. Phillips Spokane
LARCENY
Hope bike thief will make return
Last Saturday, around 6 p.m., somebody stole my 5-year-old grandson’s 16-inch bike. He got it for his birthday in April and it was not expensive, but it was his.
I remember when he got it and also his excitement when he finally got his training wheels off.
I guess his last fling down the alley and not locking it up when they left for 30 minutes gave someone the right to steal it from their fenced yard.
To the thief, I ask, could you tell me how to explain why you need it? It has been a trying year for our family, with the death of a mother, a sister’s cancer battle, daughter’s stolen car, disappearance of grandson’s beloved cat and minor surgery in both our families. The doctor and hospital bills are coming in now, so it is hard to come up with extra money to replace his bike.
Do you think it would be possible to return his bike to their North Nevada home and make one little 5-year-old happy? I hope you will. Vi M. Smith Deer Park
LAW AND JUSTICE
Springdale bust smacks of oppression
We are alarmed to learn that a home in Springdale that also serves as a mosque for prayer and religious instruction by local Muslims was raided by town police and its leader taken to jail.
And what did the raid produce? An alleged firearms violation, which Sheik Ahmad Abdur-Rahman Dawud denies, and a very small amount of marijuana, which Ahmad says did not belong to him, and which, curiously, only happened to turn up in his office long after the search began.
It seems some local authorities have stepped over the line in trying to discredit an outspoken neighbor who dared to criticize them.
Meanwhile, to invade the sanctity of a man’s home and his religion sends a chilling message that dissent will not be tolerated in Springdale. Just shut up unless you want a heap of harassment.
But isn’t this an example of the very abuse of power Sheik Dawud and many other citizens have fought against in the recent town election?
Finally, as Muslims, we find The Spokesman-Review’s style of identifying Sheik Dawud rather offensive. He is a recognized scholar of the Islamic faith and a community elder. In our religion, such ministers are given the title of sheik by their students out of love and respect. He may use the title of sheik the same way a pastor is called reverend. Patricia McKay Eugene, Ore.
End futile, failed drug war
Two young sons of a man sentenced to federal prison for a nonviolent marijuana violation bought an electric candle and placed it in their window. After Christmas it will not be packed away with the other ornaments. They are “leaving the light on for Dad.”
I now have one in my window, leaving it on for my brother, who received a 27-and-one-half-year federal prison sentence for a first time, nonviolent drug law violation. This light is a symbol of hope and will burn for all the drug war prisoners who have filled our country’s prisons.
The drug war has not made our country drug free, nor has it made our streets safer. The drug war has made us the world’s leading jailer, and nothing more.
What must the rest of the world think of a country that is more committed to building prisons than building schools?
Honest education is the only hope for our children. The drug war has not addressed the problems of drug abuse in our country; just ask any teenager.
Display a light of hope for common sense and justice. Let it burn until the government sees the light and ends the dark futility of waging war in America. We need real solutions, not war. Nora C. Callahan Colville, Wash.
FIREARMS
Weapons ban Clinton’s fault
Joan Harman, who normally promotes causes such as abortion and pornography “rights,” is now propagating gun control myths (“Risks attend living by the gun,” Letters, Dec. 9).
It was President Bill Clinton, not President George Bush, who supported the banning of more than 180 semiautomatic rifles. And Clinton, not Bush, signed into law the assault weapons ban, a solution to a nonexistent problem.
Terrorists in England aren’t affected by Britain’s repressive gun laws and gangs in the United States have felt no impact from Clinton’s phony gun bans. Why should they? Fully automatic communist bloc AK-47 assault rifles are readily available on the black market.
It’s obviously Harman whose “rant is shy of facts.” Lu E. Haynes Kettle Falls, Wash.
Teach gun safety in the schools
The crime rate in this country would drop considerably if we were to pass a law for gun education instead of gun control.
In Kennesaw, Ga., a law was passed that requires every household to own a firearm, excepting those with a criminal record or religious objections. Seven months after the law passed, the residential burglary rate dropped 89 percent, compared with a 10.4 percent nationwide drop. Since the law went into effect, there have been only two murders, one in 1984 and one in 1989. Both were committed with knives.
The Kennesaw experience is conveniently ignored by the firearm prohibitionists. I, a seventh-grade student, believe all towns should have the same law as Kennesaw.
I also believe that ninth- and 10-graders should be required to have two years of education on gun safety and the use and proper handling of firearms. If this were to be required, the U.S. crime rate would drop within five years. Gun education should be required in schools. Just like driver’s education is required to get a driver’s license, the public school system should make it a graduation requirement (unless the student has religious objections).
Students are getting cheated out of their constitutional rights. It’s everyone’s fault that there are gun-related accidents because we are not taught not to handle guns safely.
Under the Second Amendment to the Constitution, it is our right to keep and bear arms. It makes perfect sense for us to learn, as part of our early education, how to handle firearms safely. Kasee C. Goff Northport, Wash.
OTHER TOPICS
Refer to pro-life people only that way
Why do certain individuals take liberty to rename and, with blatant disregard, misnomer “pro-life” organization?
We who hold that life begins at conception have always applied “pro-life” to our cause. We have not renamed our position. However, when I read or hear “pro-choice” rhetoric in the news, I find the term “anti-abortion” substituted for pro-life. Why?
Obviously, we are anti-abortion. But who gave you license to rename our stance? Do you believe by imposing “anti” on what you call us that you will propagate negative, “anti” sentiments about us, thus portraying us as baneful because we simply don’t want innocent children to die before they’ve had a chance to live?
It’s obvious the two groups hold opposite beliefs concerning: when life begins, when a fetus is viable, the moral issue, etc. If the media feel the need to change our moniker from pro-life to anti-abortion, I’m sure they would have no problem referring to individuals who believe in killing innocent children as pro-abortion, pro-death or even anti-life. The latter seems most appropriate, considering it exemplifies the exact opposite, semantically speaking, of what pro-life stands for. Unbiased objectivity and integrity; isn’t that what the media are all about? Daniella M. Cross Hayden
Students can contribute much
It’s important for students to get involved in their surroundings and help out where help is needed. Too many of us only worry about ourselves and will only participate in the activities that we want to do. What people don’t know is that community service can be kind of fun if you are working with a group of students.
Recently, my school held a food drive for people in need of meals around the holidays. We did much better than planned. There were rewards for the class that brought in the most items. Our ASB officer and supervisor even slept outside in freezing weather for two nights to collect food from people who wanted to donate. This is a good example of something students should be doing in our community. With time, donations and effort, we can improve our community by getting more students to take part in the good will of the city. Jacob Rohwer Spokane
Spare me the ‘flowery nonsense’
In reference to Meghan Sayres’ warm and fuzzy tale so aptly called, “Out of rhythm,” in the Dec. 9 IN Life section, what is this preoccupation with the word “suckled,” as in suckled on gasoline or milk suckled from our local cows?
Last I heard, we attach our hands and nothing else to the udder and squeeze. Presto, out comes milk. I don’t even want to comment on being suckled on gasoline!
And no, I’m not an ignorant “boob.” I get the meaning of the article. But, oh, please!
If I write such self-indulgent, flowery nonsense as Sayres, can I get paid too? Valerie Snipes Spokane
‘Vivaldi’ concert a triumph
In lieu of a formal review, which it fully deserved, we want to comment on the excellence of “The Glory of Vivaldi” concert” Dec. 7 at St. John’s Cathedral.
The combination of the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus, Gonzaga University Choir, Spokane Youth Orchestra and the acting of Patrick Treadway and John McKay made it one of the most memorable music events in recent history.
The beauty of the setting, breathtaking music and the deft direction combined to make it, for us, the top Christmas concert this year. Bravos to Verne Windham and Tamara Schupman for producing such a superb performance - and at no cost to the audience. We hope the concert can be repeated so more people can enjoy it. Bud and Kathleen Hazel Spokane