Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Better bridge design not hard to find

Once again, our city officials have proven that they are brain dead and still breathing. If they want a concrete Lincoln Street bridge, why don’t they build a replica of the Monroe Street Bridge? It’s a fine example of our historical heritage - not like the artist’s rendering of the new Lincoln Street “McArches.”

Why is the city even thinking about building a new bridge when we don’t have enough money to fix the dangerous potholes in our streets? Pat Gary Spokane

Cartoon depicted situation well

Loved the cartoon by reader Charles Castleman (Feb. 11) concerning the air pollution at Mission and Hamilton. I’ve witnessed cars idling there for two and three light changes to make a left turn.

Solution: install left-turn light signals. I can’t believe the city hasn’t done this years ago. Sherm Blake Spokane

Photo comes off as propaganda

Your photo of the Pavilion at Riverfront Park on the front page of the Feb. 5 Region section is the same form of subliminal advertisement as calling the old Coliseum the “barn,” They are both deceptive ways of changing people’s minds. The photo makes the Pavilion look like junk.

We need to teach our young to buy only what they can afford and to take care of what they have.

A beautiful new library was built and, shortly after that, employees started having to take unpaid days off because there wasn’t enough money to staff the library. Also, are we maintaining the new library and Arena the same way we maintained the Riverfront Park Pavilion and the old Coliseum? I hope not.

I get the feeling the city will let the Pavilion get run down until it gets its way and puts in a new science center.

Who works for whom? I am a little confused. Rick Nelson Mead

Editor’s note: The Pavilion photograph illustrated a story about a study that indicates the structure is in need of $600,000 in repairs.

WASHINGTON STATE

Urge continued independence of OMS

After the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, bipartisan wisdom created the Washington state Office of Marine Safety in 1991. A small, independent agency, it was seen as the best way to keep attention focused on prevention of oil spills as cheaper than cleanup.

A bipartisan legislative review committee last fall found that OMS had carried out its duties efficiently and that it would cost more to merge prevention duties with the Department of Ecology’s spill response program.

Big Oil, of course, wants the Legislature to combine the programs and not increase funding, so Ecology will be overloaded and unable to keep after oil industry tankers.

I urge citizens interested in protecting against oil spills to urge our state lawmakers to support SB 5788, to keep and fully fund OMS as an independent agency enforcing strict oil spill prevention rules. Charles E. Latimer Spokane

Attorney general’s move justified

Thanks to Attorney General Christine Gregoire! Her charges against the Washington Education Association speak volumes for her integrity and independence.

I feel that WEA has committed massive, illegal political activity with members’ dues. Yet, when teachers complain, WEA condescendingly calls us “disgruntled.” Gregoire’s charges validate that teachers have been exploited and victimized by the very organization that is supposed to protect them.

According to these charges, WEA steals from teachers, lies to the government and poisons the electoral process. No wonder public education has a black eye.

Godspeed to Gregoire!

I urge Gregoire to please ensure that any penalties WEA receives not be passed on to members through a dues increase. Justice should not pick the pockets of the teachers who seek her. Cindy Omlin Mead

IN THE PAPER

Soldier cartoon shameful

I am deeply offended by the Feb. 12 editorial cartoon depicting the military person displaying his ribbons for rape and sodomy.

What a cheap shot at all of those of us who have worn our county’s uniform proudly and with honor, in times of peace and war. Such a derogatory and mean-spirited depiction of our military is uncalled for.

If sexual harassment is to be so addressed, include the commander in chief of our military. You should be ashamed of your editorial page and artist. Gene Pfeifer, Msgt., U.S. Army Rathdrum

Cartoonist tries to tarnish tradition

One of the truest tests of our commitment to our country is to be a member of the U.S. military. It is there that not only our lives but a Republic depends upon the performance of duty.

Just recently, the Northwest has been witness to that ultimate service to country (death) in two tragic incidents: the Oregon National Guard Air Rescue unit that crashed, killing 10 crew members and, most recently, the death of three members of the U.S. Coast Guard during a daring rescue attempt off the rugged Washington coast in a winter storm.

It’s this individual heroism and sacrifice that makes the men and women, both officer and enlisted, active duty or the Reserve/Guard citizen soldier, such a special and necessary part of our society.

It’s ironic that as we celebrate the birth of one of our nation’s founding members, General and President George Washington, The Spokesman-Review’s editorial cartoonist chooses to demean a proud and great tradition.

Honors, medals and ribbons do not come easily. One must exhibit exemplary actions to wear them. Those of us veterans who proudly gave our youthful best during times of peace and war are affronted by Milt Priggee’s attempt toward national syndication at the expense of Fairchild Air Force Base.

It is regrettable that readers again find the media carrying out a trial, establishing a verdict and administering sentencing and punishment even before the proceedings have begun.

Remember, this is what Gen. Washington’s rag-tag group of patriots sacrificed so much for, that we might avoid by establishing a permanent democracy. C.M. Archer Spokane

Glad dead servicemen didn’t see it

If your Feb. 12 editorial cartoon portraying a uniformed member of the armed services bragging about medals for crimes committed had a point, I certainly missed it.

Notwithstanding the serious nature of such crimes, be they alleged or proven, your cartoon slandered those many millions of men and women who have served their country honorably in time of peace and war.

We should remember that those who wear the military uniform, be they at Fairchild or otherwise, are our friends, neighbors and valued members of the community. This is not just because of the economic impact but also due to their selfless commitment of service to their nation, state and community. They deserve the same respect that we expect from them.

In the Feb. 14 Spokesman-Review, there was mention of 13 members of the uniformed services who very recently gave their lives in the service of their country (Air Force Reserve C-130 accident off the Oregon Coast and Coast Guard Rescue accident off the Washington Coast). It is fortunate that those individuals did not have the opportunity to view your slanderous, tasteless and pointless cartoon before they gave their lives in service to their country. Jim McDevitt, executive committee member Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees

So much for being objective

For once, I thought The Spokesman-Review was covering the Napoleon Bailey story objectively - until the cartoon with the soldier pointing at his medals for rape and sodomy appeared.

Fairchild Air Force Base officials are treating this case swiftly and in a prudent manner. If all major corporations were to treat sexual harassment like the military, there wouldn’t be as big a problem in our country.

The Air Force policy on sexual harassment is zero tolerance. I’d like to see The Spokesman Review’s policy and see if it’s been enforced as sternly as that at Fairchild. Chris Brown Cheney

LAW AND JUSTICE

Fringers only want their kind of justice

The so-called ambassadors from the Kingdom of Yahweh who have declared their diplomatic immunity from our court system based on their Christian identity-Phineas Priesthood beliefs are now attempting to battle Satan by asking that comrades attend their Spokane trial.

Already, victims and witnesses are afraid to testify for fear of reprisal from the “brotherhood,” which is quite extensive in our region.

In 1988, after the acquittal of Richard Butler, Louis R. Beam and Bib Miles (who participated in the bombings of school buses in Wisconsin to prevent integration) - it was found that, according to reliable sources, the two female jurors had fallen in love with those who were on trial and that another juror spoke openly about his white supremacist beliefs.

The recent movie “The Juror” reminds me of the tactics that have been employed by the Christian patriot-white supremacist movement to influence and intimidate honest jurors. A fully informed jury is the goal of Martin J. “Red” Beckman, who has been described as an elder statesman among the Posse Comitatus and Christian patriot judicial strategists by the Coalition for Human Dignity. (“Guns & Gavels - Common Law Courts, Militias and White Supremacy”).

According to Beckman, jurors have a right to disregard judges’ instructions. I believe this happened in the Randy Weaver-Kevin Harris trial and will happen again in Spokane if this influence is not detected and addressed, and if jurors’ rights aren’t protected. They shouldn’t be intimidated by this organization. James Gordon Perkins Colville, Wash.

Appeals process obstructs justice

Several recent articles are concerned with the death penalty, i.e. the American Bar Association’s votes for a moratorium, some legislators want to extend it to 16-year-olds, President Clinton wants to extend it to more crimes, and the local case involving Joseph D. Andrews.

Each of these will serve only to further the endless appeals process, which undermines deterrence. For example, the next time your children misbehave, tell them you might punish them in 10 or 15 years. See if that prevents them from misbehaving again.

A death penalty in our state is automatically appealed directly to the state Supreme Court. The court reviews the evidence and determines if a fair trial was given under all pertinent state laws. Then, the case may go to federal courts. Except in rare circumstances, federal courts won’t consider guilt or innocence, only procedures, etc., regarding federal constitutional rights.

These appeals range from the ridiculous to the sublime: ” My lawyer was incompetent”; “The death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment”; and, of course, Mitchell Rupe’s, “I am too fat to hang.”

These murderers’ victims are cold, lifeless, dead - far beyond the reach of any court except God’s. No appeals, no stays of execution, no chance of a pardon or commutation of sentence from any source. They are dead.

I ask that my legislators, congressmen, senators and others not put any more possible lines of endless appeals on the books. Justice delayed is always justice denied. Walter Lane Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Steps toward prevention encouraging

I am responding to the excellent letter, “Diabetes legislation worth passing” (Feb. 11). This and the legislation banning drive-by births are finally steps in the right direction for health care, and that is prevention.

It seems almost common sense that insurance companies should pay for supplies and education for prevention, rather than pay thousands of dollars for complications that should not occur.

As a registered nurse, I have been striving for insurance companies to reimburse for prevention. This would include health education-prevention teaching done by registered nurses and advanced registered nurse practitioners. It seems that Americans are rewarded for illness, not wellness, and this will need to change for today’s health care system to survive.

I encourage everyone to take advantage of the knowledge that nurses possess and enjoy sharing. This may be the first step in valuing prevention.

I also hope that, in the near future, universal coverage for prevention will be passed by our legislators. Until that time, we should take prevention on ourselves and tap into the unknown resources on prevention - nurses. Kimberly Woodring Spokane

U.N. chief denies designs on U.S.

Did you get to see the London AP article in which U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan made comments? Just wish it had been front page headlines all over America. Annan said U.S. congressmen had contacted him, very concerned about the U.N. being a threat to United States sovereignty. He is quoted: “As I said, we don’t have the means to take the U.S., and even if we did take it, I wasn’t sure we could hold it. Not that we would want to do it in any case.”

Why were the U.S. congressmen very concerned? Will there come a time when the United Nations can take the United States and hold it? Betty L. White Tonasket, Wash.

Republicans still hold Lincoln’s ideals

Last Wednesday was the celebration of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Once it was a holiday, a day to celebrate, to remember a truly good and important person.

Now, we barely notice.

Lincoln was our greatest president, probably the greatest American, the savior of his nation, who freed millions from bondage. Our first great Republican president held principles that remain intact for the ages.

He said the Republican Party held that the government was instituted to secure the blessings of freedom, and that slavery was an unqualified evil to the Negro, to the white man and to the state.

Lincoln said: “Our reliance is the love of liberty which God has planted in us. Our defense is in the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in lands everywhere. Destroy the spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism at your own doors.”

He recognized “The power of government as being great, if contained, like fire in a stove, but dangerous if allowed to spread out of control like a wildfire.”

Our current Republican Party is still dedicated to conserving individual freedom, our nation’s greatest asset. Don Reed Spokane