Letters To The Editor

Fri., Jan. 31, 1997

SPOKANE MATTERS

Spokane must go forward

When all is said, one fact remains: revitalization of downtown Spokane is paramount.

Deterioration of the downtown core will lead to further suburban sprawl. Businesses, parking lots and other hard surfaces will displace valuable farmland and wildlife habitat. To ensure that we are in a position to appreciate the Spokane of the future, we must keep up the revitalization momentum now present. We must continue to work together, city and private sector, to keep our city center a place we can all be proud of; a city that reflects the creativity, pro-activity and pride of its citizens.

Besides, with light rail mass transit just around the corner, we must begin now to consider all development with the future in mind. Chris Bowers Liberty Lake

Like kids tussling in a sandbox

I was so frustrated to read the Jan. 23 article about the City Council deciding it may want to buy the building and land that Clinkerdagger’s plans to lease and has already spent $500,000 to remodel.

It disgusts me so because council members are acting like toddlers taking a toy only when they see someone else is interested in it.

Wednesday evening on public television there was a rerun of a discussion with the city leaders and three experts who had been brought in to advise them on how to improve the downtown area. The local experts were told at that time they were going at it the wrong way. Each wants his or her own project, which eliminates continuity and is harmful to the city in the long run.

They need to work together, plan for the future and plan projects that will benefit all people of Spokane. They were told to stop spending money on silly things, plantings and bark.

Well, obviously, they pay no attention to the experts they pay so much money to advise them. This is pure childishness. When will they grow up? LaNice Korus Spokane

Restaurant went off half-cocked

I’ve been reading criticism of the city of Spokane’s intrusion into Clinkerdagger’s move to the old Salty’s building. I mostly agree. But, if what I have read is true, why isn’t anyone criticizing the management of a company that would spend half a million dollars on improvements to a building for which it hasn’t yet signed a lease? K.D. Cotter Harrison, Idaho

Blood Center appreciates help

What a generous and overwhelming response we received during our critical blood shortage recently.

At a time when the public demands sensational news to captivate its attention, Spokane media were relentless in airing stories about the blood shortage. While many of us are aware of the life-and-death necessity of this blood, it may not always make the best news copy.

My sincere thanks to the media and to the wonderful folks who responded in great numbers to supply our area hospitals and patients with much-needed blood. It reminds me again why Spokane is such a great place to live. When blood centers in other areas have had to look to other sources to meet their needs, we were able to rely on our community.

Thank you, one and all, for your help during our recent crisis and for your continued support, as the critical need for blood continues. Shannon Little, Inland Northwest Blood Center Spokane

MARIJUANA

Legalize only for the seriously ill

In the Jan. 26 Perspective article, “The Marijuana Lobby,” different people were quoted on the topic of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. I am torn on the subject.

My first reaction is that people suffering from a terminal or irreversible illness should be allowed to take marijuana, if in fact it will ease their suffering. I am a firm believer in making life on this planet as pleasurable as possible for our short duration here.

However, every capable individual has a moral responsibility to improve themselves as much as possible in order to benefit themselves and ultimately society as a whole.

I fear, as did the gentleman from Veradale, this is a step toward broader legalization. I am vehemently against legalization of marijuana for general recreational and personal use. Marijuana use affects memory, reduces ambition, leads users to make poor decisions in judgment (all of this occurs even when the user is not under the direct influence of the drug) and often leads to use of other illegal and harmful drugs.

This is not repeating popular wisdom. It’s based on my observations of many friends and relatives who use or have used marijuana. I have yet to see any positive result from using marijuana.

Those who disagree ought to quit using the substance and take a look at themselves and others who use it. If they can’t see the negative results, they are blind to the reality that marijuana allows them to escape. Eric Bessett Cheney

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Baker, Clinton of different times

Tom Wootton Jr. has written that President Clinton was unfit to give Vernon Baker his Medal of Honor because Clinton refused to serve in the military during the Vietnam War (Letters, Jan. 23). Clinton’s actions during that war have a taint of cowardice, according to Wootton.

It is unfair to compare the two men, however, who lived in very different times. We cannot say Baker did his duty while Clinton did not. World War II was a unique situation; few would argue against our involvement. The moral voice of America was largely in agreement as to the ethical standing of the war.

Vietnam (and most other wars in which we have been involved in this century) was a completely different situation. Americans reached no consensus as to the value or morals of that war. While for men of Baker’s generation their duty was to fight, for men of Clinton’s generation their duty was left nebulous. It became a matter of personal conscience.

Aside from these historical facts, it is a mistake to define a person’s courage by their record of military service. Even wars fought for the most noble ends result in the degradation of human life and spirit. War is always the result of intellectual cowardice. It may produce individual acts of heroes like Baker, but on a mass scale it is our retreat into our least courageous instincts.

Until people like Wootton can come to respect those who refuse to participate in such acts, we will never have peace. Catlin Goodrow Spokane

Clinton critic overreaches

A recent letter from Tom Wootton Jr. tried the make the point that the president of the United States is not worthy to present the Medal of Honor to Vernon Baker.

Does Wootton know that only the president can present that highest medal? Did he ask Baker what he thought?

It not only is appropriate for the president to make that award, but particularly a president who has made the betterment of race relations a major policy for two terms.

I risked my life for my country but do not fault anyone for avoiding the Vietnam War. More veterans voted for President Clinton in 1992 than for a genuine war hero, George Bush. Figures for the latest veteran vote in 1996 may show the same.

Why can’t Wootton accept the president his state and his nation re-elected? James W. Ramsey Sandpoint

Heroes not part of today’s reality

I couldn’t agree more with Tom Wootton Jr. (“Medal giver not worthy of recipient,” Letters, Jan. 23).

I recall my father, a veteran of World War II, describing how his best friend was killed by his side while both were in Europe, fighting for America’s freedom. He told also of bodies hanging from trees, brave young men making the supreme sacrifice for us. All heroes.

“Hero: a man of distinguished valor or performance, admired for noble qualities,” - American College Dictionary.

Who are today’s heroes? A double murderer who runs fastest with a football? The orange-haired weirdo basketball player who kicks a photographer in the groin, then claims he is the victim?

Is it surprising that society today elects leaders with no moral fiber or character and few noble qualities, and even state that these qualities are unnecessary to a good leader? How sad.

If my father were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, I would request that it be mailed to him. A draft dodger has no right placing that medal around the neck of a hero such as Vernon Baker. Mary Lou Prentiss Coeur d’Alene

BELIEFS

God’s word isn’t about convenience

I have never met Rev. Peter J. Gomes, but I’ll bet that he is intelligent, personable, monogamous and more. His attributes, however, shouldn’t have a part in rewriting the Bible (“Preacher says Bible’s statements against homosexual acts should be considered in historical context,” Jan. 11).

A profound element of the Bible is that God is perfect and doesn’t need to edit his word to keep up with the times. Biblically, it is so clear that the practice of homosexuality, like some heterosexual activities, is wrong (Romans 1:27). When we seek to change God’s word to make life convenient (even for “deserving” causes), we then negate the whole idea of worshiping our creator, and we then worship something we created (idol worship).

If we don’t understand why God isn’t always politically correct, maybe we can lean on the passage that refers to his ways being higher than ours.

If I were in charge, I would probably have made the rules easier or put in stipulations like “Honor thy father - except throughout the teenage years.” I probably, however, would not have known a thing about creation or supernovas, not to mention sacrificing my perfect son for the love and salvation of mankind (which includes homosexuals and heterosexuals).

He does, after all, state that he wishes that “none should perish.” The fact that he saved us all through the sacrifice of his son shows us that he is a God who cannot deny his own just nature. What, then, gives us the right to think that we can? Ivonne M. Freas Spokane

Repetition won’t make wrong right

During my years as an attorney, I have noticed a particular strategy that is used in negotiations when the weaker side lacks logic for its position. This age-old technique is simply to repeat the position over and over, in the hope that eventually the other side either will give up or at least begin to think there must be something to a theory that has now become so familiar.

The Vatican is using this ineffective method in its often-repeated stance that women should not be ordained. Common sense tells me that Jesus dealt with the culture and its customs within which he lived. I see no reason to believe that because only male priests were selected 2,000 years ago the choice today should be limited to men only.

I remain active in the Catholic Church, volunteering time and contributing money to its many worthwhile causes, with the firm conviction that one day women will be priests and we as a community will be enriched as a result. Timothy W. Quirk Spokane

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