Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Project a put-up, inside job

Spokane citizens have a right to be heard. Unfortunately, our City Council seems to believe just the opposite.

In their omnipotent view, they have disregarded any and all opposition to the River Park Square parking garage purchase. Their heavy-handed tactics to push this through at all costs have told us that they alone know the correct direction in which our city should grow. They disregarded the study they spent our tax money on to go ahead with this limited view of our future.

If this purchase is such a sweet deal for our city, then why hasn’t any private venture come forward to take this money-maker and run with it? This alone should tell our city something about this project.

And for people to say that the council has listened is a joke. When one watches the council meetings and listens to their prepared speeches at the end as to why they favor this project, you know they had their minds made up long before anyone wasted their time in trying to give their views.

Fortunately, some community-minded people have stood up for the unheard masses (unheard because the council will not allow a public vote on the matter). People like Steve Eugster, who has no vested interest in the project. Eugster has come forward to open the council’s minds to the inequity of a public-private venture such as this at the cost of time, money and malicious commentary upon his character. People like Eugster should be praised, not vilified. Ken and Cindy Lawson Spokane

Revitalization spurs hope

Most of us in Spokane have watched the deterioration of our downtown with dismay - buildings crumbling, merchants struggling and the number of vacant stores increasing.

As co-chairwoman of the Friends of Riverpoint Campus, I can assure you that the Friends envision a glowing future for our city based on a healthy interchange between the vitality of downtown and the benefits offered by Riverpoint Campus, where education and research combine. That is why I see the revitalization of downtown as essential for our future.

Now, there appears to be a glimmer of hope, a potential for growth that, like Expo ‘74, will attract new jobs and new business. With our new library, our Opera House, Riverpoint Campus, Centennial Trail and now, our beautiful River Park Square, we will have a good foundation on which to build and provide better services to this community and its people. Vivian M. Winston Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Term ‘racism’ only cuts one way

Last week, at the Spokane Ag-Trade Center, a fashion show was held to raise funds for “Young African-Americans, culturally and educationally.”

If a group of white people did the exact same thing to raise money for young white Americans, culturally and educationally, would this be considered racist? You’re damn right it would! Jesse Jackson and the media would scream racism, bigotry, etc. It seems what we have here is a lot of hypocrisy and double standards. William A. Hall Spokane

Brotherhood: We’re not there yet

Many of us would like to think that a nation with all the superiority and power of ours would have overcome issues such as racism. However, it’s all too evident that all we’ve done is extensively study the issue.

It dismays me to know that in the professional world of golf, racism is still being displayed. It bothers me to know that a successful young man such as Tiger Woods must face the same pressures as did Jackie Robinson 50 years ago.

Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller is not only guilty of making stereotypical remarks, he has touched on the insensitive chords of racism that many of us would like to have thought was behind us. It upsets me even further to know how many people supported Zoeller in his strong remarks, making him look like a comedian who would have made the same remark had the winner been Italian.

I’m glad to know that Zoeller realized his remarks were offensive. I praise him for apologizing and wanting to mend things with Woods. However, his actions call for more then an apology. I suggest that Zoeller do a little research to find out why his comments were so offensive.

Although we can never truly place Zoeller in Woods’ shoes, he should be made to understand the hardships that Woods has had to endure to make it to where he is. Zoeller’s remarks were not amusing or appreciative. Perhaps he can give Tiger Woods the applause that Woods truly deserves. Cheriya L. Scott Spokane

Robinson tribute a beacon

I commend Hank Aaron for sharing his insights and views with many readers about Jackie Robinson’s love for baseball, his hard-fought struggle to become successful, and for being a hero to many (“Jackie Robinson’s heroism came with a conscience,” April 16).

As a person who stands off to the side and views the many behaviors and attitudes of today’s athletes, it was wonderful to listen to a story of a man who overcame the odds that had been stacked against him and became a leader.

Many leaders are lacking in athletics today. Various players have lost all sight of what being a professional athlete is all about. It isn’t about dollar signs, greed or publicity. I’d like to think that the eight-figure salaries are going toward positive programs for less fortunate children and many other recreational facilities, and tickets for families that wouldn’t normally be able to participate in these activities.

Many people have forgotten the people who made it possible for their participation in activities. Robinson endured many hardships for himself and the African American athletes today. I thank Aaron for bringing this important topic to the forefront, to remind people on the 50th anniversary that real heroes care about others and would experience the fight to equality for African American athletes all over again.

He broke the color barrier for today’s athletes. He is not only a role model for the game of baseball but for all aspects of sports today. Allison J. Bryan LaCrosse, Wash.

IN THE PAPER

One thing Priggee’s not is subtle

As a resident of Idaho, I was offended by staff cartoonist Milt Priggee’s recent depiction of our children as junior Klansmen. I haven’t objected because I suspect that The Spokesman-Review would find that delightful.

I do, however, object to one reader’s suggestion that we Idahoans are too dense to perceive Priggee’s subtle message. Priggee is about as subtle as an outdoor toilet.

Children of all races live in North Idaho, and are no more likely to suffer racial harassment here than in many parts of the country, including Eastern Washington. Phil C. Berry Rathdrum

Right idea weakly defended

Recently, while en route from Spokane to Coulee Dam, I listened to an exchange between staff cartoonist Milt Priggee and a rather obnoxious talk show host. The subject was Priggee’s April 13 cartoon on the Junior Bloomsday race.

What had struck me about the cartoon was its dead-on inference that most people in this area look at Idaho as a state in which bigotry and racism have found a home, and that Idaho children are being indoctrinated with their parents’ views at an early age. Somehow, I felt, Priggee failed to get that thought across.

Kids aren’t born racists. They become racists through parental indoctrination or peer pressure.

Priggee was right. The talk show person attempting to force an apology from him merited a much tougher response than Priggee gave. Fred J. Meyer Coulee Dam, Wash.

Political cartoonists are valuable

Political cartoonists want to help us be more alert, aware, interested, to make us think about a subject, be informed, have an opinion, and even on occasion laugh at ourselves.

I doubt if the cartoonist always portrays his or her own opinion, or even needs our agreement. The artist is not running for office.

These cartoonists are actually very brave. They seldom back off from controversial subjects, which is more than you can say for many of our elected officials.

These political cartoonists are a national treasure. Do you think they would have been tolerated in Nazi Germany or communist Russia, or be tolerated today in North Korea, Cuba, China, Iran or Iraq?

The subject of Idaho children has certainly drawn a lot of attention. Maybe we should all rethink this. Perhaps the cartoonist sees something many of us have missed. Perhaps he has taken a long view. Have we?

All adults who read the editorial pages of the Spokesman-Review know they frequently have guest writers and cartoonists, and no one forces anyone to read any of them. Ellen M. Dimond Spokane