Letters To The Editor

Fri., Nov. 14, 1997

SPOKANE MATTERS

Freedom of expression stifled

I was very appalled that the county commission made the decision they did without any regard for the constitution. I was under the impression that Americans had the freedom of expression, but after the Nov. 4, hearing I know this is not the case. What’s even more disturbing is the commissioners apparent contempt for a profession they know nothing about. They already made their decision before the hearing took place.

I’m ashamed to live in a county that’s represented by such closed minded and prejudiced people. I’m an exotic dancer and they had no interest in anything I had to say. One of the women on the council was rolling her eyes as I was speaking. I didn’t realize my side of the story was so boring. They seemed so convinced that my profession involves prostitution and drugs, even though there is no evidence to support such ludicrous allegations.

They had video tapes from other clubs which had nothing to do with Spokane. They had testimony from a former dancer and I don’t know if what she said was the truth, as I have never witnessed anything like what she said, but you have bad apples in any business. You have drinking in the parking lot at other businesses, whether it’s a grocery store or adult entertainment. Does the four foot ordinance prevent what people do outside? I think not. Alicia S. Erickson Spokane

I can run my own life, thanks

Re: The strip clubs. There go the Christians trying to save our souls by outlawing sin and keeping decency and goodness in the hearts of Spokane’s heathens.

What are they trying to accomplish? Are they really concerned with my eternal soul or are they just a bunch of meddling moralists who object to the behavior of others if it doesn’t carry their moral stamp of approval? God gave man free will to choose to resist or succumb to the weakness of the flesh. In order to be holy, one must act due to a desire to please God for His sake, not to avoid prosecution by man.

Criminalizing sin doesn’t make those who obey the law holy any more than wiring a liar’s mouth shut makes them honest. I find it hypocritical that Christians target specific sins to abolish, while ignoring and probably committing others. Let’s help these moral absolutists by making it illegal to lie, to be jealous, to envy, to covet, to bear false witness, etc., until all sins are illegal. Then everyone will go to heaven and they’ll be relieved of their duty to personally convert the sinners.

I object to government’s continuing propensity to pass law after law to save citizens from themselves. This borders on totalitarianism. What they’re saying is “You citizens are too stupid to figure out what is in your own best interest, so it’s up to us to outlaw any behavior, no matter how innocuous or private, if somebody else doesn’t approve.”

I’m a freedom-loving individual who will obey and expects others to obey any law protecting a person from the unauthorized actions of another, but I’m tired of lawmakers and Christians shackling my private life to comply with their own narrow personal moral beliefs. I thought I lived in America. David C. Hall Spokane

Negativity detracts from real crime

I am writing in response to your Oct. 22, article, “Autopsy: Woman found at dam was murdered.”

I was very disappointed and angered to see that the article focused on the crimes of the victim. I believe that when someone dies, and particularly when they are brutally murdered, it’s not only disrespectful, but nearly inhumane to dredge up negative aspects of their past. My guess is that there are people in this community who loved and valued her, and having her life commemorated in such a way must be terribly painful to them. There is also a strong likelihood that someday her little girl will read that article, and it will become a part of her memory of her mother.

As disturbing, if not more, is the fact that demonizing the victim in such a way detracts from the gravity of the real crime here. Yet another young woman, this time a young mother, was needlessly and brutally murdered in our community. To focus on her shortcomings somehow dehumanized her and legitimized her murder. And, it allows us as a community to sit on our laurels with regard to finding the real criminal, her murderer. She was the third young woman killed in this community in the last two months, yet I have heard little or no public outcry on this issue. Were they not prostitutes or addicts, I suspect that might not be the case.

Because I work with the kids labeled “at-risk”, I know that there’s a good chance that this girl was where she was in life because society and this community let her down, probably repeatedly. Let’s not do it again. Janet M. Young Spokane

Stop whining, it’s over

The election is over, and it amuses me to continually read about all the liberal cry baby media folks because the election results didn’t go their way.

I voted against the stupid gas tax that was proposed. I fail to understand how a city with an annual budget of over $100 million, can’t find the needed dollars to fix any of the city and county problems.

Congratulations to the city voters for voting in a new mayor. I have faith that Mr. Talbott will not rape the public of their hard earned wages, that all the others have. Pupo, seems like a man who is leach to societies taxpayers. Michael E. Glover Otis Orchards

GOVERNMENT/POLITICS

‘No’ votes sent clear message

We would like to thank everyone for getting to the voting box to deliver a resounding “no” vote on initiative 676. I think we all can compliment ourselves for sending a clear message from our county to the anti-gun movement.

We believe in safety and the protection of our children. We believe in doing this by educating our children ourselves, as American families have done for generations. We don’t believe in leaving the teaching task up to a government agency drowning in red tape. We also believe in safety and protection of ourselves and our children through the ownership of firearms, if we so desire to have them. It is our inherent right to own firearms without hindrance for the purpose of self-protection.

We would also encourage people who haven’t registered to vote to get out there and do it! The anti-gun movement has already made it clear that they feel as strongly about making life difficult for us, as we believe in making it simple. Be ready to vote when we really need it again.

We would also like to really thank the National Rifle Association for stepping up to the plate to help us out in delivering our message and ultimately defeating the 676 initiative. As part of our thanks, we are going to make out a check to the NRA. Ironically it will be the same denomination as the fee we would have been charged … $160.

We would encourage that everyone else would do the same. Pay your $160. Only one thing … don’t send it to the state treasurer. Send it to the NRA. Todd and Navis Radwick Winthrop, Wash.

Support of infanticide despicable

My only regret in moving recently to Idaho is that I am no longer able to vote against Sen. Patty Murray.

She is a Catholic, as I am. Therefore, I have always been ashamed of her support of President Clinton’s approval of partial birth abortions and of the failure of Washington churches to fight her.

This week, I was encouraged to read how New Jersey exit polls showed how that state’s Catholic voters voted against their popular female governor, who also supports partial birth abortions.

I only hope that Washington voters of any faith will show Murray how despicable it is to support infanticide simply because Clinton does. Pat D. Kilpatrick Post Falls

Limit relationship with China

V.V. Brady implies that President Clinton is the first and only president to participate in fund-raising while serving as President of the United States.

I don’t know what news sources Mr. or Ms. Brady was following when Ronald Reagan and George Bush were President, but evidently the fact that they too participated in fund-raising while in office, eluded V.V. Brady.

Like Steve M. Busch, I too am appalled that President Clinton has accepted the Chinese leader into our country, but I was even more appalled when George Bush fought tooth and nail to grant China “most favorable nation” status. I felt then, as I do now, that the crimes against humanity perpetrated by China should exempt them from any real or imagined acceptance of their regime by our government.

Evidently both the Republicans and the Democrats feel we must have an official relationship with the government of China, but I think it should be limited to the level where we can influence China’s human rights policy. Deborah Lawrence Hale Greenacres

IN THE PAPER

Lighten up, it’s only his opinion

I’ve seen many letters written complaining about that particular paper’s political cartoonist, but the letter from Douglas Griffiths (Nov. 12) regarding political cartoonist, Milt Priggee, pushed me over the edge.

I’ve lived in various cities in Washington state, including Spokane, Seattle and Tacoma. I’ve seen every single one of the political cartoonists get bashed over and over again by angry people who just can’t accept an editorial cartoon for what it is: one person’s opinion.

I admire Milt Priggee and all other political cartoonists who at least have the guts to make some people laugh about some issues, be it controversial or personal. It should at least make people think about it, they don’t necessarily have to think it’s funny.

What never ceases to amaze me is how people can get so worked up over one man’s opinion. His opinion does not reflect that of the entire staff of The Spokesman Review. How can you possibly expect the cartoonist to come up with something every single day that does not offend a single person? Where is Mr. Douglas’ common good sense? Why does everything in the Opinion section have to agree with his opinion? Who’s the socialist here? It sounds to me like his agenda is the socialist one by quoting some irrelevant Bible passage. You make me sick.

Here’s an opinion of my own: Lighten up and pull your head out. Don’t get so worked up about it. Think of what a boring place the world would be if we all had the same opinions. Brian K. Dentler Pullman

Get with the times, Priggee

Re: Milt Priggee’s cartoon of Nov. 6, 1997.

It’s obvious that Priggee has shown which side of the gun initiative he is on by the depiction of an elderly lady and an open window. Most seniors don’t keep a window unlocked on their homes. Neither do most younger couples.

Maybe Priggee forgot to read the fine print on the 676 initiative which was wholeheartedly rejected by the citizens of Washington. We are not going to be puppets controlled by the governors hands manipulating the strings. Our rights to have guns and protect our families is the epitome of the Second Amendment.

Maybe people wouldn’t need to have loaded guns in their homes if the laws were obeyed by everyone, and the fear of the just released from an overcrowded jail career criminal wasn’t justified by the need to protect oneself. I suggest Priggee get with the times and look around at all the violence now being perpetrated in and around Spokane. Any more questions? Susan Neese Spokane

Priggee a little off track

I have always defended Milt Priggee. Why? Because he can draw much better than I. But now it seems that he has gotten a little off track.

In his last three cartoons he has addressed the outcome of the recent election. As I read it, he is right and the balance of the voters in the state are wrong? He seems to think that it’s fine for criminals to have guns, as long as ours are under lock and key? Those who chose a different life style than most of us, should have special privileges? And then he depicts the voters as stupid for turning down a gas tax.

I wonder if when little Milty was growing up, and in the schools parade, his grandmother made the remark “Oh look everyone, Milty is out of step?”

We don’t need additional funds, just spend what we have properly. Just this week the city will save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, by relieving two accused miscreants from the payroll. Under private contract that will fill a lot of potholes! Charles E. McCollim Spokane

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