Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Manager demonstrates holiday spirit

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, will we be able to slow down enough to see and recognize the spirit it brings? I hadn’t thought about it until it summoned me.

My 93-year-old grandmother had visited the Northpointe Pizza Hut for lunch. After eating, she removed her lower denture because it caused her pain from an ill fit. Forgetting, she departed and left it on the table, rolled in a napkin.

She didn’t notice its absence until that evening when she was preparing her supper. She panicked because she realized she would lose precious weight while waiting for another denture to be made.

My uncle went to the eatery that night hoping for assistance in its return. Instead of assistance, he watched while the restaurant’s manager, Jarred Perona, insisted on single-handedly scouring through the day’s refuse from the Dumpster. Perona did not retreat until he located it. He found the precious treasure that meant eating or not eating to my grandmother.

That is the spirit of Thanksgiving. I hope you’ll recognize it when it summons you. Let me suggest we summon it, for its potential is with us every day of the year. Nancy I. Wilimek Spokane

Miss Spokane contest - who needs it?

I was disappointed to see the photo in the paper (Oct. 18) of the young women competing for the title of Miss Spokane.

My first objection is to the necessity and relevance of this type of competition. My second objection is to the obvious lack of cultural diversity among the contestants.

My hope is that the talented young women of color in our city had better sense than to participate in such an out dated, pathetic event. What kind of lame message are we sending our children?

After the Chamber of Commerce embarrassment, diversity should be a huge priority in Spokane. Julie A. Askey Spokane

WASHINGTON STATE

Vote yes on Referendum 47

My property taxes have increased dramatically over the last three years, by a total of $28,300. That includes an increase of $8,000 for 1998. The value now is within $700 of what I would sell it for today.

I asked a nice lady in the assessor’s office if there is a law regarding taxes. She replied that there is, but there’s no law on increasing the value of property.

I talked to another nice person about examining the property. He said they do not do that anymore. They drive down the block to see what houses are selling for! This means newer brick houses are way up, so the value of my house, built in 1919, goes way, way up. Let’s vote yes on Referendum 47. Leon A. Barefield Spokane

Pass Referendum 47 for fair tax relief

Washington property owners need and deserve meaningful, fair, long-term relief. Referendum 47 accomplishes this goal and is the most far-reaching property tax measure the Legislature has approved in recent history.

R-47 permanently cuts these property taxes and limits increases in property taxes for taxing districts to the rate of inflation or 6 percent, whichever is lower.

With today’s rate of inflation less than 2.1 percent, property owners’ wages are not keeping up with the current practice of taxing districts to increase property taxes each year by an automatic 6 percent.

R-47 will not limit local governments’ ability to serve. It provides a mechanism which allows local governments that need additional funds to meet essential services to generate the full 6 percent increase with a supermajority vote of their local elected officials.

This referendum also eliminates huge spikes by phasing in large assessment increases. In addition, R-47 respects the constitutional requirement that all property be treated the same for property tax purposes. It does not discriminate against some taxpayers in favor of others. It treats all property owners equally.

The referendum not only helps with property taxes now, it reduces future increases as well. It is vital that all three portions of this referendum be included in any type of property tax reform in order to keep equability. R-47 is a responsible step in returning part of the state revenue surplus back to property owners.

The citizens of Washington have waited long enough for meaningful, fair, long-term property tax relief. Please vote yes for Referendum 47. Michael Heavey and Kevin O’Sullivan state senator and Thurston County assessor

Consider HJR 4209, then reject it

Why has there been so little discussion of this proposed amendment, House Joint Resolution 4209?

As drafted, it seems not confined to residential owners and occupiers of premises but could be extended to developers as well. As such, it also seems to be another way entrepreneurs might reach into the public’s pockets for the entrepreneurs’ own interests.

Voters would do well to reject an amendment so broadly drawn, for while private individuals might merit such assistance, developers emphatically do not! Donald M. Barnes Spokane

INITIATIVE 676

Vote no on ‘all-around bad law’

We are 15 and 18 years old. We have enjoyed the time spent with our dad in going to the shooting range or the forest and shooting handguns. He has spent invaluable time with us teaching us about gun safety and firearm operation.

Initiative 676 will take away the wonderful opportunity for us and many other kids to learn about the safe operation of guns and to spend such memorable time with Dad.

We have learned a respectable good fear of handguns if used or stored in an unsafe manner. Initiative 676 will change this fear into a sickening fear of the inability for a woman to lawfully have the right to protect herself from violent criminals.

Please vote no on such an all-around bad law as I-676. Kara and Rachelle Groce Spokane

Testing, training need calls for a law

I hope those opposed to Initiative 676 will allow common sense to prevail.

I hear the argument, “loss of freedom.” Did it ever occur to anybody that if licensing guns and requiring testing is tantamount to loss of freedom, then why is there not a loud cry of loss of freedom from licensing and testing for automobiles, boats, airplanes, various sports, businesses and many other things? It is all right to license and test these things but leave guns alone?

Isn’t it interesting that the military, which is expert in the field of guns and weapons, would consider it very irresponsible to put a gun in the hands of a person without the proper training and testing. But opponents of I-676 say people don’t need to be tested to make sure they know how to use a weapon properly.

The purpose of licensing and testing is for enlightening people about the safeguards and knowledge of the item in question. Without it, people remain uneducated and irresponsible.

For people to equate licensing and testing with loss of freedom clearly shows that these people haven’t a clue what freedom is.

With every right comes responsibility. Even a child can see that the way you prevent people from causing accidents and doing things they should know better about - whether we are talking about planes, boats, cars or, yes, guns - is to test and educate.

That is why as an informed voter I am voting for I-676. Rev. James C. Fiorito Spokane

Mishmash an assault on constitutions

If you think Initiative 676 won’t affect you because you don’t own a handgun, think again.

Cleverly hidden within its five pages are enough unconstitutional provisions to entrap anyone. From the first sentence of the text that declares an emergency that does not exist, to the last, it is a mishmash of assault on the constitutions of the United States and the state.

Proponents boast of broad support from certain associations and groups because some of their leadership endorsed I-676. I encourage the members to educate themselves on this initiative and vote as individuals. Earl A. Christensen Spangle, Wash.

Laws don’t make parents take care

Initiative 676 will do nothing to prevent my two babies from being killed by a gun. What it will do is cost me a lot of money, waste my time and set me up to be a criminal.

I put my kids in car seats, not to obey the law but to protect them. I do not let them drink bleach, anti-freeze or any other toxic substances for the same reasons that I put a gate at the top of the stairs, watch them constantly in the tub, teach them not to play with electrical outlets and teach them never to touch a gun: common sense, parental love and responsibility, not state law.

If supporters wanted to save kids’ lives, I-676 would require a license to give birth. Every mother-to-be would be required to pay the fee, take the class and pass the state test demonstrating her ability to feed, transport, educate, love and protect a child from birth to adulthood.

Please vote no on I-676. Dianne E. Peach Spokane

I-676 a net loss for safety

One point has been missed concerning Initiative 676.

We have been shown on television that loaded handguns with a trigger lock in place can still be discharged. Also it was shown that a handgun can be rapid-fired with a trigger lock in place. You simply slide the trigger lock against the trigger.

All the new trigger locks on Smith & Wesson handguns function the same way. This shows that the trigger lock gimmick does not function, as many are now being blindly led to believe.

Those who don’t understand this, especially small, curious children, will be given a false sense of security in the handling of a loaded, trigger-locked firearm. That is why there is a warning on trigger lock boxes that they are not to be used on loaded guns.

The point missed in all of this is that unloaded firearms with a trigger lock in place can still be loaded with the greatest of ease.

Wake up, folks. If this initiative becomes law, it is going to kill kids, not save them. May we now apply the word “evil” to I-676? Andy L. Ferrera Spokane

That Heston overreached is peripheral

E. Arthur Seaton II’s Oct. 22 letter condemned actor Charlton Heston’s recent remarks on Initiative 676 after Heston had declared the handgun control initiative so evil that it should be known as “Initiative 666.”

Seaton then claimed that Heston did the same thing to drafters of the initiative as America did to JapaneseAmericans who were interned in concentration camps during the second world war!

I’m concerned when a voter seems incapable of discerning between Heston’s calculated bit of rodomontade and a link to World War II criminality. Heston, famous for his religious roles, was guilty of nothing more than a stab at quasi-religious rhetorical burlesque. It wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. Seaton, however, is entirely serious when he sees Heston as part of a historical thread connected with World War II atrocities - way too much of a stretch.

In Internet newsgroups devoted to political debate, a new protocol seems to be gaining popularity. Known as the Godwin Rule, it goes like this: The first person in debate trashing an opponent with broad accusations of monumental historical evil having nothing to do with the issue at hand (e.g. Nazi, fascist, responsible for World War II concentration camps) automatically loses the debate. I suggest invoking the rule here. Tom M. Wootton, Jr. Pullman

Fiendish idea hardly new

“This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!” - Adolf Hitler, 1935

Need we say more? Fred M. Bozanich Cheney

OTHER TOPICS

Sooy great choice for Cheney mayor

Cheney voters have a wonderful opportunity on Nov. 4 to elect for a mayor a very special person, Amy Jo Sooy.

She has been a positive force in your community, actively involved in ranching, business, schools, real estate and the Chamber of Commerce. You are fortunate to have someone with her energy, interests and concerns who is willing to serve you.

Please take a positive step forward and cast your vote for Sooy. Don’t miss this opportunity. Roberta M. Vadon Spokane

Global warming is a fantasy

K. Julian Powers’ letter (Oct. 18) is typical of misinformed people, frightened by false information emanating from those with a political agenda.

Could it be that global warming is being touted as fact because Vice President Al Gore has taken a firm stand in that regard and to be proven wrong would damage his coming election campaign?

Powers stated, “Global warming is here.”

Since 1870, Earth’s temperature has risen one-half degree Celsius and most of that rise occurred prior to World War II, when the sources of CO2 emissions were a very small fraction of those that exist today. Since 1979, as per data collected by satellites and high-altitude balloons, the temperature has actually fallen slightly.

Of the 200 billion tons of CO2 released annually, 95 percent is the work of nature, 5 percent the work of man. Mankind’s contribution to any global warning is therefore inconsequential.

The coming meeting in Japan presents a great threat: loss of freedom and liberty through policy devised to ostensibly combat global warming. Global warming is a fantasy existing only in the minds of a misinformed, power-hungry group, pursuing their own political agenda. It has not been demonstrated but, should it be demonstrated in the future, nothing man can devise or dream up will be effective in reducing same. Mother Nature is the one calling that shot.

Clinton should be told to forget about global warming and concentrate his political skills on something over which he has some control, eg., relieving the American people of excessive government. Gene K. Ealy Coeur d’ Alene

Michener deserved fine tribute

Milt Priggee’s tribute showing James Michener walking toward the bright light over the title of his great works is a masterpiece. Well done.

Michener was not only a great author, he was also a great American. To really understand his incredible walk through life, one must read “The World is My Home.” He tells of his orphaned past, his travels around America, about his World War II and Korea experiences (he survived three plane crashes during that period).

Michener developed a deep understanding of people and cultures around the world. This is reflected in his works. “This Noble Land: My Vision for America,” published in 1996, details Michener’s political philosophy. I’m sure this book would raise the hackles of right-wing conservatives.

Neither of the above two books were mentioned in recent articles in The Spokesman-Review, nor are they visible in the front racks of book stores. You need to look in the back shelves. Ted W. Shepard Spokane

‘Nothing Sacred’ offers nothing helpful

The television show “Nothing Sacred” is completely against what we are trying to correct in society. Suicide, teen pregnancy, increased crime rate and drug abuse are all problems that stem from the home being destroyed, and the home fell apart when the church failed to be a strong support.

We know the church has problems. Rather than dwelling on what’s wrong, we should be working to rebuild it. This TV show further removes any hope people might have, especially in a time of crisis, that God is there to turn to. Dianne Marie Streibeck Spokane