Letters To The Editor

Tue., Aug. 4, 1998

AGRICULTURE

Seeing is understanding

I was pleased when Karen Dorn Steele called for comments on the grass burning waivers. I was hopeful that finally The Spokesman-Review might try to publicize some of the problems we grass farmers face with the baling of our blue grass straw.

Was I ever wrong! I did not say it was too much work to bale the straw. The actual work of baling has nothing to do with it.

Our biggest concerns are first, safety, and second, what to do with all of that baled straw.

We were not aware of the rule forbidding burning on slopes that had been burned in the past three years and cannot understand why such a rule was included. These slopes are just as steep this year as they always have been and are just as unsafe for equipment. After all, the tractors, rakes and balers do not come with self-leveling options.

Stacked at the edge of one of our fields are approximately 400 tons of blue grass straw baled from 253 acres (from 1998 only).

We are told paper and particle board can be made from the straw. Where are the companies to do it?

Drive out and see the stacks of bales left over from previous years (because of no market). And see how many bales there are this year.

Maybe then you will begin to understand. Ellen A. Wright Fairfield

ANIMAL PROTECTION

Humane Society needs your help

It has come to my attention that it is time for a public plea for help.

The Spokane Humane Society is (actually has been) in need of public support. Those who are temporarily finding their homes there do not have a voice of their own so I don’t mind using mine.

I have immense admiration for those who can do the job of taking care of Spokane’s unwanted and neglected companion animals. Without the support of more people, it makes the job of those who run the shelters even more difficult to endure.

Many people, including myself, have a problem dealing with the issue of euthanasia. Although I have come to find there are many ways to get involved and help them steer clear of that heart-breaking task.

People need to come forward. Anyone is eligible to become a member, volunteer or a board member. Funds need to be raised, committees need to be started, calls need to be answered, pets need to get forever homes, and the abandoned innocent need a second chance.

Help could be donations of money, time, effort, supplies, recyclables or the simple task of having animals spayed or neutered.

For more information call the Spokane Humane Society, 467-5236. Rebecca M. Harvey Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Racism comes in many forms

Given the public furor over the Aryan Nations march, it’s puzzling why so little attention was given the apparent race riot across the state on the same weekend at the Taste of Seattle festival.

Shouldn’t we be concerned with racism in all its forms or do we limit ourselves to easy, politically correct views of racism, like Nazi bashing?

On a TV news clip I watched a large group of blacks rioting and attacking a single white male. It struck me as an essentially racist event.

In America today racism comes in many forms. Concentrating solely on white racism is a form of racism itself because, as the current director of the NAACP stated, “Bigots come in all colors.”

America’s experiment in diversity may be a rather Utopian ideal. Individuals who constantly emphasize white racism in society may actually be instilling racial animosity in minority groups.

America accepts over half the world’s immigrants and many are minorities. It’s time we accentuate the positive lest the country become balkanized into competing tribal groups. Steve S. Howze Sagle, Idaho

Schools can’t do it all

Greg D. Holmes writes (July 25) that parents should be in charge of their children’s education without government interference. His letter is well written and shows his interest in civic affairs. He is the type of parent who will see that his children get a good education.

Not all parents are like that, though. Just read the daily news and advice columns. Some parents are such that others do know what is better for their child than they do. School meals are sometimes necessary because some parents cannot or will not provide proper nutrition for their children. Some parents are so hooked on drugs they don’t think of their children.

The fact is that of a child’s waking hours over the whole year, only about one of seven is spent in school. Parents and community get the other six hours. During their limited time available, schools can teach a child to read and figure, learn about history, etc., particularly providing there is parental support, but there is a lot schools cannot do.

If a student becomes a pothead or a teenage mother, it seems unreasonable to me to blame the schools, as Holmes does, and ignore the fact that most of a young person’s time is spent outside of school.

I would love to see us “go back to a society of caring parents, neighbors, churches and social organizations.” Until then, however, I think we need some governmental supervision of education. Robert E. Forman Colville, Wash.

Christian-bashing also hate crime

What constitutes a hate crime? Gay-bashing? The use of the n-word? We heard plenty about that during the O.J. Simpson trial. A burning cross left by the Ku Klux Klan?

How about Christian-bashing by the NEA, with their disgusting displays that they try to pass for art and the demeaning films subsidized by the Disney Corp.? If these people insulted the Jewish religion in the same manner they do the Christian religion, they would find themselves knee-deep in lawsuits.

There must be legal ways for Christians to stand up for their rights against insults and harassment. Alberta A. Murray Elk

Developments interfere, too

In regards to the new Wal-Mart proposal, I think all of the people who are opposed to the store have forgotten or don’t care about the quality of living that was ruined with the housing developments they now call home. As kids those fields which houses now cover were once our playgrounds. We were forced out of our playgrounds and turned into an almost city-like living by people who didn’t give our quality of life a second thought.

I have my own family now and have moved further out in the country. I have already accepted that someday our house will probably be surrounded by stores and developments. I am in no way related to David Nelson but I do remember his family lived in that area before we even moved out there. When these people moved into these developments was their head in the sand? Did they have no idea they were moving next to a major highway with undeveloped land around that someday might be a good location for a store? Rick L. Nelson Mead

People, show some consideration

The Thursday night Garth Brooks concert sounded fantastic! I would also like to say how much I enjoyed his widely touted stage antics but I can’t - the couple in front of us refused to sit down throughout most of the entire performance.

I know that Brooks creates massive energy and excitement that translates to his fans, but given the limited room and vision in the far end of the arena (where we were sitting), people need to show some consideration for fellow concert-goers.

My husband and I could have stood up, too, but then the elderly couple behind us and the young children in the row behind them would have been unable to see. The couple in front of us was asked politely if they would sit down so that the two rows directly behind them could see Brooks, too, but they stated, “If we sit down, we won’t be able to see, either.” I suggested that they ask the people in front of them to please sit down, also. They did, and the people in front of them sat down. But when I thanked the couple in front of us, the man replied, “Well, I don’t know how long we’ll be able to sit down.” They could have at least taken their hats off so we could have seen something.

All I can say is, I guess my parents (and my husband’s) raised us right because the older couple behind us thanked us several times after the concert for not standing up so at least they were able to see part of the concert. Liz Flugel Colville, Wash.

GOVERNMENT/POLITICS

Voters need to make decisions

Doug Floyd, speaking for the editorial board on July 26, strongly suggests that when the majority of the voters’ viewpoint disagrees with his own ideas, a minuscule group of elected officials should instead impose his viewpoint as the guiding legal position.

Our officials are elected to represent the views of the majority of voters who directly elected them, not those of an appointed commission. Former U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield (R-Ore.) cast the deciding vote against allowing voters to decide whether our country should have a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution several years ago, in direct opposition to the demands of over 65 percent of all Oregon voters and a higher percentage of his Republican supporters who strongly favored it, prematurely ending his outstanding political career.

I am opposed to discrimination which treats anyone unfairly. On the other hand, creating new and expanded rights enforced by undefined penalties is an unnerving precedent for us to allow any governmental entity to establish without majority voter approval. The real problem facing the City Council is not discrimination per se, but that a fairly small minority wants to redefine what constitutes a marriage, a family and dependents.

It would not only be courageous but wise to let the voters make this decision, rather than local officials being pressured by activists of whatever stripe. William H. Allison Medical Lake

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Keep fluoride out of water

“It’s a biting issue” (July 17) reported that Spokane voters rejected attempts to fluoridate in 1969 and 1984. In 1997 the Spokane Regional Health District staff attempted to fluoridate the Spokane region. On Aug. 21, the Spokane Regional Health District Board of Health members “moved that the board is not interested in proceeding with the fluoridation discussion at this time and directed staff to cease any exploration into the topic.” The directive hasn’t been followed. A campaign was started by the public health officer and other pro-fluoridationists. Fluoridation proponents are invited to speak at monthly health board meetings in an effort to persuade board members to fluoridate the Spokane region. Ignored by pro-fluoridationists is the astronomical cost of fluoridating more than 80 wells.

Since World War II, human exposure to fluoride has mushroomed, not only from fluoridated water but from dental products and environmental pollution. Since the 1950s, dental fluorosis has been on the rise, indicating that our fluoride exposure is excessive. A scientific study conducted by a chemist, two psychologists and an EPA neurotoxicologist reported that low levels of fluoride in water cases brain damage (“Brain damage,” February 1998).

Protect your health and pocketbook. Let the Spokane Regional Health District Board of Health know you oppose fluoridation. Ask the board to encourage the public health officer’s resignation, as she willfully refuses to accept the board’s will. Not fluoridating the water supply in no way cancels anyone’s opportunity to use fluorides from other sources, but it respects the right of individuals who want to avoid fluoride. Betty Fowler, volunteer spokeswoman Safe Water Coalition of Washington State, Spokane

IN THE PAPER

Artists need to champion own cause

Re: Brandon Rudd’s letter (July 28).

The Spokesman-Review did feature the Art Walk in Art Notes by Nina Culver. The participating galleries, the coinciding Summer Sizzle concert and extended business hours were not only at the top of the column but headlined.

While I find the reporting on the visual arts in The Spokesman-Review often lacks luster and feel frustrated when this vibrant and creative sector is overlooked, I can’t agree that complaining about it is the way to raise the visibility of this important segment of our cultural scene.

I would remind my fellow artists, it’s up to us to champion our cause. We are the ones best able to organize and present ourselves. We can inform and promote as easily as anyone else. We can strengthen existing visual arts organizations and programs by contributing time and ideas. We can work together and build stronger events.

Like my teenage son who is often unwilling to make a sandwich for himself even though he is hungry, some artists seem to be waiting for someone else to make their lunch. I would remind them, unlike their mother, The Spokesman-Review is not obligated to feed them. Connie M. Grove Spokane

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