Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Department felled trees recklessly

Today (Aug. 11) I went to Comstock Park with my children and some friends. Shortly after we arrived, and much to our astonishment, park personnel began to cut down a very tall pine tree that was situated between the toddler swimming pool and the large pool. There was no announcement that this was going to happen. People weren’t cleared out of the area, nor was the area roped off.

Soon, the large tree fell. Fortunately, no one was injured. However, adults and children were very close to this tree, and if some child had wandered into its path, he or she could have been seriously injured or killed.

A short while later, an even taller tree was cut down. If the intended trajectory of the second tree had altered, it could have crashed into either of the crowded pools. We took our children out of the pool and to a safe spot before this tree fell, but most people seemed oblivious to the danger.

What is the Spokane Parks Department thinking? I have rarely seen anyone exercise such complete disregard for public safety or exhibit such a lack of simple common sense. Why is the department cutting down trees in the middle of a summer’s day, when Comstock is full of people? Why is it taking no safety precautions?

This is reckless endangerment and a tragedy waiting to happen. Marie C. Whalen Spokane

Thoughtfulness eased bad situation

Recently we found what caring people we have here in Spokane. We were waiting outside a downtown restaurant for a policeman to come and take a report on a hit-and-run accident involving our car. It was 95 degrees.

The assistant manager of the restaurant came out and asked if we would like to wait inside where it was cooler. We declined, as we did not want to miss the policeman.

Very soon, the young man came out with two tall glasses of ice water. He also visited with us. This kindness touched our hearts and took the edge off the unpleasant afternoon. Burl W. and Nell M. Hamilton Spokane

Fireworks concerts a Spokane treasure

Although I admit that I have not read The Spokesman-Review every day since July 26, I have not come across a letter commending the Allegro’s Royal Band, David Dutton, Beverly Biggs and the Royal Fireworks advisory committee and sponsors for the 20th anniversary performance of the Royal Fireworks Concert.

This annual event is a summertime highlight for the city of Spokane and it’s surrounding communities. We in the Inland Empire are truly fortunate to have such an event to call our own and to be proud of. Few communities throughout the world have the occasion to be invited to a completely free event, assemble peacefully, be enlightened and inspired, then leave - more buoyant than they were when they arrived.

I hope for another strong 20 years of the Royal Fireworks Concert and a continued tradition of excellent (and free) community arts. Furthermore, Riverfront Park is looking superb and should also be a continued source of Spokane pride. Jim T. Hedemark Cheney

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Pecadillo least of Clinton missteps

The real mystery regarding the Clinton administration is the basis on which he maintains his popularity. Surely, Ronald Reagan, Paul Volcker, George Bush and Alan Greenspan have had more to do with prosperity than a president who, in his own words, “Raised your taxes too much.”

Also, one might recall the mistreatment of the White House travel bureau personnel, the abuse of power relative to FBI files and the selling of a Lincoln bedroom occupancy. One need not concern oneself at all with sex scandals in order to condemn the administration’s behavior.

As for foreign affairs, there was buying the exile of the Haitian tyrant, continuing a tragic intervention in Somalia, purchasing North Korea’s tacit tranquility by export of nuclear technology, redirecting Serbian aggressions from the Bosnians to the Albanians, alleging a dubious accommodation between north and south Ireland, allowing Saddam Hussein to continue preparing weapons of mass destruction, and purchasing the most uncertain friendship of China - as payment for illegal campaign funding - by disavowing any friendship for Taiwan, a long-time ally.

Yet, an impeachment would, if successful, only empower Ozone Al Gore. Surely, Republicans ought not to do that.

The best one might hope for is that the national Democratic leadership might learn that skillful campaigning - Clinton’s one undisputed talent - is insufficient qualification for a presidential nomination, much less occupancy of the office. Don M. Barnes Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

There is a standard for judging people

Re: Micki Archuleta’s letters (Aug. 2 and 8)

Jesus never explicitly condemned homosexuality. It must be OK. Christians routinely wear clothes made from blended material. They can’t, therefore, take explicit passages about homosexuality at face value. Archuleta is tired of being persecuted. Everyone who dares to take the Bible literally should just shut up and embrace weak and irrelevant arguments designed to shroud clear Biblical prohibitions against homosexuality.

I’m not trying to persecute you, Archuleta. I’m just sick of the growing belief that homosexuality should be embraced by everyone and that anyone like myself who dares to disagree is a judgmental bigot. I am told to “judge not, lest I be judged.” But does that mean all judgment is sin? If so, then it’s time to release Timothy McVeigh, because we can’t say he was wrong.

To judge a person’s lifestyle implies that a standard exists by which to judge. As Christians, the word of God is our standard, which is why it is under attack by people wanting to live the way they want instead of following God’s mandates.

Yes, there are passages in the Bible that are either confusing or seemingly irrelevant, but that doesn’t mean we are free to ignore other clearly stated passages because we might not agree with them. If you’re following a map to get from Spokane to Seattle, you don’t discount it because there’s a coffee stain over Post Falls.

If you really want to be left alone, don’t call me a hypocrite for not believing what you do. Will A. Harrison Spokane

Christian right assailants, not healers

Re: Recent letters on religion, social values and human rights.

I wish we could heal the gaping wound caused by religion-driven social agendas. Conservative Christians - apparently afraid of losing their grip on the social order - would deny full participation in the community to women, gays, immigrants and anyone who doesn’t quite “fit in.”

Nonbelievers reject Christianity because they can’t see in all this fussing the universal, timeless, Judeo-Christian vision of one God who loves and nurtures all creation.

Conservative Christians cut deeply with prayer gatherings: white male leader, tie tied too tight, pious TV-preacher demeanor, “Father God - we’re so grateful that you chose us to fight your battles against perverts, feminists, socialists, the National Education Association, the National Endowment for the Humanities, liberals and other ungodly undesirables …”

Everyone else deepens the wound in their own way.

I imagine the one almighty God rolling her eyes in disgust with us, straining her ears to hear the sweet sound of prayers for love, peace and justice for all. Edward B. Pace Spokane

Know them by their enemies … ?

Alberta Murray’s attempt to compare the plight of modern Christians to that of African-Americans and Jews warrants some comment (Letters, Aug. 4).

The last time Christians were truly persecuted was in the Roman arenas, not at the Saturday matinee with beasts resembling Simba the lion king. An institution that considers Disneyland as its arch-nemesis needs a reality check.

There are some real world issues for Christians to work on. Establishing a Christian anti-defamation league to defend hypocrisy is not progress. Tim W. Wright Pullman

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Young bike riders need supervision

Two weeks ago, my 2-year-old daughter and I were at the Farmer’s Market on Prairie and Highway 95. While standing at a booth, I heard a terrible sound and turned to see a purple bicycle lying in the road with the young girl who had been riding it lying unconscious on the hot pavement. I thought of how terrified her parents must have been until I realized her parents weren’t there. I also noticed she and her other siblings were not wearing helmets. I later learned the little girl is only 8 years old and her other siblings were not much older.

Why were they allowed to ride their bikes, unsupervised and with no helmets, along the Highway 95 bike trail when they have to cross busy intersections? They’re too young to understand when it’s OK and not OK to cross the street, as was the case with this little girl.

It is our responsibility to protect our children, even if it means making them wear those silly little helmets they don’t like. I’m so glad her injuries weren’t life threatening because, as far as I’m concerned, she’s lucky to be alive. Laurie L. Clark Hayden Lake

Lax parenting can lead to tragedy

Re: “Teenager killed in truck accident” (Aug. 8).

I ask, where are the parents?

In the past month, Kootenal County has lost four young people due to traffic accidents. What bothers me is that both of these accidents occurred at 4 a.m.

In the first accident, on Fernan Lake Road, two 15-year-olds and an 18-year-old died and a 16-year-old still lies in a semicomatose state in Spokane. According to police reports, they had been at a camp site all night long where alcohol was being used without any parental supervision.

More recently, on Aug. 7, a 16-year-old died instantly when the vehicle he was driving struck a tree.

Being a baby boomer, I am probably a little old-fashioned in my thinking. However, I was never, at the age of 16, allowed to be out at 4 a.m. by myself or with other juveniles for any reason. Neither were any of my friends. Mothers and fathers were more willing to just say no 35 years ago.

Why would a parent allow a juvenile to be out all night unsupervised ? Proper parental oversight could have prevented these tragedies. Bill Litsinger Sandpoint

Parents let their teenagers down

“County won’t file accident charges,” (Aug. 8). The families are certainly going through enough pain. However, the parents of the minors should be ashamed for allowing their children to be out at that hour. Gerry Franklin Lewiston

Government nannying of little help

It’s odd that people, specifically Michael G. Schrader (Letters, Aug. 11), endorse more and more government regulation. I relish opportunities to express my freedoms guarded by the Constitution. Yet, it appears as though being free is too dangerous for some.

Whenever people don’t use common sense, we want mother government to fix it with a Band-Aid. That’s what more government regulation is: a Band-Aid. It does little to heal wounds and even less to prevent them. I would guess that the majority of those “inexperienced” individuals who ride Jet Skis haphazardly by Schrader’s window do not own their watercraft. Individuals who lend out their Jet Skis should make sure the borrowers understand how to use them and those using them need to take responsibility for themselves and ride safely.

Also, not all motorcycle operators are required to have license endorsements to ride legally - namely, when they aren’t on the street. To ride off-road, you don’t even need a driver’s license. So, why should a person on a Jet Ski be required to? Even pleasure boaters drive their boats with little more than a boat registration. People know motorcycles, on-road or off, can be dangerous. The smart ones take the necessary precautions. Smart people also understand that personal watercraft can be dangerous. If Schrader were to look hard out that window, he’d find that the smart ones are the careful ones.

Be smart, everyone, and don’t go crying to mother government when you aren’t! Randy T. Palmer Moscow, Idaho

OTHER TOPICS

Offensive term not my doing

Nancy Lynne (letters, July 31 and Golden Pen, Aug. 10) is certainly due an apology for the fulsome expression, “hairy-legged hippie.” However, not from Charley Starr.

Not only is such a crass, scurrilous remark no part of my vocabulary, it never will be; so if Lynne wants to compare legs, she will have to seek out whomever at the Coeur d’Alene Press was guilty of gratuitously interjecting that tasteless personal remark in a letter I wrote.

“Birkenstock wearing,” “granola eating” and “tree hugging” are all rhetorically used to stereotype today’s pseudo-environmentalists. A photo of such a group looks as if the subjects were produced with a cookie cutter. If Lynne has been around as long as she asserts, she should be able to distinguish literal from rhetorical. Otherwise, as she contends in her letter, it “is a diversionary tactic only a fool would engage in.”

Apparently, the putative “editing” at the Press now includes a feeble effort to generate controversy and greater interest by hyping-up letters with additional commentary. Sort of a homegrown Jerry Springer show. The primary function of the “editing” used to be to cut up a letter to make it as unintelligible as possible. Charles C. Starr Coeur d’Alene

Bad GU publicity uncalled for

It’s unfortunate that this newspaper has a propensity to publish and sensationalize negative news about Gonzaga University when the real focus should be on the work and sacrifices so many have made, and continue to make, toward service and excellence. This university, that is privately funded, is nationally recognized and a tremendous asset to our community.

The real story about any university can be best related by the students and graduates. Please take some time to visit with them. Dave Hamer Spokane

Goodtimes campers grateful for support

Camp Goodtimes was attended by 145 children with cancer during the week of June 21. They spent the week swimming, climbing, riding horses, boating and doing many other activities most campers do at camp.

Faced with treatments, hospital visits, medical bills and the emotional stress of cancer, these children were given an opportunity to spend a week simply enjoying being “normal” kids.

With donations from the community and associations like Foundation Northwest, KOA Care Camps, the Comstock Foundation, the Pemberton Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Junior Bloomsday, Oldies 101 Radio, the Wasmer Foundation and volunteer medical staff from Deaconess Medical Center, the American Cancer Society is able to offer this camp at no cost to the families.

Many thanks from all the children who attended and from the American Cancer Society for continuing community support of this outstanding program. Kathy M. Chase and Judy F. M. Morris, co-chairs Camp Goodtimes, American Cancer Society, Spokane

Comparison a dubious fit

I thank Peter Dolina for his response (Letters, Aug. 2) to my earlier letter about abortion, although I still do not think he addressed my basic point. He maintains the real issue is not whether the fetus possesses full humanity but rather the convenience of abortion and rationalizations made for why it is not thereby wrong. He cites examples of Nazis and white settlers rationalizing their actions by denying that their respective victims were “really” human beings.

I agree that if something is convenient, that by itself doesn’t make it right to do. Nazis who killed Jews and white settlers who killed American Indians were committing unjustifiable actions, however “convenient” for the aggressors.

More likely than not, they did not have reason to deny that their victims were really humans, for their denial would certainly have to involve evasion of convincing reasons or arguments to the contrary.

There is considerably more room for reasonable doubt concerning the humanity of an early term fetus than there is concerning that of the Jews or American Indians. Chris Cathcart Spokane