Letters To The Editor

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Comments should be based on fact

“Steer clear of published snake oil” (Nov. 27) by Gloria West for the Baltimore Sun, does a disservice to your readers, especially those seeking help in their time of need. West sees Dr. Bob Arnot’s book, “The Breast Cancer Prevention Diet” as promoting guilt, offering false hope and profiting from fear (all her terms).

It’s apparent that West hasn’t read the book but declared it snake oil (Spokesman’s term) just because it was written by a man. She states, “What women do not need is one more man telling us how we need to improve our lives …”

Nowhere in Arnot’s book does he mention “magic,” a term which West uses easily. She states emphatically that “there’s no proven diet-related link to the disease.” This isn’t true. There are numerous studies linking diet to lessening risks to breast cancer. Arnot does not discuss cure but rather the lessening of risk. Nowhere does Arnot state that “one less cookie” will “make a difference.”

It’s wonderful that she is “cured” of breast cancer, but do not diminish the hope of those whose cancer may have metastasized and who are looking for something to assist in their fight against this incredibly devastating disease. As a so-called professional writer, West should base her comments on analysis and facts.

Arnot’s book has been challenged by others also, but to author such a personal vendetta with no analytical comment or support for her position is untenable; and for The Spokesman-Review (and the Baltimore Sun) to print such a factually baseless, sex-biased article is unconscionable! Donald M. Wood Seeley Lake, Mont.

We take our relative safety for granted

I cannot question the figures on hepatitis B in the letter, “Immunizations seem unwarranted,” by Tanya L. Turner. However, there are many people who have not vaccinated their children because “there are no more diseases today of that sort.”

When I was in high school, back in the 1930s, it was a common sight to see people with no hair, from typhoid fever; and to see people on crutches from infantile paralysis, known also as polio. There were many teenagers with faces badly pitted from smallpox.

Quarantine signs went up on houses for diphtheria, for scarlet fever - terrible diseases. Whooping cough was common and dreadful to watch. Mumps left many men sterile. There were huge sanitariums for tuberculosis patients. Mothers used to expose their daughters to measles, even though ear problems and other bad things might follow, so they wouldn’t get them later if exposed when they were pregnant.

A segment of the population has decided not to have their children get “shots” because those diseases are all gone. But are they? Are people coming in from other countries where the diseases are still fairly common? Are the old diseases sneaking in one at a time?

Medicine has come a long way. I marvel at the youths of today - the straightness of their backs, the beautifully even teeth. You don’t see what I used to see daily - the harelips, terrible birthmarks and even clubfeet. This is what medical men have accomplished in the past years. I think we should really listen to their advice. Marion Lillie Coeur d’Alene

Vaccine can prevent hepatitis B

Hepatitis B occurs worldwide, infecting 10 to 30 million people per year. The younger the victim, the greater the chance of becoming a carrier. Worldwide, 300 million people are hepatitis B carriers. They look healthy but can share the virus with others. A hepatitis B carrier has a 200 percent greater chance of getting liver cancer. One in 20 U.S. residents has antibodies in their blood showing that they have been exposed to hepatitis B.

Exposure occurs through blood or body fluid contact. Medical, dental and emergency care personnel may come into contact in the normal course of their jobs. People living with hepatitis B carriers, families that have adopted a child from a high-risk area of the world, people who travel to high-risk countries, children born to hepatitis B carriers and people who get tattoos, ear or body piercing with unsterilized needles, use illicit drugs or are sexually promiscuous are also at risk. Inadvertent exposure can happen to people of any age.

Hepatitis B vaccine is a safe way to prevent hepatitis B. The Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend that hepatitis B vaccine be given with the infant series of immunizations, beginning at birth.

Those who are immunized will not get the disease and not become carriers. Children are immunized only with parent permission.

Good information about hepatitis B is available on the Internet:

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/

http://www.cdc/gov/ncidod/disease/hepatitis/

http://www2.hepb.org/hepb/info.html. Marie E. Rau, R.N. Coeur d’Alene

BUSINESS AND LABOR

What makes scabs cross the line?

How can people be so petty as to say, essentially, “Those workers are greedy. I’ll take that job.” and cross the picket line? Don’t these scabs see that it is they who are being greedy by putting their desire for money above the rights of fellow human beings to defend themselves against unscrupulous corporations?

The big shots running those companies will keep trying to bust unions as long as they know there are scabs willing to sabotage their brothers’ ability to defend their contracts. Then, when most of us are making the kind of money they make in those Third World countries that our manufacturers are selling out American workers for, then we’ll all wish we had a union. And we’ll have the scabs to thank. Carol A. Carpenter Greenacres

Union officials not drawing pay

This is a response to the claim our union officials are drawing hefty paychecks during the Kaiser strike. They actually draw no money. How does nothing sound to you? There has not been any paycheck issued since the strike.

Reality: The elected union officials at our locals do not have the luxury of being able to hold a second or temporary job during the strike. They are needed at the hall for meetings, putting out information and organizing things on a local and national level. They have no way of earning extra money during the strike. They depend on us, as well as we depend on them. We support them with food from our food bank.

We have been preparing for this strike too, so maybe they have put some money away for emergencies.

We have taken up collections for our brothers and sisters in need. One was a car fire. One was a young man with a heart attack. We helped one of our retired sisters last year before the strike. She had lost her home to a fire, and she came to the hall and helped us with cooking. That helped put one more union brother or sister on the picket line. We stick together and help one another. We are a union in more than just words, but in works too. Becky S. Lamphier, 18 years at Kaiser Coeur d’Alene

PEOPLE AND SOCIETY

Tolerance pushers strangely intolerant

I’m amazed at the lack of elementary reasoning of some on the subject of tolerance. It seems that those who espouse the doctrine of tolerance the most are most intolerant of any suggestion of a course contrary to their perversions.

The word brings to mind such virtues as patience, meekness, forbearance and long-suffering. Shouldn’t the tolerant be the most supportive of free speech? If they were really tolerant they’d print bumper stickers like “tolerate hate” or “Idaho is too great for thought police” or “tolerance is natural.”

A principle known by most is “words will never hurt me.” So what if one says something false or slanderous about me or my beliefs; if what I stand for is true, noble and honorable then I have nothing to defend, as truth stands on its own merits. But, if what I represent is a lie, then I’d seek to defend it by more lies, since a lie can’t stand upon it’s own, as it proves itself false.

So, deceivers seek to protect their actions with hate crime laws. Are they saying there are love crimes? All crimes are hate crimes. So, why all the noise to make that which is already unlawful and hateful, unlawful again? It’s like trying to make water wetter. Can you expect better logic from such a redundancy as “hate crime”?

The purpose behind their fluff is not only to remove free expression, but especially truthful judgment. They demand tolerance for their diversity of perversions, yet they are loathe to tolerate the diversity of the expression of others. Bryan Barnard Ponderay, Idaho

ENTERTAINMENT

Stay at home if you can’t be quiet

My partner and I attended the world class performance of Leila Josefowicz on Nov. 20 and I can’t express enough appreciation to the Spokane Symphony family for bringing this level of talent to Eastern Washington.

What I can express is my frustration, anger and disgust at the crude and sophomoric performance by the audience. During most of the hear-a-pin-drop, hold-your-breath virtuosity, many people were demonstrating the full range of their bodily functions as loudly as possible, dropping books and purses, and even confusing the Bernstein piece with the Berenstain Bears!

Look, if you can’t sit still for 30 minutes, and keep your phlegm in your body, or can’t tell a Psalm from a cartoon character - stay home, and let those of us who appreciate world class talent hear it! Chris H. Miller Spokane

Leyden delivers grand performance

Re: the review by Jim Kershner of the SuperPops concert of the Spokane Symphony with Norman Leyden and Pink Martini (Nov. 16).

I could not agree more with his description of the enthusiasm of the audience and the memorable performance of Pink Martini. I would, however, like to express a different point of view about the first half of the concert.

Under the very able baton of Norman Leyden, whose many years of arranging for the likes of Glen Miller have given him a firsthand perspective, we were soon swept back in time, through the 1940s by “Jalousie” and “Frenesi,” during which he played a mellow clarinet. A couple from a dance school, the lady in flamboyant pink, moved across the stage to a medley of tunes from “Flying Down To Rio.” We found ourselves in more recent time as we listened to the tango from the movie, “Scent of a Woman” and finally, marched along with the crowd as the Symphony played Brazilian Carnival Marches in a blaze of color.

Pink Martini certainly carried us to another dimension in the second half of the concert, but because of the wonderful introduction before them, our ears and feet were more than willing to go along. Patricia L. Garvin Spokane

ABORTION

Attempted cover-up revolting

I am revolted at the recent attempts of Planned Parenthood to cover up its agenda by attacking David Edwards after his Nov. 12 letter. Edwards must have been right on target with his letter to receive such an overwhelming response.

Edwards had touched upon the misleading ad Planned Parenthood placed in Lewis and Clark High School’s newspaper about “emergency contraception.” The fact is, “emergency contraception” doesn’t prevent pregnancies, it stops them. “Emergency contraception” is a high dosage of birth control pills taken up to 72 hours after having sex, supposedly to prevent pregnancy.

As Edwards stated, in its rush to make big money off young people, Planned Parenthood isn’t telling us that emergency contraception kills little children to be. It’s not really contraception at all, but abortion. Not to mention all of the horrible side effects that women can experience when they use this stuff: nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, irregular bleeding, infertility and blood clots, which can be life-threatening.

What’s crazy is that Planned Parenthood is promoting emergency contraception like it’s a new household appliance that’s going to make women’s lives so much easier.

Don’t believe the lies. Abstinence is the only 100 percent effective way to prevent pregnancy, avoid diseases and stay emotionally healthy.

Planned Parenthood, next time you decide to play the part of the attack dog, attack your own lies that you insult the American public with. Don’t try to hide the truth through intimidation of people like Edwards. It doesn’t work. John C. Runkle Spokane

Duty is to do all toward saving life

Re: “Whose life is more important?” by Tamara Cumlander (Letters, Nov. 13).

Society will eventually face the fact that abortion is evil and that we can no longer sanction the killing. And this will not mean a doctor will be imprisoned for his inability to save an unborn baby.

Cumlander said that ectopic pregnancies “regretfully,” require the murder of the child. This isn’t so. Murder is the deliberate killing of a person. When a car accident victim is unable to be saved in a hospital emergency room, he is not murdered; he simply died after all measures to save him were taken.

The same is true for ectopic pregnancies. If this situation occurs, it is the duty of the doctor to do everything within his power to save the child. Abortion is the deliberate killing of an unborn person. If the baby dies as a result of an ectopic pregnancy that a doctor tried to fix, an abortion has not occurred; the doctor was simply unable to play God with life. As long as the doctor goes into the procedure with full intent to save the baby, an abortion, or as Cumlander said, a “killing” didn’t occur.

We can’t allow ourselves to make excuses for the sanctioned killing of the unborn. It is not our right to take life. The respect of life is the cornerstone upon which all laws are based. Without respect for life, nothing else matters. An ectopic pregnancy never requires an abortion, only a doctor who cares even to prevent one. David J. Edwards, president Teen Outreach, Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Priggee right regarding Gates

Right on, Milt Priggee, with your “Gates spelling Monopoly” cartoon of Nov. 25. I thought I might be the only one.

Our Government does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t it? Keith D. Cotter Harrison, Idaho

Catholics have marching orders

Obviously, many people admire Sen. Patty Murray for her career support of abortion. After all, both President Clinton and vice president Gore only became “prochoice” when the White House became their choice! Yet today, Sen. Murray and the other eight U.S. Senators who claim to be Catholic and support partial-birth abortion, have a serious problem. Why?

Because just this month, the nation’s Catholic bishops finally told them and their supporters to obey the church’s condemnation of this tragic infanticide. The choice is theirs - chose life or choose another church. At last, the 61.5 million Catholics in this country have their “marching orders!” Pat D. Kilpatrick Post Falls