Letters To The Editor

‘TIS THE SEASON

Be joyous there’s so much goodness in it

To all you people who scream commercialism for our Christmas season, I say, lighten up!

You say you are sick of the tinsel, gifts, lights and the hoopla, that people have strayed from the true meaning of Christmas.

Sure, Jesus was born in a manger, almost 2,000 years ago. It was a beautiful, wonderful event.

And this is a different era.

Peace on Earth is what you make it. You cannot fully expect “peace” everywhere, when there never has been, 2000 years ago or 2000 years from now.

Make peace in your own heart. That is where it needs to be.

When you have unreal expectations, you will never be fulfilled. You will never feel the calming joy of the season. Just try to be happy, be excited, let the beauty of celebrating be simple - in whatever way you want - and quit your bickering.

I say, let the colored lights shine through the gray days of winter. Let the choir songs of Christmas fill our hearts and make us sing. Our gaily wrapped packages simply mean we love to give to those we love. The cookies and candies we make are food for our memories.

Be kind to one another, is all He asked.

Christmas trees draped in garland, lights twinkling from our homes, poinsettias blooming on the table, cookies spilling off the platters, and friends and family joining together is truly “peace on Earth” to me. Because all I can really have a say over is my little piece of Earth. Jeannie U. Greene Spokane

Pagan holidays were the ones co-opted

Re: Jeanette Faulkner’s Dec. 20 column, “Go get a holiday worthy of your crass, debased desires.”

The religious leaders of long ago, instead of (and thereby avoiding mass uprisings) taking away the pagans’ holidays, replaced them with their own Christian “holidays.” So to get it right, why don’t the Christians give back to the pagans their observance of the winter solstice, amongst others, and come up with their own?

Better yet, why don’t we all let each other celebrate the way we choose, without persecution? Kathi (Hayes) Chandler Athol, Idaho

Understand ‘we are a people together’

May we all have a delightful holiday.

In this time of the birth of new life, new light and new love, may we look out for each other through our patience, care and peace of heart. And may we offer prayers for those who exceed their limits and go out of bounds.

In this time of giving, may we each give of ourselves so that we might understand that we are a people together; made one as the “Children of the Sun” - Spokane.

Peace and wholeness, all ways. Redhawk (a.k.a. Rev. Michael Rice-Sauer) Spokane

Why veto power for anti-Christians?

Everyone loves the Christmas holiday season. Stores and homes are gaily decorated. Holiday feasts are being prepared. Plans are being made to visit relatives and friends and exchange gifts.

Joyful Christmas music is heard everywhere. Everywhere, that is, except in our government-controlled public schools.

“Christmas evolution” (Spokesman-Review, Dec. 20) was a sad commentary on how far the non-religious anti-Christians have come in pressuring us to tear the Christ out of Christmas, the celebration of his birthday.

School officials are so afraid of offending the anti-Christians that they are removing all traditional Christmas songs from their Christmas - excuse me, winter - programs that give any hint of the real reason for the joyful season.

Why have we Americans, the majority of whom are Christians, allowed the anti-Christians to take over our holiday celebrations? Why do we quake in our boots when some non-religious parent complains that he or she heard the name of God or Christ in a Christmas song sung by school children?

Why do we refuse to allow any mention of God or God’s laws in our schools and then expect our children to develop good moral character? Morality comes from obedience to God’s law, not from a consciousness of what is “proper” in society.

If our government-controlled public schools cannot teach God’s morality to our children, then we need to get government control out of our schools. W.F. Bittner Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Enough of scandal and malingering

There appears to be little question that President Clinton has engaged in activities reprehensible and deserving of severe condemnation. We would rather not have known about his personal affairs and believe Ken Starr has done the country a grave disservice in unearthing and publicizing matters best left to Clinton’s family.

But these matters have been brought to public attention, so the situation should be dealt with quickly and Congress should get on with its business of governing, not prying into personal matters. As foolishly as Clinton may have behaved, what he has done is certainly not worthy of the amount of time Congress has spent on it and is certainly not deserving of impeachment.

Censure Clinton, if doing so seems appropriate, but we would appreciate it if Rep. Geoge Nethercutt and the Republicans, whom we elected to do our work, would get back to doing it. Now. William and Joan Katz Medical Lake

Roast him, then roust him

Regarding the arguments about censure vs. impeachment, is there any reason Congress can’t do both?

It would be appropriate to hand the current White House tenant a censure document and follow it about half hour later with an eviction notice. Richard T. Brown Spokane

Time for an attitude adjustment

Yoo hoo! Wake up, fellow Americans. We just lost our right to vote. Didn’t we just re-elect President Clinton recently? Polls show that about 65 percent of us do not want him impeached.

Republicans in the House felt the need to impeach him because it’s a sin to tell a lie. These same Republicans didn’t think it was a sin when the executives of major tobacco companies lied under oath about nicotine not being addictive. Is it OK to lie as long as you make campaign contributions to the Republican Party?

“Isn’t it awful,” you say, “What can I do?”

Mail a post card to the Republican senator of your choice and write down the words: “If Clinton goes, so go you in the next election.” If you smoke, quit. This will put a huge dent in the Republican campaign coffers.

If you believe that you still have the right to vote, think about whom you could vote for who never lied and never did anything wrong so the Republicans could not later remove him.

Jesus Christ? Well, he got crucified, too. Iris J. Byrne Kellogg

So, what’s the big hurry?

Why were the pro-impeachment hard-liners so intent on completing the impeachment vote before the 106th Congress convenes on Jan. 6? I am aware that the Republicans will have lost five seats to Democrats on that date but, after all, why should that make a difference? They are voting nonpartisan, are they not? Dale I. Dionne Spokane

Consider terms of the law

A person from Colville wrote, “And even if the president is guilty, the crimes aren’t grounds for impeachment. Plus, Clinton said he was sorry.”

If you get a speeding ticket and tell the judge you’re sorry, that doesn’t get you out of a conviction. Some people think high crimes are in the same category as treason or bribery.

Black’s Law Dictionary, second edition, says: “High Crimes: High crimes and misdemeanors are such immoral and unlawful acts as are nearly allied and equal in guilt to felony, yet, owing to some technical circumstance, do not fall within the definition of ‘felony.’

“Misdemeanors: In criminal law. A general name for criminal offenses of every sort, punishable by indictment or special proceedings, which do not in law amount to the grade of felony.

“Felony: In American law. The term has no very definite or precise meaning except in some cases where it is defined by statute. For the most part, the state laws, in describing any particular offense, declare whether or not it shall be considered a felony. Apart from this, the word seems merely to imply a crime of a graver or more atrocious nature than those designated as ‘misdemeanors.”’ Floyd D. Howard Coeur d’Alene

Good reason for high threshold

It appears several readers feel the president is above the law if he isn’t removed from office. Actually, it’s more like the president is just out on bail for the next two years. If he committed a crime, when his term is finished, he can be charged just like the rest of us.

The standard for impeachment was intentionally set high to stop one branch of the government from having undue power over another. That’s why most constitutional historians argued that the charges against the president do not rise to the level of impeachment. When this standard is lowered, the Constitution is weakened and the separation of powers is blurred. Robert G. McGregor Colville, Wash.

I didn’t vote for or expect a saint

Impeach a president for lying? There is not one honest man among us. We lack the intelligence honesty would demand. Thinking something true does not make it true. Replace the president with one who thinks himself honest and you will have one who lies even to himself.

I did not vote for an honest man; I knew there was none. I believe the true measure of quality in government can best be measured by the quality of life it grants. The rich have proven their ability to care for themselves. I believed, and still believe, Clinton was the best choice for my country. He has shown a far greater concern for labor and for those least able during his time in office than Bob Dole showed in his entire career.

Do I approve of his conduct in private life? No! He probably doesn’t, either. Do you think there are any adults among us who are not guilty of something of which they themselves do not approve?

Did the framers of our Constitution intend $40 million to be spent investigating the sex life of a president? To put him on television and try to force him to describe, in detail, his sexual activities? Or to lie about it in an attempt to establish an impeachable offense?

No, I don’t think so. Paul W. Kruger Sandpoint

Country deserves better than Clinton

Dec. 19 on Fox News, Dick Morris, an adviser to President Clinton for over 20 years, stated, “The White House has surrounded itself with a team whose function is to investigate and find misconduct on anyone who opposes the president. Thus, the reason why not a single Democrat has been so exposed.”

On the same program was a former Democrat congressman who had helped elect Clinton the first time, and when Paula Jones filed her lawsuit against the president, was asked to see if he could find something amiss in Jones’ background. He refused and no longer supports Clinton.

Surely, America deserves something better than this to lead this nation. Bunny Bippes Tekoa, Wash.

Partisanship carried to an extreme

As I reflect on the impending Senate trial of President Clinton, there is only one question I find important: If everything were the same except the party of the president, would we be hearing the same speeches from the same people? Would the final vote be identical both in numbers and party affiliations?

Please, pause for a moment and ask yourself that question. Answer as honestly as you can. If what we are witnessing is honorable and healthy, the answer must be an unequivocal yes. In the case of former president Richard Nixon, I suspect it may have been so. In Clinton’s case, I doubt it is. And that, more than anything else, is shameful. J. Andy James Colville, Wash.

SPOKANE MATTERS

We pay for prompt service, but …

Since moving to a house we purchased in Spokane four months ago, we are gradually becoming familiar with city and county traffic, people, streets, daily living and local government.

Local property and state sales taxes are high, and we would expect timely action by government offices that serve the public - processing of important papers and early response and action to residents’ requests and needs.

We have called the county auditor’s office three times in the past three months to request the property deed. We were told they are four months behind in issuing deeds. The most recent response was that they are understaffed.

Come now. With the high taxes we pay, we expect timely service from local government offices. Hire the staff to serve the citizens in a reasonable time or privatize services to speed up the paperwork. James W. Bradford Spokane

Still a need, still hope, for better park

I am writing in response to the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department’s efforts to develop a plan to revitalize Riverfront Park.

The wish list alluded to in a Dec. 9 article in The Spokesman-Review, and that the consultant group is communicating now to various groups, was compiled as a result of three meetings held for the purpose of getting input from the community. The interested citizens who came up with these options and showed up at the meetings should be commended.

The North bank is long overdue for improvement and better utilization. When the citizens of Spokane turned down the Pacific Science Center in 1995, I vowed I would get involved in any renewed efforts to establish an educational entertainment facility. We as a community need to show our children and all citizens that we place great value on education and that education is a key to a rewarding life. Education can improve the quality of life for all; it is an equalizer. Education is hope!

We can work together as a community this time to provide worthwhile cross-generation activities in our city’s core, while improving the natural beauty of our river banks. Carey C. Charyk Spokane

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Suck it up, Steelworkers

This letter is directed to the financially strapped Kaiser workers. The people who were interviewed in the Dec. 22 article wouldn’t know a tough time until it came up and slapped them in their crybaby faces.

It seems some of them have had to postpone their exotic vacations. And a few have had to cut down on the number of times they eat out. Cry me a river. Here is an idea. Why not read in that same day’s paper how some lower-income people in this town have to huddle in one room just to stay warm. I am sure they are not thinking of how they are going to pay for that South Seas vacation!

The workers of Kaiser were well-paid for what they did. I suggest to these striking whiners to give up trying to get people to feel sorry for them. They have made their beds, they should now suck it up and lie in them. Ron W. Lueck Nine Mile Falls

Steelworkers’ cause benefits others

My dad is a Steelworker. Like him, I was born in Spokane. Sure we might not have as much for Christmas this year as in the past, as David W. Ellis stated in his Dec. 19, letter, but Christmas is for giving. Dad and the Steelworkers are fighting to keep 400 good-paying jobs in Spokane and so maybe people like Mr. Ellis won’t have to work seven nights a week for $750 a month.

Think about it. Do you want your kids working for what you get? Tory K. DeLong, age 13 Rockford, Wash.