Letters To The Editor

Tue., Jan. 6, 1998

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Color cultural diversity white, too

After reading the letter by William P. Marineau (“Diversity missing at concert,” Dec. 27) I was thoroughly disgusted.

Why is it that in this nouveau-politically correct society, we assume that if you are white you have no culture? Do you think that all white people come from the same village? Am I not allowed to have cultural heritage because I am Caucasian?

My ancestors hail from England, Ireland, Scotland and Canada. This makes me an English-Irish-Scottish-French Canadian-American. How does that grab you for cultural diversity?

To take that a step further, current anthropological evidence points to the African continent being the cradle of humanity. If this is true, we should assume that all human life on our planet springs from African ancestry. That being the case, I can adopt that to my heritage, making me an English-Irish-Scottish-French Canadian-African-American.

My wife has a German and Native-American cultural background. She is also white. If we were to ever have children, they would be English-Irish-Scottish-French Canadian-German-Native-American-African- Americans. I don’t think you can get much more culturally diverse than that!

So the next time you want to complain about a “lack of diversity” when referring to our white citizens, take a moment and think about the fact that the color of our skin or the language we speak does not define our cultural heritage. Thinking it does merely shows one’s ignorance. Richard T. Morton Spokane

Next time, try no-nonsense approach

I am confused and feel I must address a few questions to William Marineau, whose letter was published Dec. 27. He had attended a Christmas concert and was bothered that there were not more minority people performing with the symphony and chorale.

I feel bad for Marineau, that during the “best program ever,” he was distracted and preoccupied by engaging in a head count. I also was curious if he included in his preoccupation how many women vs. men were in the audience; how many redheads, blonds and brunettes were present; how many gays and one-parent families were among the group.

Also, I’m concerned whether he also does these statistical analyses when going into Safeway or Tidyman’s. How about the U.S. Post Office?

Should we all worry that Marineau is not paying attention when driving his car because he is keeping track of the number of sport utility vehicles, subcompacts and pickups? Does he notice that more men than women drive pickup trucks. And will he find it hard to believe that a city this size does not have more female truck drivers?

Let’s all try to enjoy the beauty and entertainment of future concerts without all this nonsense. Susan Moran Spokane

Children’s needs is key concern

One of the top courageous and honorable acts is to open one’s home and heart to a youngster. Locally and nationwide, gays and lesbians are providing stable, healthy and loving homes to many children.

Nationwide, about 500,000 children are in foster care. About 100,000 are available for adoption. And about 20,000 are actually placed each year. This leaves about 80,000 unwanted children. I wonder how many of those who promote the distortion of the truth that says gay and lesbian foster/adoptive parents are destroying democracy are actually willing to open their lives to the unwanted children?

Until then, the government must do everything possible to place the children in wonderful homes, regardless of the sexual orientation involved. Gayle E. Sorlien Quincy, Wash.

Just how pro-life are pro-lifers?

Linda S. Hansen (Letters, Dec. 25) has a very interesting argument, touting groups and organizations that are in the “pro-life camp” because they combat human suffering and death.

Would that include the Republican Party, whose majority federal and state policies seem prepared to cause suffering to the poor and disabled?

What about the Christian history in which slavery was supported, anti-Semitism and racism was supported? What about the history of Christianity in which wars, crusades, witch hunts, etc., were based on the Bible?

In all the years that Christians opposed abortion, they never had qualms taking human life. If the choice is life or death, Christians never were immune to making such choices themselves.

Looks to me that Hansen is making some whitewashing comments herself. Just because she is opposed to abortion doesn’t mean she is pro-life.

Incidentally, Christians opposed AIDS research because the “deviants” and drug users would benefit. Joan E. Harman Coeur d’Alene

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Good that task force is on case

It’s about time. Finally, a special investigative task force has been assigned to look into the rash of murders of Spokane-area female drug addicts and prostitutes. Why has this taken so long? Is it because It’s considered more socially acceptable to murder prostitutes?

I was disappointed to read social worker Lynn Everson’s comment, “The women who are still out there (prostituting) are there because they have no choice … The women are really trapped.” Is this the message we want society and professionals to convey? That prostitutes have no other choice? Surely, we can offer better than that!

Prostitutes do have other options. It’s just that in their desperate state of mind, they are blinded. Perhaps they need the support and encouragement of community and family to help them see more clearly. Jennifer Bauman, R.N., B.S.N. Spokane

Horiuchi should be in prison

Recently, the FBI’s elite “hostage rescue” sniper appeared in a Bonners Ferry courtroom facing charges of involuntary manslaughter. He was surrounded by a bunch of bodyguards for his protection.

If only the FBI had been as concerned with the safety of Vicki Weaver and her children, Weaver would still be alive and her killer would not need bodyguards or be facing serious charges.

Why in the world the FBI needed at least 200 officers plus armored personnel carriers plus a helicopter to pursue and capture exactly two so-called dangerous persons defies my imagination. Even more mind-bending is that even with such overwhelming numerical superiority, and even though the fugitives were isolated on a remote mountaintop, surrounded by a couple hundred officers plus 12 snipers, the FBI still managed to kill a dog, shoot a teenage boy in the back, blow Vicki’s head off and terrorize her two young daughters.

The FBI sniper deliberately fired his high-powered firearm into the porch of a cabin he knew contained more women and children than it did fugitives. This was sheer stupidity or total unconcern for the safety of innocent persons. This act was carried out by a college-educated weapons expert. Even the village idiot would know that firing a weapon into a house is hazardous to the occupants.

Lon Horiuchi killed Vicki Weaver. That same shot could have killed one or more children. I don’t understand why, more than five years later, he is not in prison where he belongs. Ron Norvell Spokane

FIREARMS

The disarmed are less safe, not more

Finally, Walter Becker admits that he favors a total ban on all firearms (Letters, Dec. 22).

Becker believes Australia will be safer because its tyrannical government has confiscated a million firearms from the law-abiding.

European studies show gun control has no impact on crime. Indeed, Luxembourg, where handguns are banned, has a much higher homicide rate than Belgium, France, Germany, Holland and Switzerland, where handguns are permitted.

Dr. Don Kates says, “Virtually never are murderers the ordinary law-abiding people against whom gun bans are aimed.” Also, “In any society, the determinants of homicide and other violence rates are basic socio-cultural and economic factors, not the mere presence of one or another kind of mechanical device.”

Ninety-million defenseless people have been murdered in this century by tyrants and governments. Remember the Holocaust? Obviously, in much of the world the chances of being murdered increase dramatically because of gun control, not the lack of it.

Liberty seems to be a vague concept to Becker. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story wrote, “The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered as the palladium of the liberties of a Republic.”

Unlike Cuba, Australia, England, Red China and North Korea, America is a nation of free people. The crushing defeat of Initiative 676 demonstrated, clearly, that Americans are opposed to gun confiscation. Obviously our local small cadre of antigun extremists still hasn’t gotten the message. Curtis E. Stone Colville, Wash.

IN THE PAPER

Young people get overdue recognition

I am impressed with the recent emphasis in The Spokesman-Review on our young people’s values. I refer to several articles.

Nov. 22: Melanie Sauer, 15, was featured in a Your Turn column for her compassion. She organized and executed an all-day blood drive for her teacher’s 4-year-old daughter who was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. And, she credited her leadership to her dad and Girl Scout training.

Dec. 22: “How we celebrate Christmas,” (Our Generation). If the United States is the melting pot of the world, it’s important that we understand various cultures and how they celebrate Christmas and other special days.

Dec. 21: “Tellers of outdoor tales,” in the Outdoor section. Four high school students were recognized for their compositions, which I enjoyed reading.

Dec. 27: “Teenagers are better than headlines would indicate” by Teen View writer Scott Siera. How true.

Dec. 28: “What’s the matter with kids? Well, not much,” (Street Level) by Professor Nancy Nelson. I agree. I, too, feel assured that our future is in the good hands of our youths.

Respect has been shown to me in my church, community and among the kids I volunteer tutor at the YWCA.

Note the young people listed in the Achievement columns, those who have organized and activated large food collections, gone to Third World countries to assist in house building, responded to trees of sharing, entertained the Spokane area in the Children’s chorus and in theaters. They have made a difference in someone’s life. Continue with your kudos. Mae Schaeffer Spokane

Rap concert reviewed badly

I love rap and I love Puff Daddy. I went to a Spokane Arena concert recently and was amazed by the show - quite possibly the greatest display of rap I have ever seen. They sampled all different types of rap and experimented with new beats and rhythms. Some live performances aren’t that great but this one was.

This concert consisting of Puff Daddy, Mase, Busta Rhymes, Usher, Lil’ Kim and a host of other big-name rappers had me dancing, cheering and out of my seat for three hours. The presentation was very well done with extravagant backgrounds, great lighting and wonderfully-timed explosions. The rappers we came to see were all there, along with a team of background vocalists, other rappers and a whole church choir. The rappers gave us everything we wanted and more.

I don’t know if this is a question of age or taste in music, but I think Winda Benedetti’s “Puff Daddy a spectacle of contradictions” was the most unfair and truly biased article I’ve ever read. This also was the worst representation of rap and hip hop I have ever heard. This was supposed to be an article about the concert - the live performance, the people, the display and the feeling it left us with. It ended up being an analytical article questioning many of the things that were being rapped about. Next time a concert comes to town, please screen the reviewer to make sure they like the music to be performed. Graham Mather Colbert

No-news stories are bad news

I just finished reading “Kid’s fable survives protest” in the Dec. 30 Spokesman-Review.

Hello? Where’s the news here? Eight parents out of all of District 81 voiced concern with a 21-year-old book? The district decided to keep it in the library. Is that really newsworthy? Or is it another example of the paper’s increasing efforts to create news by creating controversies where there are none? Michael D. Nowling Veradale

Edge ads a nuisance

As a person of limited disposable income and a certain disdain for excessive consumerism, the first thing I do with my Sunday paper is to put all the several pounds of ads and flyers in a pile to be recycled. The ad I find most offensive, though, is very small in comparison. It’s the one attached to the edge of the funnies.

Listen, you businesses that ruin the funnies with these things I immediately rip off: I would not shop in your stores even if I needed your products. All that kind of advertising accomplishes is to make me mad.

Hey, I realize this is a tiny concern in a world full of huge problems, but are there others in your readership who agree? Let’s get rid of this annoyance. Dianne L. Cook Spokane

Glad Hansen’s on the job

Congratulations to The Spokesman-Review and Staff Writer Dan Hansen for trying a whole new concept in reporting the news (“Judge ends Springdale election debate,” Dec. 30). I appreciate the concept of fact-based reporting instead of the biased, one-sided style used by staff writer John Craig.

Also, congratulations to Mayor Dan Hite and Councilman Lowell Peterson, who I know will bring a whole new concept to Town Hall: honesty and integrity. Wayne L. Peterson Springdale, Wash.