Letters To The Editor
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Sterk roundly endorsed for sheriff
As I read letters to the editor relative to Mark Sterk and his qualifications, plus his support to become sheriff of Spokane County, there are some exaggerated statements being made by those opposed to Sterk’s being a candidate for this position. The record should be set straight.
Sterk has been a union member for more than 20 years and he did a fine job in Olympia supporting public employees. That is why he is now endorsed over his opponent by city and county employees, state employees, Washington state public employees, the deputy association, the Police Guild, Washington State Patrol Troopers Association, the County Prosecutors Association and the Medical Lake police officers.
Can all these people be wrong? I think not; they have made a good choice. I join them in their vote and encourage you to help elect Sterk as our next sheriff of Spokane County. Marie E. Yates Spokane
Finke’s ideas are invalid
Jim Finke is wrong suggesting that “building better people” is not a popular idea. It’s very popular. And it is also simple. You start with a blueprint and then go on as if you were building a car or house. Every totalitarian system has this tendency as it believes that there are no limits to its power.
The difficult part of it is that the basic features of human personality are genetic and “the builders” have about 20 percent left. In addition to that, it is the family or the lack of it that decides the development of a child.
“Focusing on schools, childhood development centers” etc. is a waste of money and effort if the family side is not considered. A village can’t replace a family and never will. If we took all the money we spend on school counselors, classroom computers, day care centers, different programs and the bureaucracy behind them and gave it to mothers so they could stay home with their infants, that would make a difference.
And if Finke thinks getting offenders off the street only sounds good, then I believe he is much more fit to be the next spokesman for Hillary Clinton than our next sheriff. Peter C. Dolina Veradale
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
Home-school kids are not isolated
Re: Independent study and home schooling (July 5).
I have worked for 30 years with public school educators. Most are hard-working and do an outstanding job. I appreciate and value them. And, I have extensive exposure to home-schooling parents and their children.
I am concerned that the “isolation” of home-schooled children is being played up in the media (as in your headline) as a means to discourage home schooling. I have found that the same home-schooling parents who care enough to ensure that their children consistently and massively outperform public school children on academic tests also care enough make sure their children are correctly socialized. In fact, I have found that the “isolation” of home-schooled kids is mainly a myth. They are, in my experience, with other kids in church, sports and in many special classes that they attend with other home schoolers.
Far from being undersocialized, they may have a big socialization jump on many public school children who are often fearful of their classmates, subject to group ridicule and pressures, and have minimal adult supervision.
As far as parents not being “credentialed,” it is a fact that until recently, according to Denver Post stories, that Colorado teacher qualification examination passing grades were so low that virtually every teacher taking the exam passed. The exam required only fifth-grade knowledge and comprehension.
It’s a fact that home-schooled kids outperform public school kids and a far greater percentage attend college. I’ll bet the responses of home-schooling parents, if they were tested on child management and academic comprehension, might equally outshine their public school counterparts. Foster W. Cline, M.D. Co-author of “Parenting with Love and Logic,” Sandpoint
Special programs cause trouble
Michelle Heacox is not alone in her feelings about APPLE and Montessori. My son’s friend, and former Jefferson student, heard me mention Montessori recently and said, “Oh, yeah, that’s when they separated the smart kids from the dumb kids. I was in a dumb kids class, but I’m glad because the dumb kinds can’t stand the Montessori kids.” His statement upset me.
I have two children who attended Jefferson and they said they felt basically the same way. There is a huge rift between the “regular” kids and the Montessori kids at Jefferson, and the situation hurts both groups.
Of course these programs don’t separate “dumb” kids from smart kids. But what are the children supposed to think? The Montessori kids have the biggest classrooms, more adult help, go on more field trips, get an “enriched” education and are kept separated from the “regular” kids.
The June 25 editorial stated, “Special programs are offered fairly.” They are not. I could not, in good faith, have even applied for these “enriched” programs because of the amount of required volunteer time. I was a working single parent and full-time student. The lottery is available only to those who can meet the required volunteer time. Is this impartiality?
Lincoln Elementary School in Olympia restructured a similar program because of these same issues and removed the parental involvement qualification.
Wake up, Spokane, and listen to your children. No, life isn’t fair. But if there is one place kids should feel they receive equal treatment, it should be in a public school. Kathleen F. Brooks Spokane
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
Racism ubiquitous? Not so fast
Professor James Waller makes quite a case. He argues in his June 25 Roundtable column that racism toward nonwhites, both blatant and “quiet,” is a huge and ugly problem that apparently engulfs our community.
It’s ironic that Waller’s piece ran the day after 262 people became U.S. citizens in our city. These were largely “people of color” who came here for the opportunities and freedoms that don’t exist in their home countries.
It’s easy to find racism behind every bush when that’s what we want to find, and if we define the term loosely enough. In this day of scapegoatism, we blame racism for everything from failed careers to the spread of AIDS. The important question, however, is really quite simple. Is the person who works hard, intelligently and tenaciously likely to succeed in this country, regardless of race or gender? Equally to the point, is he or she more likely to be treated with fairness and equality in America, than in any other country in the world?
I’ll assume that the professor is the expert on this subject that he claims to be. I maintain, however, that our 262 new citizens are also experts. I predict that if we ask these questions to our 263 resident experts, the answer will be an overwhelming yes - 262 to 1, yes! L. Jim Shamp Cheney
Here’s where shortage of shame leads
Our society has become immorally tainted because there is no longer any shame. Children become hostile toward others, even their own parents, because there is no shame.
You can form an acceptable union in our world today without marriage because there is no shame. You can bear a child from this union and it’s perfectly legitimate (or is it?) because there is no shame. You must lock your doors day and night because there is no shame. Our entertainment industry has run amok because there is no shame. There are so many previously unacceptable acts in our society today that have become acceptable because there is no shame. I long for the time when the strength of our moral society was built on the often used, but meaningful, phrase: Shame on you.
Ten years from now and millions of dollars paid to an unjust legal system later, Linda Huff’s killer might, just might, be put to death. That, too, because there is no shame. James A. Nelson Spokane
Root of troubles not what you think
Why is it that the more arrests, more education and publicity that drugs are given, the more drugs are used? The answer to Richard Butler’s question is very easy.
Although you probably have your own answers already, such as media contributing to people’s awareness of and interest in drugs, I think the answer is just a few layers deeper. I’m hopeful he will find my words enlightening.
It’s the same thing that entices adults and others to shave their heads, spew negativity and pretend they are fearless warriors with a mission. It’s the same thing that gives religious fanatics the right to use the Bible to justify their aggressions.
It’s what seduces individuals into bomb making, gun running and random acts of violence. It’s what causes people to believe that force will bring ideal living conditions.
What is it? It’s ignorance and insecurity. These two combined make for a very easy target for manipulation. Chris “Cloud Spirit” Jenkins the real tribe, Spokane
BELIEFS
Young man perceives poor stereotype
For a 13-year-old, Alan D. Chatham (Letters, July 2) shows amazing insight and a firm grasp of the English language. When I was 13, I couldn’t type, my handwriting was illegible and my vocabulary limited. It saddens me, however, that Alan has already formed such negative concepts of Christians and their faith.
I grew up as an agnostic and seldom darkened a church door until I was 19. But when I accepted the Christian faith I began to read the Bible. Now, 50 years later, I’m grateful to God for that decision to begin a life of faith.
I suspect that Alan will become a rocket scientist by the time he is 23. During that time, I hope he begins to understand that not all Christians are Bible thumpers. We don’t hate homosexuals, not all of us march on abortion clinics and we abhor the bombing of their clinics. Many of us agree that mandated prayer in secular schools serves no purpose.
Lastly, we don’t cower behind the Bible. Instead, we read it and seek to obey its teachings. Like the verse in 1 Corinthians 8:6, where the apostle Paul declares, “Even if there are so-called gods, yet for us there is but one God.” Instead of believing in many gods, I hope Alan comes to believe in the one true God, creator of heaven and earth. Larry E. Clark Spokane
Country better get right with God
As we reflect on America this Independence Day, it seems fitting to remember the cautions George Washington expressed in his Farewell Address, when he said, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. … A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity.”
It also seems fitting to further the point by remembering the admonition of Moses, when he said, “If thou shalt harken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth. … But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not harken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day, that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.”
America truly has seen God’s blessings. But just as other nations have risen to greatness and fallen to ruin, without God’s blessing upon us, America will do the same. America needs to repent and remember her God. Candy Turner Newman Lake
Churches must oppose abortion, too
Missing from Opinion editor John Webster’s editorial of June 28, about the role of the authentic church, was mention of the church’s mandate in stopping murder, including that of the weakest, most vulnerable and marginalized group of humans, those net yet born - what we all were at one time.
Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail is a lucid, passionate and persuasive argument for practicing Christians and Jews to be involved in elimination of all social evil and injustice, including abortion. R. Paul Unger Spokane
OTHER TOPICS
Rosauers action unacceptable
I was nonplussed as I read the article regarding Rosauers Corp.’s blatant attempt to thwart the re-unionization efforts by its Huckleberry’s employees.
I urge people in Spokane who care about workers’ rights to boycott Rosauers Corp. until such time as it is able to deal evenhandedly with its so-called employee-owned supermarkets. Michael R. Spencer Spokane
Beware of what tax junkies peddle
After all these years of scientific achievement, we finally learn that tobacco is addictive. Of course, the general community of smokers knew this many, many moons ago. We can now join the ranks of other addictions such as booze, coffee, chocolate, pastries, exercise, etc. No matter what the malady, healthwise, we can rest assured everything under the sun is caused by tobacco.
However, there is one addiction we do not hear about from the enlightened generation and that is taxation. This unhealthy lifestyle is confined to the duly elected representatives who have the power to force their addiction on the public. It is an insidious affliction. Like all other addictions, it starts out with a modest amount. But after awhile, it takes more and more to satisfy their uncontrollable cravings. To feed this appetite, they hardly ever “steal” from the wealthy establishment; they go for the easy pickings. The lower-income population is the general target for their nefarious activities.
While equal protection under the law should dictate equal taxation on all commodities, these addicts gradually get fumble headed, probably traceable right back to their original habit of tobacco use. We must initiate protective action to safeguard the teenage populace from this taxation menace, as once they get hooked, it is impossible to break this lifelong victim cycle. Joseph P. Bell Spokane
Wilde and Shaw made a great team
I have had the pleasure of watching the KHQ-6 evening news for many years. It was the outstanding rapport between Debra Wilde and Randy Shaw that kept me watching.
Wilde displayed not only top professional reporting but also an exceptional working relationship with her fellow reporters. The overall mode of the news broadcast was serious, yet down to earth. There were no displays of power play between Wilde and Shaw. It was obvious they liked each other as friends and enjoyed working together. After all, they were together for 14 years.
Penny Daniels needs to lose her big city attitude and come down to earth. She will never completely be equal to Wilde unless she gets rid of her I am the best message she is sending to the viewers.
It was the team of Wilde and Shaw that made the news, Torchlight Parade presentation, food drives and Children’s Miracle Network broadcast such successes.
I wish Wilde the best of luck with her new show. Donna J. Williams Spokane
Get behind the Furse amendment
Congresswoman Elizabeth Furse, a Democrat from Oregon, has authored an amendment that will be attached to the 1999 appropriations bill when it comes to the floor of the House this month.
The Furse amendment will eliminate $37.4 million from the Forest Service budget for road construction and $88.6 million from timber management. The $88.6 million slated for elimination from the timber management budget is the same amount the Forest Service just admitted it lost logging our public land in 1997. The General Accounting Office reports that the Forest Service timber program lost $995 million from 1992-1994 alone.
The Furse amendment will redirect savings from the proposed cuts to deficit reduction, road maintenance, watershed restoration and recreation improvements. Subsidized logging and logging road construction are major sources of degradation of our national forests. According to the Forest Service, there is a $440 million backlog on maintenance of national forest logging roads.
This is a great opportunity to make amends with the taxpayers and redirect dollars from a money-losing timber sale program into programs that protect fish, wildlife, clean water and outdoor recreation.
Support the Furse amendment by calling Rep. George Nethercutt and Sens. Patty Murray and Slade Gorton at 202-224-3121 (Capitol switchboard) and ask them to vote for passage. Anne M. Martin Republic, Wash.