Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Rosauers, union actions deplorable

Re: my comments in the June 26 article, “Layoffs at South Hill Huckleberries.”

I believe management’s recent behavior can be attributed to their abstruse relationship with the United Food and Commercial Workers, whose members comprise one-third of the board seats for Rosauers.

One month before the establishment of a work force, the UFCW and Rosauers signed a contract for the Huckleberries stores. This illegal arrangement fixed the compensation-benefits package below the prevailing scale at other Rosauers locations and deprived employees of any recourse. And since Washington is not a “right-to-work” state, the UFCW was guaranteed new dues-paying members.

After attempts to resolve the situation with management, I filed a complaint with the NLRB resulting in dissolution of the contract and the UFCW was prohibited from organizing efforts with Huckleberries employees for 60 days. Because of management’s credibility void, the Teamsters had an uncontested and successful organizing effort and are attempting contract negotiations.

Will the Rosauers board welcome the addition of the Teamsters? I don’t think so. Would management try to sabotage negotiations by eliminating employees who supported the Teamsters or an employee who held management accountable for their obscure business behavior? I suggest they’re not immune from questionable behavior and conclude that many of us were casualties of their parochial pursuit for management harmony.

The initial Huckleberry’s work force was committed to educating and supplying the community with information and product in the natural foods-holistic health arena. I will miss working with customers focusing on enhancing their lives positively by patronizing Huckleberry’s. Leilani K. Nesper Spokane

Mount Spokane staff terrific

As promoters of the recent Mount Spokane Selkirk Challenge mountain bike races, we appreciate the outstanding support from the staff at Mount Spokane and their willingness to make our event successful, user friendly and a whole bunch of fun.

Chairlifts were made available for our downhill event, something we’ve never been able to use in past races there, even for the Northwest’s largest-ever mountain biking events, the NORBA Nationals.

We’ve worked at many resort/mountain facilities throughout the Northwest and find Kirk Duncan and his staff at the top of our list when it comes to customer service. We and the many participants at our races, appreciate all the changes happening through the efforts of the Mount Spokane 2000 group. Yee ha for this new attitude, which is so long overdue at the site of one of Spokane’s recreational gems! Wendy Zupan, Gino Lisiecki and David Moffitt Round and Round Productions, Spokane

Tobacco companies at it again

During recent weeks, several tobacco companies have bombarded the public on television with an ad that urges us to contact our congressional representatives and senators and complain to them about a new “tax” on tobacco products. That so-called tax, in fact, refers to a price increase of $1.10 on a pack of cigarettes, graduated over a five-year period, that was proposed in a tobacco bill recently killed in the Senate. That measure’s demise was undoubtedly greased by industry money showered on compliant senators.

If that price increase is mandated in a resurrection of the tobacco bill, some smokers might be induced to kick the habit - a result not favored by the industry - thus improving their health and perhaps also reducing the cost of health insurance for the rest of us.

Before making that phone call to your senator or representative, consider the unmitigated gall of those nicotine pushers in asking us to help them out through their deceptive appeal when the products they manufacture contribute to the death of about 1,000 persons a day (more than 400,000 a year) in this country - a veritable holocaust. Arthur F. Noskowiak Spokane

OVER THE LINE

Billboard ban worth emulating

Re: Kootenai County billboard ban (the Handle, July 11).

I congratulate and applaud the Kootenai County commissioners who recently voted unanimously to ban billboards in unincorporated Kootenai County.

The official reason for the change was to “promote public safety, health and the general welfare by reducing distractions and clutter along the county roadways.” Public opinion played a roll as well.

County planners who wrote the revised ordinance noted that improving the appearance of the county by restricting “large, obtrusive advertising structures” helps ensure economic development by promoting tourism and protecting property values.

Thank you, Kootenai County, for pioneering change that improves the value of your area. Spokane County would do well to follow your example. Janet R. Hannink Spokane

FIREARMS

Poor choice of American pastimes

Your “Culture shock” article of July 15 was certainly a shock to me, as I expect gun glamour to be the province of the entertainment media, not the good paper. Surely, the picture was taken before the safety training we were told the young people were given. Large handguns are shown in positions one could hardly condone, even for toys.

The reporter mentioned the strict gun laws in Japan but not the tremendous discrepancy between lethal gun incidents in our two countries. The fact is that the United States leads the world in deaths by firearms, while Japan is at the other end of the spectrum.

In spite of the frightening photo, I believe these guns were handled in a controlled environment and represented little immediate danger. However, parents in the United States might have concerns about their children visiting other countries and having access to some legal pleasures that are forbidden at home. Hashish in Morocco and the sex industry in the Netherlands come to mind.

Many of us wish that our Japanese visitors might have been steered to some more benign, though uniquely American, obsession. The least we can do is caution them that we have about 40,000 gun-related deaths each year in the United States. Rusty Nelson Spokane

Bad situation publicized badly

I find your front page photo (Region, July 15) of Japanese students handling guns irresponsible, indefensible and a disservice to your readers and the community.

My family and I are strong defenders of Second Amendment rights. We each have concealed weapons permits and own several handguns. One rule prevails. There is only one purpose for pointing a gun at another person: discharge with lethal intent. “Shoot to kill.”

I am sickened by this picture of students handling guns as if this were a shoot-out at the OK Corral. The student in the back appears to be aiming directly at the person in front and dry firing. (The hammer is back.) This is not Hollywood and those are real lethal instruments.

Your article states that safety instructions were given. Apparently, those instructions were given after the picture was taken and the guns were passed around like toys. If this picture is any indication, Steve Ball showed disregard for traditional firearms handling and safety. The students can’t be held responsible. Without experience, how could they know better?

This is a blatantly inaccurate portrayal of proper handgun handling. Your prominent display could easily prompt an inexperienced youngster to play the same game - fatally. James R. Miller Spokane

Some gun owner responses encouraging

What a treat to see responsible gun owners speaking out against the violation of gun safety rules (Letters, July 18). For several years, the National Rifle Association has branded every attempt to increase gun safety as “a plot to ban all firearms.” There was a stark contrast between those letters and the ones preceding and following them.

G. Kendall Wilde tells us we are at war against the United Nations. Why does he offer no evidence that reforms the U.N. commission is considering are not completely constitutional? When has the U.N. ever sought to become the government of any nation?

Curtis E. Stone condemns a possible tax on firearm purchases and misquotes Chief Justice John Marshall. Are we to assume he paid no sales tax on his guns? He then does an impressive job of citing the U.S. Code, claiming the president is acting illegally. He assumes that no one will bother to read that law to verify his statement. If Stone himself had read it, he would quote the exact statement to prove his case.

Stone’s rhetoric is extremely disingenuous. The Supreme Court made only a minor adjustment to the Brady law, declaring the rest constitutional. Clinton’s efforts for greater firearm safety in no way violate Supreme Court decisions and cannot be honestly called a “war on the Second Amendment.” Edward B. Keeley Spokane

One bad choice of activity

As a handgun owner, I am thoroughly appalled that a group of Japanese foreign exchange students was taken on a field trip to the shooting range in Spokane.

Japan, which has the second largest economy in the world, has abandoned private ownership of firearms for public safety. This policy has worked, as evidenced by the lack of handgun crime and domestic violence in Japan.

These students have no experience with firearms, but are given loaded weapons upon their first visit. How would the average Japanese parent feel sending their children to a country where their children are handed weapons?

I cannot believe that the instructors at the firing range did not fully instruct these inexperienced students that a handgun should never be pointed at a human being, especially a cocked revolver.

It is embarrassing that this is an activity our community encourages. The Pacific Northwest will grow increasingly dependent upon trade with Asia. Trade is heavily influenced by psychological factors and the perceived influences of the trading partners. A photo of students in American care pointing guns at each other is not the image we should cultivate. The student exchange programs are vitally important for cultural communication between the future generations of business leaders. Surely, we can come up with more respectable activities for our guests. Eric Ross Wiksten Coeur d’Alene

Gun sport image took a hit

Re: “Culture Shock,” (July 15). Sharp Shooting Indoor Range and Gun Shop owner Steve Ball needs a refresher course on gun safety. Being an Idaho hunter safety instructor and seeing the photo of a Japanese student sighting down a revolver at a fellow classmate was appalling. I instruct the idea that every gun is to be treated as a loaded one. Horseplay with weapons is taboo.

“A picture is worth a thousand words” is a saying that definitely can be used by anti-gun activists in this case.

From myself, and surely all other conscientious gun owners, no thanks for the image, Ball. Robert C. Street Spirit Lake

Whole group did not participate

Re: “Culture Shock” (July 15). I was in the left side of the big photo. I think this article shows your misunderstanding because this was not a “field trip.” It was just a recreational activity for only the people who wanted to try shooting a gun, not for all the students in our program.

An American friend said to me, “That big photo is scary because one girl aimed a gun at you.”

My host parents said that the photo may cause bad influence for children because “all Americans know we should not point a gun at someone, even if the gun is empty. We don’t know why they chose to print that picture.” I also can’t understand why you chose that picture. The cameraman took a lot of photos, so you have many others. Why don’t you realize that this picture causes bad influence for children?

You, as Americans, know how terrible guns are more than Japanese do. It was your careless mistake. We didn’t come to the United States to shoot a gun. This activity is not our “highlight” event in America. The reason why we came here is to learn about another culture, not for shooting guns.

From this experience, we could know how terrible guns are. I really feel people should not have any guns, even if to protect for our life. Hitomi Nakamura Cheney

We did learn about guns

We are writing in response to the July 15 article, “Culture shock.” We think this article has some mistakes.

First, this wasn’t the “highlight” of our visit to America. Our purpose is to learn English here. Second, gun shooting was an extra activity. The reason why we wanted to go to this activity is that we want to understand the danger of guns.

After we shot the guns, we felt guns are not for human beings. We found that guns are not necessary. Minako Ohira, Mamiko Miyakawa, Miho Tagami Cheney

OTHER TOPICS

‘I saw your mom today’

I saw your mom today. She was sitting in her chair, holding onto the stuffed dog I brought her. Her gray head was bent. She was lost quietly in her own world.

She heard my voice and lifted her toothless grin up to see me. Her blue eyes twinkled with recognition. She held out her arms and the stuffed toy fell to the floor. I gave her a gentle hug and she kissed my neck. Her words were mumbled, but I knew they were good words.

You say you cannot bear to see your mom like this. The Alzheimer’s has robbed her speech. She has to wear diapers. She can barely walk. And so you do not go to visit. You do not go to just say hi and spend a few minutes. Perhaps get a hug and a kiss.

I know you live down the street. Two blocks, is what the care givers tell me. You did bring something at Christmas time, and then left. This is now July. Day blends into night. Night blends into day.

I am but a stranger. I wonder, did she sing in the kitchen when she baked bread? Did she brush the hair from your sweaty face and kiss your skinned knees? Did she wear tattered shoes, so you could have new ones?

She sings in a beautiful voice. The words are not there. But neither do the birds sing in words. She smiles to us all, as we sit in the living room. She is childlike. Her once-busy hands lay idle in her lap. And I am sure she cries for the children who do not come to see her. How sad it is that a stranger has to come and visit your mom. I wonder who will come to visit you? Jeannie U. Greene Spokane

Churches can link without a pact

Your July 11 article on rapprochement between Lutherans and Catholics was most intriguing for what it left out. The root cause of the schism was not a theological dispute at all, but rather a successful attempt to assert national sovereignty. Shakespeare, a near contemporary of Martin Luther, restated the central religious issue in a way all Christians of good will could have accepted at the time and made the 95 Theses just another issue to address, to correct the abuses in a unified church.

From “The Merchant of Venice,” we have, “… in the course of justice, none of us would see salvation.” God’s mercy was given as the cause of salvation. Mercy can be earned or be given as a gift. No choice had to be made between good works and grace. The argument evaporates.

Getting Germany out from under the thumb of an oppressive entrenched clergy was the first order of business and Luther’s well-founded revolt was an opportune vehicle. At this late date, it is to no one’s benefit to reunite the faith, so nit-picking theologians and bishops have no organized opposition.

There really is no need to sign any agreements to put the church back together. Any married couple will tell you papers are only needed for a divorce. You get reunited with a quick smooch and a short memory. Edward Sawatzki Veradale

White Masonry not what it was

You are to be commended for your coverage of Prince Hall Masonry. I’m a 57-year member of the white branch of Freemasonry. I write philosophical articles for several Masonic publications and am an associate editor of a black Masonic publication in Chicago. Prince Hall was not recognized for many years by the white Masonic order and it was only a few years ago that Idaho and Oregon recognized and accepted Prince Hall Masons, taking them off the list of being clandestine.

The day will come when you will bring to the attention of your readers the existence of another clandestine Masonic group that exists here in the United States as well as in Europe, especially in France. Masonic lodges where men and women are both in membership and go through the same degree ritual and are called Co-Masonry.

Prince Hall Masonry brings a quality of dignity back into Masonry that has been ignored in many of the white branches. When I joined the fraternity you would never see an officer take his station if he wasn’t wearing a tux and white gloves. I have observed candidates take their degrees in T-shirts, jeans and tennis shoes. This is just one of the many reasons membership in white Masonry is on an extreme decline. William E. Sweikert Liberty Lake