Letters To The Editor

Tue., June 9, 1998

VIOLENCE

Violence rooted in early life

In Karen Brandon’s article of May 25 the subheading noted, “With no answers found in boy’s upbringing, shooting mystery lingers.” In the body of the article there is much hand-wringing because Bill and Faith were model parents. And like the Kaczinskys, the parents of the Unabomber, they had another model child.

As a child psychiatrist in practice for 30 years, working with the most difficult of children, this kind of lack of understanding is absolutely galling. For over 50 years it has been known that children who show Kip Kinkel’s symptoms almost always have had pain in the first year of life that could not be relieved, or multiple caregivers, or hospitalization, or abuse and neglect. Sometimes it is the parent’s fault, sometimes, as in this case and the Kaczinsky case, it is not. I have not studied one single serial killer who did not have pain in infancy. It was there with Ted Bundy, Gary Gilmore, Ted Kaczinsky. It’s there with them all! All senseless violence, cruelty to animals, etc. generally has its roots in the first 16 months of life.

This is bad news, because most government programs pay mothers who tend to handle infancy most poorly, to produce even more kids who will likely grow to be disturbed adults. Foster W. Cline, M.D. Author of “Parenting with Love and Logic,” Sandpoint

Kids could benefit from pet therapy

My thanks to KXLY Channel 4 for its May 26 story on the correlation between animal abuse by children leading to crimes against humans later in life. This thoroughly documented phenomenon has been ignored for years, but has come to fruition recently with the high incidence of school children killing their families, classmates, teachers and anyone else in the line of fire.

Everyone is asking why, and although I’m sure the solution is infinitely more complex, I feel that something we can do to help is to actively face the issue of animal abuse. We must expose all children to the love and care of animals at an early age. Animals will give love unconditionally, and I think a lot of children in our society haven’t experienced that from humans but would benefit in the lesson. We need to make more pet therapy available to children in rehabilitation centers, which will fill the void that causes them to be unable to feel the suffering of others.

Please contact your legislators and demand that animal abuse be upgraded to a Class 1 felony involving hard jail time and mandatory counseling. Even if you cannot empathize with the animals that are abused and neglected, everyone should be concerned with the ultimate outcome of where this behavior leads. Inability to feel the pain and suffering of another living creature is scary, and I believe that if we try to eliminate it early in life we can make progress. The children will benefit and society as a whole will benefit. Barbara K. Alden Spokane

Eliminating weapons not answer

Lately I have seen a large amount of teen shootings and violence. Incidents such as the Jonesboro and the Moses Lake shootings come to mind. There has been a noticeable escalation in teen violence in recent years, and it concerns me that we are not dealing with this tragic problem in the most fitting way.

All around there is talk of taking guns out of the hands of children. People seem to think that taking away weapons will solve our problems, but they are sadly deceived. Is our perspective of man really that narrow? Do we really think that if we just eliminate material items it will cure people’s violence? When will we see that the real problem is in the actual people, not their weapons?

If we want to end the violence, we have to reform the people. We need to start enforcing heavier penalties for minors. We need to use the death penalty on those who are “under age.” If these kids are old enough to use a gun and to take another human’s life, then they are old enough to be punished accordingly. The American family needs to be reformed as well. Most of the troubles in teenage life today can be traced to dysfunctional families.

Taking away weapons will only infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens, so let’s focus instead on reforming the people behind the triggers. Joe F. Farley Spokane

BELIEFS

God will bring about harmony

The actions taken by the recent American Baptist Regional Convention have caused me much anguish, and I feel a lot of empathy with Beverly Vorpahl (commentary, May 23).

I am a longtime American Baptist. I believe some of the convention resolutions depart radically from our traditions of individual freedom of belief and local church autonomy. I have appreciated the free discussion and inquiry on matters of faith and scriptural interpretation fostered in my own congregation. A wide latitude of honestly-held beliefs, based on prayer and scripture, have long been brought together in the American Baptist fold, nationwide.

The convention rejected a resolution calling for further dialogue on issues of sexuality. Adoption of another resolution created a doctrinal stance for this formerly non-doctrinal body. If, as several people stated, “the time for dialogue is over,” we are cut off from one another. If homosexual persons are barred from leadership in the church, we are deprived of God-given talents and opportunities for new insights. Instead, I would hope all sides in this controversy could celebrate our freedom to follow God’s leading, knowing that none of us has perfect vision of God’s will. We need each other.

I am thankful that in the past, national dialogue did continue until scriptural interpretations forbidding blacks and women from leadership positions in society and church gave way to progressive legislation and wide acceptance. I believe God will bring harmony, ultimately, on the issues of sexuality as well. I hope our churches will help, not hinder, that process. Mary Carloye Pullman

Pushing God from school saddening

It is very sad to see the price America is paying for driving God and prayer from our schools, home and conscience. Anna-Lee Morris Colfax, Wash.

RUBY RIDGE

Weaver liable for wife’s death

While I agree wholeheartedly with the last sentence of D.F. Oliveria’s editorial, “Time to get past regrettable episode,” concerning the Weaver affair (May 20), I disagree very much with the general tone of the editorial.

Let us be honest about that unfortunate event and recognize that it was Randy Weaver’s failure to report for trial on that weapons charge that led to the confrontation that resulted in his wife’s death. Weaver took the first step, and so the primary responsibility is and has been all along his.

I hope that the Harris suit against the U.S. government is thrown out of court, for he voluntarily joined a fugitive from justice in defying the government. The Rev. Canon Charles E. Wood Spokane

Bring closure to Ruby Ridge incident

I appreciated the letter from Duke Steinke (May 22). I agree that the whole Ruby Ridge mess needs to have closure. I’m so tired of reading about it and, as he said, the whole thing could have ended before it started if one person had obeyed the law to start with.

Now let it go already, Boundary County! Wanita Cary Spokane

SPOKANE

Don’t add to homelessness

Park Tower, a Section 8 establishment for seniors, disabled and low-income people, is up for sale. Section 8 contracts are expiring at an alarming rate. Concerned residents are hoping a non-profit buyer will come forward. This would enable Park Tower to remain as a long-term home for its residents. If not, a massive displacement could develop in our fair city.

Homelessness is a growing concern in Spokane. Why add to it? If Park Tower were to lose its contract, it would limit the effectiveness of state and local housing investments that attract and retain businesses and help communities remain strong.

Park Tower is just an example of a growing problem major cities must deal with. City officials can do their part. Contact me at 624-3167. Robert Burk Spokane

Curfew for teens badly needed

The City of Spokane is very overdue for legislation and enforcement of a 10 p.m. curfew for children age 18 and younger.

This is the time of year that our high schoolers are on “scavenger hunts” prior to graduation parties. Their definition of a scavenger hunt is to steal anything that is not locked, bolted down or protected by a security alarm system, especially plants and planted material. Last year two of our hanging baskets were stolen from our front porch and returned later by being thrown onto the ground, necessitating re-planting. Recently, our neighbor had one or two plants and an expensive wreath stolen from her front porch. We lost a 100-foot extension cord on a reel which was parked underneath our trailer.

It’s an endless scenario, thanks to irresponsible parents who neither care about their children and cannot account for their whereabouts, nor are willing to discipline them. They mistakenly avoid discipline because they think their children will not like them. Guess what, parents! They do not respect nor like a parent who does not discipline them. A teenager knows that a parent who disciplines, cares. And they will have grateful respect for a lifetime.

If the Spokane City Council would pass a curfew, supported and enforced by the Police Department, there might be more family life at home and a turn-around of the amorality era of the ‘90s. John and Judith Brown Spokane

ARYAN NATIONS

Help save youths from hate groups

We appreciated very much your coverage of the national symposium at Gonzaga University, “The Changing Face of Hate.” The Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, the Washington State Criminal Justice training Commission and the Gonzaga Institute for Action Against Hate did an excellent job of finding speakers from law enforcement, the local media and human rights groups. Their heart-felt message was very clear.

I couldn’t help but think of the tragedy in Springfield, Ore., as I listened to the presentations, particularly the easy access that people now have over the Internet in case they want to build bombs - sophisticated bombs - and how to address their anger and hate when frustrated with our current system, whether it be a school district or government agency.

One proven method of the Aryan Nations is to recruit young, impressionable and disenfranchised people and give them a sense of worth, power and belonging, and then use them to act on those feelings of powerlessness, hopelessness and lack of personal identity against the Aryan Nations’ “enemy.” Their very seductive message is being promoted on the Internet. Their interest becomes heard when they find that connection with a computer and then build strong connections to vent their anger and frustration.

It is so very important that law enforcement and human rights groups work together to reach out to youths and their parents and give them more positive role models to emulate, to improve our communities by addressing the growing problem of terrorism and help save youths from the seductive message of hate groups. James Gordon Perkins Colville, Wash.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Where are the affordable colleges?

Your front page article of May 26, “College isn’t that expensive,” is not accurate.

Our daughter just finished her freshman year at Washington State University. She is a state resident and it cost in excess of $13,000. Tuition is $1,763 and books cost more than $300 per semester; a double-occupancy dorm room is $500 per month; and then you need to include meal plans, telephone bills, computer lab fees, student fees, dorm insurance, parking fees, gas and a monthly allowance of $200 per month, minimum.

Where are these colleges that are so affordable? Shanna L. Klingberg Spokane

IN THE PAPER

Thanks for Our Generation

I feel compelled to express my appreciation and extol the virtues of your Monday Our Generation articles. These editions counteract the unpleasant Sunday issues, with their five pounds of advertising to sort through. With Monday, I look forward to the examples of our high school literates who very blatantly demonstrate the successes of our educational system.

We continually hear of the shortcomings of education, that students can’t read or write by the time they finish high school, that we must “return to the basics” in order to correct that. I submit that there are plenty of talented, successful, intelligent, literate students - just as high a percentage as there ever was. Writing such as is featured in Our Generation demonstrates this.

Naturally every young person can’t be verbally gifted, just as everyone can’t be mechanically or mathematically gifted. But The Spokesman-Review shows us that the young generation has ample numbers of students with writing and reading skills.

It is very refreshing and reassuring to read the articles written by our high school people, both for the writing skills they show and for the thinking skills, common sense and wisdom they show.

Thanks, editors, for Our Generation. Please don’t ever think of discontinuing it. Ron J. Boothe Kingston, Idaho

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