Letters To The Editor

HEALTH

Will Viagra go way of Phen-Fen?

With all of those poor men dying from using Viagra, I’m waiting for our watchdogs, the TV, newspapers and magazines to prompt the Food and Drug Administration to withdraw a very effective medication from the market like they did with Phen-Fen. This, of course, would be done without any regard for the millions of people who were helped by the medication.

I won’t hold my breath, though. Here we’re talking about men and sex, not just some overweight, lazy womenfolk like me. Where are those Phen-Fen police when you need them? Teresa C. Roberson Spokane

BELIEFS

Be humbled before you’re humiliated

It’s happened again. A person presented their philosophy, which they found in the New Testament, and proclaimed themselves Christians on that basis.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of these people on the most important day of their lives. Read Matthew 7:21-23. To avoid being in that group, we need to humble ourselves before God has to humiliate us. We need to heed the scriptural admonition to study, to show ourselves the proof by God, and work out our own salvation with Jesus. We should take the entire Bible and understand the story that ties all the stories in it together so we can begin to have Christ’s mind as he said.

When we look at the world and life as Jesus does, we will be born of the spirit not of flesh only, and will spontaneously live the kind of love that Jesus lived James L. Churchwell Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

City improvements need to be made

We received a letter from a group of Spokane Club members who oppose the construction of a parking garage adjacent to the club’s athletic building. They refer to loss of scenic beauty and public view of the river and its banks.

This is rubbish! The area west of the athletic building on the south bank is void of beauty. In addition, any view that might be reduced from the rear of the Masonic Temple isn’t significant. The parking garage wouldn’t be any taller than the existing athletic building next door.

There seems to be general hysteria associated with any proposed construction and betterment near the river, which in fact represents a great deal of Spokane real estate. If the city and private sector weren’t permitted to make improvements near the river, we would have an even more serious problem to contend with.

We are in favor of a well-planned parking facility of proper size and placement on the proposed site. We are tired of people professing to represent the public good when they hide behind poorly envisioned and vaguely-worded laws like the local and state shoreline regulations, and reviews by the Department of Ecology. Anyone with any brain will realize there would be little or no ecological impact by a well-constructed parking garage on that property, yet ecology is too often used as a means of preventing growth and improvement.

Let’s get on with the business of making reasonable and useful improvements to our city and stop the mean-spirited and self-destructive opposition to important new projects. Dallas and Kathie Hawkins Spokane Falls Insurance L.L.C., Spokane

Park Board decisions embarrassing

Two years ago I attended the Park Board’s annual retreat held in a cramped board room of then-board-president Dennis Hession’s law office. Not only was it uncomfortable, we weren’t allowed to speak. It was openly discussed by board members to terminate Riverfront Park manager Hal McGlathery because he had opposed the ill-fated Science Center. Members also discussed not to let the “Indians” use Riverfront Park for their annual powwow.

McGlathery was shortly moved out of the park to another job in City Hall. His tireless work had put the Pavilion area of Riverfront Park as the most popular entertainment attraction in the city.

Now, the park has been grossly mismanaged, with revenues dropping about $400,000 in 1997 and season passes from 11,000 to 8,600. The Park Board has grossly neglected repairs to the Pavilion area for years.

The Native Americans, to whom we owe a great deal for their sacrifices and heritage, were invited as “guests” nine years ago to use Riverfront Park for their powwow by then-mayor Cherie Barnard. This annual event celebrating their traditions was enjoyed by many, including my family. The idea of the Park Board even thinking of shoving the Native Americans off to High Bridge Park or rejecting their use of “their” park is indefensible, insensitive and bigoted.

It’s unacceptable to be embarrassed by Park Board and city management decisions that offend our cherished Native American friends, and the neglect of Riverfront Park. Would those who made decisions like this in the private sector be reporting to work the next day? Jonathan Swanstrom Sr. Spokane

Merlin apartments needed

Re: “Building official denies requests to close Merlin” (June 3).

I must say that I am pleased to hear the apartment building will remain open. As the days become warmer, I consistently see more and more homeless people on the streets. Closing a low-rent housing development is not the solution to our city’s homeless problem.

The Merlin Apartments could be put to good use if there were in the right hands. If the owners would do their part in the renovations, and the city provided a little motivation, such as tax subsidies, this building could provide a decent home for low-income citizens.

Even if the building were declared unsuitable for living, it could make an excellent center for people trying to overcome their drug and alcohol problems. If city government and private businessmen would put in a little time and money, the Merlin Apartments could greatly improve the living conditions of the needy members of our community. Tyler J. Black, age 17 Spokane

No more shopping downtown for me

Parking on West Main, I noted the meters were labeled for two-hour parking. The meter reading was 1 plus 15, and I naturally assumed it to mean there was one hour and 15 minutes left on the meter. I did not insert another coin, as my shopping wouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. Returning, I saw that I had a $10 violation. There were several other vehicles with expired meters and I did not notice any tickets. This made me wonder if there is a policy of ticketing out-of-towners and favoring the locals.

With the hand-wringing of the downtown economy, this attitude doesn’t help in the least. I do not plan to shop downtown Spokane ever again, and will so advise my friends. Don Kerley Grand Coulee

Paper should cover more local events

I’m shocked but not surprised that the newspaper and none of the television stations came to the Theatre Arts for Children’s First Annual Emmy Awards.

Coverage of community theater is lacking in this town, much less a theater in Spokane Valley. The media gives great coverage to outside entertainers who charge big bucks and leave town with most of it.

They missed a wonderful night of awards when they failed to show up. These Spokane Valley kids and adults have put on fine shows for the last two-and-a-half years. I don’t recall anyone at the newspaper or on television mentioning them.

Both Mike and Becky Hinez should be commended for their excellent work and their incredible knack for picking great scripts. This theater is part of our community, not from New York, and they do excellent work.

I urge both Stacy and Jim Cowles, who could make things happen, to change all that and give the locals a break. When I say locals I don’t just mean the theater. I hear the same complaint from the ballet, sports entities and everyone else in this community.

I believe the Spokane paper needs to concentrate more on local events, and less on the rich and famous. George W. Springer Spokane

Partiers, clean up after yourselves

Before the big outdoor party season kicks in, I’d like to give the partiers something to think about.

You and I share some space. You go to the quiet edges of our neighborhoods to party, free of rules and restrictions. I go there for long runs with my dogs, to be free of restrictions. We all value the solitude and peace that’s still available at the edges of our city.

You’re enjoying these places at night, and when you leave you can’t see the mess of bottles, cups, cans and plastic trash bags you’ve left. I know I don’t need to say anything more about the visual effects of garbage. What you might not consider, though, is the effect of broken bottles on my dogs.

Recently I had to carry one of my dogs a mile or so out of the woods and rush him to the veterinarian. He’d run through a tangle of beer bottles and cut a major vein in his foot. It was a life-threatening accident, and I don’t want it to happen again. But I also want the freedom to run in quiet places with my dogs off leash, doing what they and I love.

Next time you’re out partying, please think about who you’re sharing space with. When you leave, remember that the next morning there might be three happy dogs running like crazy through the place you had your own fun the night before. Take your non-biodegradable stuff with you, and I’ll make sure my dogs leave their biodegradable stuff where you won’t step in it. Ann Fennessy Spokane

IN THE PAPER

Reaction to abortion normal

Re: “Militant abortion foe to offer retreat in area” (June 6).

Why do you vilify Allison Hall Grayson’s stand against abortion? Abortion is murder, and those practicing, supporting, financing, teaching it, etc., are guilty of murder. For mankind to murder himself is insane.

Grayson’s innate hatred for abortion is a normal sane response. Any other response is insane.

Please print a retraction of your article. Praise Grayson for his righteous wrath against abortion - that is, against murder. J.J. Jarvis Newman Lake

OTHER TOPICS

Marmots need protection, too

Where’s the peoples’ hearts? Last Thursday and Friday I saw a sign on a tree on River Point Boulevard, put there by SpokAnimal, saying there had been poison put out and to watch your children and dogs. What about the marmots?

I buy rolls and raisin muffins for the marmots. Every day I go upon the knoll and the marmots come running from all directions. They love corn on the cob, bread, muffins carrots and celery leaves. They don’t hurt you, they just come to be fed.

Who has the meanness to poison a dumb animal? That’s pretty low. People come from all over to see the marmots, which live in the rock pile. Doris McLean Spokane

Where does vandalism lead?

My 17-year-old son was leaving for his SAT tests last Saturday and discovered that someone had smashed out a window in his car during the night. He drove his mother’s car to the test and did well, I am sure.

I am saddened, however, that someone - who probably didn’t bother taking SATs - equates fun with breaking car windows. There were many more broken windows in our neighborhood that day, according to the police.

We are hard-working people who could find many better ways to spend the $200 or so it will take to replace the window.

My son is a young man who constantly makes me proud. He is a high achiever. He is strong, tender hearted and smart as a whip. He wasn’t angry for long about the destruction of his property. He is forgiving. I can see where he is going by the content and quality of his character. I am proud of him always.

My father’s heart is struck with the question: Where is the lad who broke the window going? Larry L. Fulton Spokane

Please support Humane Society

It doesn’t matter whether you work in a shelter, own, breed or rescue animals, or complain about people who do any of the above, we all have to agree that there are more than enough abused, abandoned and unwanted animals in Spokane County to support three shelters. So why are you willing to let the Spokane Humane Society die?

The county and SpokAnimal get local government funds to supplement their donations. The Humane Society has to exist on donations alone. However, the more than 250 kennels are full of dogs, and cats and kittens are pouring in.

The Humane Society has always been there for you: taking your unwanted pets to try to find them new “forever” homes, euthanizing your special friends lovingly, helping with emergency help when able to do so, and always taking the animals you leave - whether you dumped them so you wouldn’t have to explain your actions or because of what you thought was a good reason.

Now the shelter is in trouble. Donations are almost nonexistent. Staff has been cut to a bare minimum. They continue to provide excellent care and service. Yet you continue to drop animals off with no donations. You won’t adopt these recycled animals because they’re too old, or they don’t match your decor.

Come on, Spokane. Diane’s back (at least for now) and she’s trying desperately to make it work. After 101 years of faithful service, isn’t it time you repaid the Humane Society for a fraction of what they’ve given you? M. Louise Long Spokane

Rotary Student Exchange successful

Re: “Rotary-student conflict a shame” (Letters, June 5).

More than one million Rotarians belong to more than 28,000 Rotary clubs in 158 countries. Rotary districts comprise about 50 clubs. While local community projects are generally well recognized, Rotary’s international thrust is to increase world understanding among nations with the objective of achieving world peace.

One phase is the Rotary Student Exchange program which calls for each Rotary club to send and receive one or more high school students from a foreign country for a year. At the end of the school year the students, who come from many countries but all of whom can speak the language of the country they are visiting, get together for a tour that becomes a remarkable “mini world conference.” This coincides with the local Rotary District Conference where they meet and exchange ideas with Rotary leaders as well as students from many countries. Life-long friendships result.

Each student is clearly advised of this arrangement and signs a contract to fulfill his or her commitment. The problem, unfortunately, is timing. The Rotary year ends June 30, with all district conferences completed prior to the International Conference in June. District conferences are held in the home town of the district governor, where the only adequate meeting place may be the school building, which is not available until school is out. This sometimes causes painful choices between graduation functions and commitments to the student exchange program, but it has worked successfully for years. Eugene B. Bronson past district governor, past president of Spokane Rotary Club, Spokane