Letters To The Editor

REPRODUCTION AND RIGHTS

Critic utterly distorted our mission

Recently, we placed an ad in several area publications, including the Lewis and Clark High School newspaper, to educate people about the availability of emergency contraceptive pills - a highly effective form of postcoital birth control. That ad and our organization were the target of outrageous allegations made by David Edwards in his Nov. 12 letter, “Planned Parenthood supports premarital sex.”

Edwards wrote, “Their business is supported by young people becoming pregnant and going to their clinics for abortions.” If that was true, why would we even advertise emergency contraceptive pills - a drug that, if made widely available, could prevent an estimated 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and 800,000 abortions a year?

At Planned Parenthood, our goal is to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy and the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases among our youth. There is no doubt that the most effective way to do this is to convince teens to abstain from sex. We wish every individual would wait until they are emotionally mature and socially responsible before they begin having sex. Unfortunately, that just isn’t happening. Spokane County’s teen pregnancy rate is higher than that of the state and the U.S. as a whole.

If we really want to lower the rate of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases among our youths we must educate them and give them the tools and guidance necessary to make responsible choices with regard to their sexuality. Simply sticking our heads in the sand will cost lives, not save them. John W. Nugent, president/CEO Planned Parenthood of Spokane and Whitman Counties

Family size is family’s to choose

I was filled with disgust by Patricia Wolford’s letter (“Most Americans are anti-abortion,” Nov. 9) and agree wholeheartedly with Tamara M. Cumlander’s rebuke (“Whose life is more important?” Nov. 13).

My initial reaction was that Wolford is probably beyond childbearing years and, while not advocating prohibition of abortions, was complaining about the “welfare cheats” who accept food stamps to feed their children. What gives this woman the right to say that all women should be willing to surrender their lives to give life to their fetuses? Is she truly unaware that it’s almost too late to prevent a world in which disease, starvation, pestilence and war will be the only measures available to keep populations within sustainable limits?

Nearing the age of 83, I’ve come to the conclusion that the founding fathers gave our land its greatest gift when they called for the separation of church and state. Let each religion - or each individual, for that matter - decide the proper family size. If a wealthy person has the means to provide for the needs of a large family, allow him the privilege of having one. Should a couple have the desire and wherewithal to provide for the care, feeding, and education of only two, there should be no obstacles placed in their way.

No matter how long we live, it will be a short life. Let it be as enjoyable as it can be. Let us allow to all the right to adopt any religion, or none. Let us try to contribute to our society, love and care for our children - and butt out of Wolford’s type of criticism. Fred J. Meyer Coulee Dam, Wash.

Rewards say something about priorities

Re: “Reward offered for doctor’s killer,” News, Nov. 10 Our federal officials see fit to offer a $500,000 reward to assist in the investigation of the shooting of a New York abortion doctor. Attorney General Janet Reno said that the killing “was just one more act of violence against providers of reproductive health care.” In less politically correct terms, it was the killing of a doctor who performs abortions.

How much has the federal government offered to assist in the investigation of the serial killer who has killed at least nine women in the Northwest? Nothing, as far as I know. But then, victims of the serial killer have no friends at NOW or other women’s groups. How much has the federal government offered to spend in assisting any investigation of campus violence?

It seems the rights of those with no political influence, such as the victims of the serial killer or children who don’t yet vote, are cast away, compared to those of a few doctors who cater to the whims of the “pro-choice” culture.

If an abortion doctor (and that’s what they are) is assaulted or killed, the full resources of the federal government are mobilized in the form of a task force. Violence is never the answer to a social or moral problem, but violence begets violence and there is nothing more violent than the indiscriminate, wholesale murder of innocent life. Bill Litsinger Sandpoint

OTHER TOPICS

Good service available locally? You bet

We want to let the people of our area know that it often pays to shop locally. During the week of Nov. 11, our car had transmission problems that we were sure would be serious. We went a locally owned business in Post Falls, left our car and waited for the verdict. They called us the next day and said it was only a plug that had come loose. They put in a quart of transmission fluid and even offered to deliver the car to us. When we asked the cost, they refused to accept a dime. You can be sure they will have our business in the future. Wally and Joan Betz Post Falls

Thanks for your support

I thank the people in North Idaho for their overwhelming support for my re-election. I believe in high-performance government and the best way to review elected officials’ performance is with elections.

I’m glad I passed the test and believe it was because I have a great staff that works for you. It’s an honor to work with them. We pledge to continue our efforts to use technology to have a small but smart government that works better but costs less. I also will do my best to be a balanced, common-sense state Land Board member. J.D. Williams, Idaho state controller Boise

Lifetime hunting ban not enough

Re: “Teens face lifetime hunting ban,” (Nov. 10). I’m normally not a heavy punishment-oriented person. I live in a rural area, where I have spoken to people who believe that because they are too lazy to work, they have some right to kill animals whenever they wish. Their rationale is that they have a right to feed their families. Take their license rights away and consider requiring some type of restitution from them, maybe some wildlife enhancement activity. Norman N. Noggle Newport, Wash.