Letters To The Editor

Sat., Nov. 28, 1998

HEALTH CARE

PacifiCare remains committed

In the interest of more than 9,000 PacifiCare of Washington-Secure Horizons members in the Inland Northwest, I want to clarify issues raised in “HealthLink woes haunt customers” (Nov. 13).

Since news of the HealthLink situation broke, your paper has done a commendable job monitoring a complex situation. This story, however, and the scenario it described, discounts the commitment PacifiCare/Secure Horizons is making to its health plan members at this challenging time.

PacifiCare-Secure Horizons took steps to mitigate HealthLink-related service issues immediately upon learning of the problem. We worked closely with the Health Care Financing Authority, HealthLink and our providers to establish policies and procedures that would help guide all of us through this process.

We’ve already begun to oversee claims processing, claims payment and utilization management functions at HealthLink, effective Nov. 1. We are also notifying members that if they experience difficulty obtaining services or have payment questions, they should contact our member service department. Such inquiries will be dealt with promptly on a case-by-case basis.

These steps and others were being taken well in advance of the insurance commissioner’s Nov. 5 letter referenced in your story. We have every intention of fulfilling the obligations described in that letter. Our decision to remain in Spokane at a time when other health plans are departing is, perhaps, the best evidence of that intent.

Ultimately, the member situation detailed in your story exemplifies the crucial need for collaboration as we sort out service issues tied to HealthLink’s reorganization. We are asking the parties involved to work with us to ensure that members receive the care they need and expect. Chris Wing, president and CEO PacifiCare of Washington, Mercer Island, Wash.

THE MILITARY

We must not underequip our forces

I agree with Bart Radisson’s Nov. 20 letter (“Military-industrial cabal rides again’) that our foreign policy leaves a lot to be desired. But I would like to know more of this so-called military-industrial complex he mentions.

History tells us we were poorly prepared for both World War I and World War II.

In World War I, many of our warplanes were bought from England and France. Many of our rifles were Enfields, a reworked British design, and our best field piece of that time is still called a French “75.” World War II was no different. Our 2,500 aircraft, most of them obsolete, were no match for the thousands of planes in the German and Japanese services. Tanks were almost nonexistent in the Army and big guns were equally scarce. The M-1 Garand was five years old and the best battle rifle in the world, but our soldiers and Marines were still equipped with leftover rifles from WWI when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. We have the best people in our services and they should have the best weapons. Anything less costs lives. Robert J. Sheehan Colville, Wash.

More defense spending? No way

Watch out, the Republicans are pushing for more defense spending. Most of the money will be spent on unnecessary make-work projects in congressional districts.

The average family” burden for defense is already $8,000 per year. This figure includes the $4,000 per year in interest alone, owed for the weapons bought by Reagan. One senator said that we will soon have enough cargo planes to place one in every school yard. Congress bought $64,000 per family worth of nuclear weapons. The nuclear submarine fleet has not sunk an enemy ship in over 50 years. Meanwhile, many families in the service are recieving food stamps because Congress ignores the Pentagon’s requests for additional funds for personnel.

Can taxpayers afford a huge military establishment? Members of the military, most of whom see little combat, retire after 20 years. Meanwhile, Social Security retirement is jeopardized for people who have paid into the system for over 40 years.

Call your senators and tell them the country has other urgent needs. Cut the fat out of defense and give us our money back or at least spend it on something we can use! S.S. Howze Sagle, Idaho

Military mission is defense

Gregory Newell Smith wrote a letter to The Spokesman-Review (Nov. 14) stating he was “deeply offended” by the firing of a howitzer at an EWU football game.

I understand Smith’s concern for peace in the world. However, I disagree with his choosing to express such an emotional appeal by stating that a military presence encourages violence. The cannon’s purpose is to increase the enjoyment of the game for all, not to encourage violence.

Smith wants us to remove a military presence from the public eye to protect Americans. The U.S. military is the very organization that protects Americans; we have the Department of Defense, not the Department of Death and Destruction.

The U.S. military’s presence in public does not promote violence. If a military presence did promote violence, why not ban all celebrations that acknowledge our military and its history? For example, we would call for an end to Fourth of July fireworks celebrations; fireworks simulate the rockets’ red glare. Rockets are also designed to “rain death and destruction.”

Included on the list of what would also have to go: the Armed Forces Parade (also known as the Lilac Parade), Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day and color guard ceremonies.

I agree that there is violence in the world. However, the U.S. military trains to protect Americans from that violence and should be thanked and publicly recognized. Cary Rux cadet first sergeant, ROTC, EWU, Cheney

Be mindful of source of your freedom

The presence of a small howitzer and a couple of light machine guns at an EWU football game is seen by Gregory Smith (Letters, Nov. 14) as “glorifying weapons” and he fears spectators will be “desensitized” when things go bang to celebrate touchdowns.

“Enough!” he says, “I will not tolerate further violence in my life.” (Bloody noses and broken bones on the field of play seem insufficient to trigger his selective aversion.)

Well, good luck to Smith and all others of similar persuasion. The chances of anyone ever achieving everlasting nonviolence short of the grave are minimal, given the unyielding facts of life. Without military weapons - and people willing to lay their lives on the line to use them - chances would dwindle to none. Far from desensitizing the spectators, I suspect the hard reality of cold steel and military uniforms is much more likely to engender respect and gratitude among those with maturity and wisdom.

“There is more violence in the world than ever before,” proclaims Smith, revealing his ignorance of history. The total number of war casualties worldwide last year probably doesn’t equal the deaths in Tokyo during a single air raid in August 1945. How soon Nanking and Stalingrad, the Gulag of Russia and the busy gas furnaces of the “final solution” are forgotten.

Relatively speaking, the world is quite peaceful right now, thanks in large part to a worldwide pax Americana made possible by our military weapons.

Thanks, EWU, for acknowledging those who are serving and remembering those who have served. Curt Messex major, USAF (retired), Cheney

U.S. AND THE WORLD

Abolish school for barbarian wannabes

I was inspired by the Nov. 21 article delineating the struggle of Paddy Inman against the School of the Americas to do some research on this controversial training facility. I was shocked at what I found.

As we all know, human rights violations are rampant in Latin America. Those who speak out against the government often are tortured or killed by paramilitary groups or death squads sponsored by the ruling political party. Who trains these diabolical political-military leaders? None other but the grand old U.S.A.

Our training facility, the School of the Americas, (often referred to as the School of Assassins) has trained some of the worst human rights abusers in Latin America over the years with its curriculum in torture, abduction, murder and manipulation of the press. They stray from teaching any form of ethics. One graduate, Capt. Gilberto Ibarra, forced three peasant children to act as minesweepers for his soldiers, killing two of them and permanently wounding the third.

Though some claim that the School of the Americas has reformed, let’s abolish this bastion of immorality and governmental corruption. Maintaining this facility only reinforces the U.S. image of non-dedication to human rights.

In the words of Joseph Kennedy, the United States should stand for something in the world other than Levis and Hollywood. We represent justice, liberty, opportunity and democracy. The SOA undermines our democracy abroad and our values at home.

Let’s make a new face for the United States that supports democracy and people’s rights. We can begin by closing our training facility for those who wish to abuse the rights of the innocent. Ryan Cassidy Spokane

Peaceful protest ‘very American’

Re: your coverage of teacher Paddy Inman’s protest of the School of the Americas. I am very disturbed by his colleagues’ attitudes. They are concerned about his breaking the law and setting a bad example for his students.

Sometimes, individuals break laws as a nonviolet protest. This is one way of calling to others’ attention something they feel is wrong and needs changing. This is very American.

It should be noted that this year’s 2,000 protesters were not charged with trespassing. Perhaps the School of the Americas is beginning to realize it has a weak position.

The Nov. 23 Spokesman-Review states, “Critics cite a congressional study that found that 10 graduates had taken over Latin American countries through military coups or other undemocratic means in the past 30 years.” For this and other reasons, it appears the School of the Americas should be closed. Jim Pritchard Ephrata, Wash.

Evil institution must go

Thank you for publishing the article about Paddy Inman and his journey to be true to himself and his conscience. If all Americans were as dedicated to justice as Inman, we would never have to be embarrassed by an institution as evil as the School of the Americas. Our tax dollars are paying for this.

How many people recall that during the Iran-Contra trials, some books appeared that originated from the School of the Americas? These textbooks were used to educate the ones receiving them on how to torture captives, their own people. A great deal was brought out in the press and other news sources about these texts. Still, it seems, no one questioned the curriculum of the school. It was doing what it was intended to do.

I’ve written to Rep. George Nethercutt asking him to vote for legislation to do away with this institution, but he says it is a necessity. Many people have been killed or disappeared in Central America following the instructions from the School of the Americas. Let’s all pray with Inman and others who feel horrified that this product of evil will be done away with. Virginia Goldman Spokane

U.S. wrong to stiff the U.N.

Re: U.S. nonpayment of U.N. dues.

The United Nations is a world peace organization that allows countries to cooperatively search for peaceful ways of sharing the planet without intruding upon each other. However, the United States has become a problem. With a debt owed to the United Nations of over $1 billion, the United States is still acting as a vocal member, yet, its membership card should have been taken back a long time ago.

The issue is not just one of forgetting to write the check. The bottom line issue is, why haven’t we paid our bill?

The basic underlying fact is that the U.S. Republican-controlled Congress has refused to pay any arrears or current dues unless it can be assured that the United Nations will not distribute information on abortions. The United Nations currently distributes family planning information. This is a measure to prevent overpopulation of the Earth, as well as to secure safety for many children. It is every woman’s right to decide what to do. The United Nations is simply presenting options, not encouraging or discouraging any of them.

The United Nations is not making moral decisions for anyone, it’s simply attempting to distribute information. The U.S. Congress, however, feels it has the right to push the majority party’s morals onto others.

This issue needs to be addressed and it needs to happen sooner rather than later. The United States has no right to be a part of the United Nations without paying its membership dues. Kaylen M. Miller Pullman

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Liberals out to destroy America

So, Fred Glienna (“Personal Politics,” Nov. 15) prides himself on being a “flaming left liberal.” As president of the Coeur d’Alene Democrat club, how could he be anything but? What has such liberalism brought us?

From libertarians into libertines. We’ve allowed virtually every moral and ethical standard upon which America ascended to her greatness to be cast aside so we may appear sophisticated, and oh, so politically correct. Truth is whatever furthers your ends. Hail the generation of Emperor Bill, the King of Swill.

Everybody is a victim. Nobody is responsible; some “thing” invariably forces people into aberrant, self-destructive behavior. Big Tobacco tricks us into smoking all those cigarettes. Big Guns floods our society with guns.

Mommy and Daddy victimized us with all those irrelevant, outdated morals and ethics.

Public education is demonstrably dysfunctional, pursuing vapid, pipedream fads in trying to save itself. Glienna says home schoolers “threaten our national unity.” His view would have our children indoctrinated in a politically correct socialist agenda. Diversity in thought is not a hallmark of liberalism. All the home schoolers I’ve met have been unusually literate, poised and confident. No “Hey, dood” verbal illiteracy. Vague generalities? Ask the people who have to staff their businesses, buy services.

We have allowed liberal bigotry to Balkanize American society into warring racial factions, warring economic factions, warring gender factions. Conservatives must stop letting the liberals define the territory and terms. The liberal extremists have kidnapped the Democrat Party and are working on the demise of our Constitution. Brehon K. McFarland Colville, Wash.

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