Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Home violence victims badly served

After reading and re-reading staff writer Tom Sowa’s Oct. 12 article, “Domestic assault on record pace,” I can only say I’m thankful that I am not a woman in an abusive relationship in Spokane County.

Between the omitted number of domestic violence calls to 911 and the number of cases filed of 2,400, there is a huge gap, judging by past reports for the number of calls in Spokane County, exceeding 7,400 in 1996. I wonder just how safe those other 5,000 victims feel, and how likely are they to call for help again? Furthermore, do the 900 women whose cases were dismissed feel safe and will those victims whose batterers pleaded guilty to other charges call for help again?

I have a further concern for the victims of those whose 50 cases were reassigned to Superior Court for felony prosecution, since there are no regulations requiring certified DV perpetrator treatment for felony assault and the prosecution rate is barely 20 percent. I have concern for victims of those charged but not required to complete a certified treatment program.

No doubt, the perpetrator who does not receive the appropriate treatment will blame his victim for his arrest, jail time, fines and embarrassment, having learned nothing. Sounds like fuel for continuing intimidation, threat and violence.

With that, I sure wouldn’t feel safe, secure and protected as a woman in Spokane. Where are their advocates? Is there no help? James E. Barrett, certified mental health counselor Spokane

Sweetser an intrepid prosecutor

I encourage voters to keep Jim Sweetser in office as our county prosecutor.

I have found Sweetser to be an honest, hard-working man who sincerely cares about crime victims. Sweetser has developed many innovative programs to help vulnerable people feel supported through our complicated legal system. This not only is helpful for victims, it also helps ensure convictions of the criminals.

Most importantly to me, Sweetser has aggressively prosecuted the most violent of criminals: those who commit murder (Thomas DiBartolo, Dwayne Woods, Kevin Boot, Kenneth Comeslast). I was especially impressed when Sweetser charged, prosecuted and convicted Michael Tarbert, who was getting ready to walk about Spokane a free man before Sweetser charged him with murder. He would have gotten away with brutally killing Rebecca West and Nicky Woods. Only Sweetser had the perseverance to take Tarbert’s case and keep him from our streets.

Please support Sweetser for prosecutor. He works for us! Randi K. O’Brien Spokane

Sweetser innovative, effective

I am extremely impressed with Jim Sweetser’s accomplishments. I especially appreciate that he is running a positive campaign, sticking to the important issues.

His office is run professionally, with accountability of our tax dollars a priority. Sweetser has implemented the campaign promises from four years ago, including a specialized gang prosecution team and domestic violence team. Sweetser’s innovative ideas nave netted his office well over $1 million in grant funds for increased victim services, enhanced prosecutions and community outreach programs.

Sweetser cares about seniors and just received a competitive grant from the Department of Justice (over 1,300 applications were submitted) to form a specialized elder abuse prosecution team. His vision to address elder abuse in Spokane County has been nationally recognized by this award. This is the type of leadership we rarely see in government and to have that type of leadership in such an important position as the prosecutor’s office provides me with some peace and security about crime in Spokane County.

Vote for Sweetser - a prosecutor who cares about the safety and well being of the people he serves. Janice Messerschmidt Spokane

Sterk strong on children’s safety

I have kids in school and I’m very concerned about kids who bring weapons with them to class. I heard recently that the No. 1 reason kids take guns to school is that they are frightened for their own safety. Teachers are ill-prepared to deal with hard-core gang members who at times invade their schools to recruit and scare our kids.

I heard Mark Sterk speak about his plan to stop some of this from occurring in our schools. Sterk fears that our schools will resemble some California schools, where metal detectors have been installed at the doors. He says he doesn’t want our kids attending school in that kind of atmosphere.

I agree with his plan for a school residential deputy program. I think a deputy working in our high schools would prevent some kids from bringing guns to school. I believe those deputies would also discourage gang members from visiting our schools.

Sterk seems to have the right priorities in place; the safety of my kids seems to be important to him. He won my vote with his sincere concern for the welfare of my children. Mike E. Reynolds Spokane

Sterk backers know what they’re doing

The sheriff’s race is a contest of contrast. Adam Lynn’s article in the Oct. 12 paper says, “Mark Sterk hopes to use his name recognition and five-to-one edge in campaign dollars to defeat Finke.”

Why does Sterk have more campaign money? Not because he is rich - he’s a Spokane police officer. (Everybody knows they are not overpaid.) It’s not because of big corporate gifts but because of local unions and police associations. The Spokane County Deputies Association did not stay neutral. It chose Sterk and backed the choice with money. The Lieutenants and Captains Association likewise endorsed Sterk and contributed to his campaign.

Those who know Finke best like him the least. Hunter and Diane Brown Veradale

WASHINGTON STATE

R-49 criticisms not true

I’ve been following Referendum 49’s progress almost since its inception and was severely pained when I saw the “statement against” in the voters’ pamphlet. Whoever wrote that statement was totally misinformed about its content and intent.

R-49 will not “Plunge the state into … debt,” nor will R-49 jeopardize our children’s future. By definition, R-49 cannot take money from schools. It is not without a plan on how to spend the money. R-49 will only redirect license tab fees from the general fund to where they were originally supposed to be used: transportation.

It bothers me every time my vehicle needs an alignment to realize that both my license tab and gas tax dollars are going to the general fund, not to transportation, as was originally intended.

Voting yes will improve our roads and perhaps may make conceivable the north-south freeway that the Department of Transportation has been talking about forever. Also, R-49 will put money back into all of our pockets, each and every year. Kevin Carroll Rockford, Wash.

Vote for I-694 abortion ban

I urge readers to vote yes for Initiative 694, which would make it a felony for doctors to perform the partial-birth infanticide procedure. It is a vote for the life of a child and for decency in our society.

The partial-birth infanticide procedure is so overtly murderous that even most pro-choicers renounce it and the normally pro-abortion American Medical Association has officially asked for it to be banned.

At the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington several years ago, Mother Teresa of Calcutta spoke so plainly on the subject of abortion to the the president, his wife, congressional leaders and an audience of 3,000. “If we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill each other? Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. … And this is what is the greatest destroyer of peace today - abortion, which brings people to such blindness.”

Please vote yes for I-694. Ron G. Belisle Spokane

Vote to ban abominable procedure

I was born in 1943. I might have been aborted had the medical technology and the procedure known as partial-birth abortion been available.

I was born breech, with a harelip and cleft palate. Had I been aborted, I would not have known the love of a mother who sacrificed that I might have every chance to live a normal life. I would not have known the stepdad who loved me as his own son. I would not have enjoyed the love and companionship of the wonderful woman who has been my wife for nearly 23 years. I would not know the joy of being the father of two handsome young men. I would not know the fulfillment of caring for my mother, now in the end stages of Alzheimer’s.

If our standards today had been in effect then, I might not be here to write this letter some 55 years later.

Let’s ban this abominable procedure. Jerry Ham Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Assess how sold out candidates are

It is a clumsy method by which a candidate brings his or her name to the attention of the voters. This may be part of the reason fewer than half of those eligible vote. From little yard placards to huge, expensive eye-catchers, each merely carries a name and a party affiliation. Nothing is revealed of the candidate’s intentions or philosophy.

Should voters let themselves be swayed by the size and frequency of signs for a given candidate? Do we allow the impact of repeated exposure to one name form the basis for a decision when we know little or nothing of that candidate’s ability or concerns?

Soon, we will see a barrage of ads on the tube designed to capture your vote. Of course, all these ad forms cost money - big money. The special interest groups supplying that cabbage will expect a payoff in the form of legislation beneficial to their business or policies.

So, as you prepare to vote, look not at the rush of signs and flashy pitches on the tube. Ask yourself instead if that candidate is likely to vote for issues of interest to you, the community, the nation, or is he or she indentured to those who funded the ad expenditures? Paul Winkleman Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Watch for worthwhile forum telecast

Recently, 15 individuals gathered together at the facilities of KSPS, with their fine crew. With Spokesman-Review interactive editor Doug Floyd as facilitator, Doug Nadvornick of KPBX served as a gracious moderator.

This program, to be aired Oct. 29, stars a wonderful mosaic of “real people,” not talking heads. The farming community, loggers, university students, paramours of public education and those disillusioned with government education, were given opportunity to voice their concerns to the three 5th Congressional District candidates.

Other issues covered were the IRS, transportation, dams, welfare reform, abortion, euthanasia, declining availability of health care for veterans and undefined commitment of our military in Bosnia.

Many questioned the wisdom of involvement with GATT, NAFTA and the United Nations. The topic of character volleyed back and forth, as did campaign finance reform, taxes, and third party candidates.

American Heritage Party candidate John Beal received 5 percent (instead of 1 percent) of the necessary votes cast in the primary. For that reason, Beal could be a voice of reason in the public square, not a peg in the big tent or the wag-the-finger brigade. If all the voters who decry business as usual would vote their conscience, we could secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

A special thanks to all who participated in and promoted this exciting event. They are your neighbors. Watch the program and vote wisely on Nov. 3. Your vote is your voice in civil government. Donna R. Kuhn Spokane

Murray still a taxer and a spender

There was a profile of Sen. Patty Murray in the Oct. 20 Spokesman-Review. The consensus is that she has been ineffective as a U.S. senator. I agree.

The article suggested that the reason for her ineffectiveness was her inability to assert herself. I don’t think so.

Murray was elected by campaigning as a political moderate. However, after arriving in Washington, D.C., she allowed herself to be used by the most liberal elements of her party. The Democrats were still in control of Congress in 1992 and Murray sold her political soul to the Ted Kennedy school of politics, which preaches re-election is achieved through deficit spending on large social programs.

But all that changed in 1994. The relative fiscal restraint practiced by the Republican Congress has been both popular and successful. Murray has never been able to see the light.

Additionally, she has been remarkably inconsistent in her treatment of sexual offenders. She condemns Bob Packwood and Clarence Thomas, and campaigns for Ted Kennedy and Bill Clinton. Apparently, it’s not how you act that matters, it’s whether you’re liberal or conservative.

Murray’s ineffectiveness is not due to her inability to assert her viewpoint but instead her inability to maintain her viewpoint consistently.

We need someone who will vote as they have promised. Linda Smith is that type of politician. Hal R. Dixon Spokane

Government has wrong attitude

Linda Smith has something backward in one of her commercials. She says Americans think the government has all the answers. The problem is that the government thinks it has all the answers. Does anyone (politicians excluded) agree? Neil Lindsey Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

As ever, homosexuals are in the wrong

Recently, several Christian organizations published full-page ads in major newspapers, the theme of which was “speaking the truth in love.” The ads carried testimonies of ex-homosexuals whose lives had been changed by the power of Jesus Christ.

These ads offered hope for homosexuals, not hate, and referred those interested to Exodus International, an organization made up of thousands of ex-homosexuals. Homosexual activists were enraged by these ads because they indicate homosexuality is not genetic and unchangeable, but rather another sin for which Christ offers forgiveness.

Instead of addressing the issue of the immutability of homosexuality, the sodomites and their allies are again blaming “Christian extremists” for creating a culture of “hate,” which allegedly encouraged two thugs in Wyoming to murder Matthew Shepard, a homosexual. By their definition, “hate” is any expression, biblically based or otherwise, that sodomy is not healthy and wonderful.

It is not “religious extremists” who are responsible for anti-gay violence but the current culture of violence and moral degeneracy, for which the pagan left is largely responsible. Paul J. Henry Colville, Wash.

Limited field of view narrows insight

I’ve met with and listened to many victims of human rights violations from everywhere, including the U.S. I respect Peter Dolina’s experiences (Letters, Oct. 9). However, since it’s unlikely he’s read Amnesty International’s report, let me clarify the issues.

Amnesty recognizes strong protections afforded in the U.S. The report documents lack of accountability for police brutality, prison conditions (especially for women), the death penalty (especially for juveniles), the abuse of political refugees in the U.S. and the transfer of U.S. arms to repressive regimes.

The U.S. encourages freedom around the world. Yet the U.S. is complex, vast. So, too, did Rome encourage freedom once - its freedom. Those who resisted were dealt with following ancient Roman tradition - scourging and death. Little has changed in 2,000 years, save the increased regularity of violations. Because the U.S. does represent ideals of freedom, Amnesty seeks to raise awareness hoping to safeguard international civil liberties. If these aren’t upheld at home, they won’t be abroad.

To have neither seen nor experienced violations here is not proof of their “fabrication.” One person’s experiences are limited. The U.S. is vast, its media coverage highly selective and regional.

Having experienced human rights violations firsthand, Dolina should recognize that suggesting “we ignore their stupid barking” is the same complacent denial that allows holocausts, totalitarian terror and other abuses.

Amnesty, the world’s largest grass roots organization, nonpolitical, nonpartisan, gets 90 percent of its funding from individuals in donations averaging $40. Timothy S. James, field organizer Amnesty International, Spokane