Letters To The Editor

CLARIFICATION

There has been some confusion as to the author of Monday’s letter to the editor concerning the Kaiser strike. The author was Tamara J. Newman of Spokane, not Tamera Newman of Otis Orchards, who says she supports the locked-out Kaiser Steelworkers.

We ask our readers to refrain from harassment of individuals who express their opinions in public.

WASHINGTON STATE

Restore funds for Guilds’ School

The Office of Children with Special Health Care Needs in the state Department of Health has recommended to Gov. Gary Locke a $200,000 cut in funding to the 14 neurodevelopmental centers located around our state. This cut results in a devastating loss of $42,000 to the Spokane Guilds’ School over the next two years.

The nonprofit Spokane Guilds’ School and Neuromuscular Center provides a wide range of services to children from birth to age 3 who have special developmental needs. The first three years of life are very important to the neurological development of any child but they are critical to children with the special developmental needs. The miracles regularly achieved by the dedicated professionals at the Guilds’ School during that short window of opportunity yield immense benefits to these children by giving them the tools they need to lead productive lives.

It’s urgent that you contact your state representatives to ask that these funds be restored to a wonderful school that offers a bright future to some very special children.

The many volunteers who spent a recent blustery Saturday collecting pennies for the Spokane Guilds’ School Penny Drive have difficulty understanding how the Office of Children with Special Health Care Needs can justify cutting thousands of dollars from the very children this office was established to serve. Rick Melanson, trustee Spokane Guilds’ School Foundation

Only part of Basic Health is ailing

Re: the editorial cartoon in the April 1 Spokesman-Review, which depicted a “sick” Washington Basic Health Plan attempting to administer care to a woman and her child.

One portion of the Basic Health Plan is indeed in bad shape. The nonsubsidized portion of Basic Health, which covers fewer than 8,000 Washington residents, is experiencing adverse selection, a cycle which occurs when high utilization causes monthly premiums to go up, causing healthier people to drop their coverage. This leaves the sickest people in the program, forcing premiums to increase even higher. However, this is not the case for the 128,000 people enrolled in the subsidized portion of Basic Health.

The subsidized program is healthy and available to those who qualify (earning $32,900 or less annually for a family of four). Those interested in joining Basic Health should visit our Web site at www.wa.gov/hca; or call toll-free, 1-800-826-2444.

For the majority of our members, Basic Health is a strong, viable program that offers affordable health care coverage starting at $10 per adult per month. Gov. Gary Locke, along with the Health Care Authority and the Legislature, want to see the subsidized program maintained first and foremost. But we will continue to seek remedies for the “sick” conditions afflicting the non-subsidized portion of our program. Gary L. Christenson, administrator Washington state Health Care Authority, Olympia

Benson exhibits more bias than sense

Rep. Brad Benson questions the “union’s” use of statistical data to support a 15 percent compensation increase for public school employees (Letters, April 4). The union he refers to is the collective voice of 67,000 of those same public school employees. The facts he questions are apparent, clear and compelling to this union.

Benson seems simply unable to conceal his anti-public school/employee bias. He should at least recognize that he’s criticizing and insulting citizens with real jobs.

Benson ought to take a close look at the pay for his chosen occupation. In 1987, state legislators were paid $14,500 per year. Today they receive $28,300 - a 95 percent increase over the past 11 years. How does an increase like this square with the Consumer Price Index, or his more accurate Implicit Price Deflator? I understand that another increase for legislators is in the works.

I was amused by Benson quoting Winston Churchill as saying, “There are lies, damn lies and statistics.” The actual quote, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics,” is attributable to Mark Twain’s autobiography (page 246). Silly me, I’d have thought a legislator with so many black-and-white positions on public education would know this.

Washington public school employees need a 15 percent increase in compensation to catch up and keep up with the increasingly high cost of living. This is clearly demonstrated by available data and comparisons with similarly situated employees throughout the United States. Gov. Gary Locke, Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson and responsible, clearthinking legislators agree. Lynn Jones, president Spokane Education Association

We need teachers good pay secures

Our world is rapidly moving in directions that demand advanced education of our citizens. The era of being able to leave high school and obtain a job that pays a livable wage is nearly gone. Advanced technical or college training is needed to obtain the jobs of both today and tomorrow.

Our public education system has to be the resource that produces students who can go on and excel in their chosen professions. To do this, we need the best teachers available.

I come from a family of educators and know that financial success is not one of the primary motivating factors for people who choose this path. But reality dictates that to attract and retain the best educators requires fair pay. Teachers are people who have invested four to eight years of their lives preparing for their chosen work. These are years after high school and years that for most cause them to incur a debt that will take years to pay off.

The least we owe these fine people is a salary that can maintain a family and reasonable lifestyle. Much more to the point, we owe them a big thank you for taking on a very difficult job. And if there are those who doubt that, try sitting in at your child’s school for just a day or two to see how they handle this challenge. Vernon J. Nelson, M.D. Spokane

Last laugh is better

Re: “Teachers seeking more for less.” (Letters to the editor, March 22)

I hope you are done laughing because we are happy today with a decision reached by the panel to cut short school days. Now, teachers can do the necessary planning on paid time rather than their time. The decision made will be a benefit to students, parents and (if you don’t’ mind) to the teachers.

How about putting energy toward showing respect to a very dedicated profession, such as teachers and education personnel. I’ll bet you have yet to vote yes on a school levy. I bet the children you know who would rather go to school half days than to have a whole day off would rather not go to school at all. I’m still laughing. Irene Schmidt Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Religion misused as battering ram

I am deeply concerned with the petition to repeal or challenge the recent passing of the Human Rights legislation in Spokane. Much of the rhetoric around this intolerance stems from a morality derived from a particular interpretation of Christianity. With theologian Matthew Fox coming to the area soon, perhaps we need to reacquaint ourselves with a spirituality based upon compassion.

It is exceedingly easy to manipulate “religion” to justify judgment of another. What is more difficult, and clearly the challenge of our time, is to live by the eternal, essential teachings of all faiths: love, acceptance, forgiveness and compassion.

I am deeply saddened when any one group or individual who has themselves been the target of fear, hatred or discrimination, and thus felt the harmful effects, is yet compelled to do this to another. I’ve got to believe there is a better way. I don’t have all the answers but compassion seems like a good place to start. Stacy Hersrud Spokane

Woodman, Avista advance diversity

Re: Black History month.

Traditionally during February, we focus on issues, achievements and history as they relate to African Americans. Although there are many noteworthy local events that occur at that time, I would like to congratulate Diane Woodman, librarian at Otis Orchards Elementary School, for her commitment to diversity in the classroom. Woodman was chiefly responsible for arranging for Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson, NASA astronaut, to address the school’s student body in February, as well as Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Vernon J. Baker last year.

I also compliment Tom Matthews and Avista Corp. for its commitment in deed and resources for sponsoring Myrlie Evers, widow of slain civil rights leader Medger Evers, to address our city.

Introducing these heroes to our business community and schools is a great start to teaching our future and current business leaders that heroes are not limited by race or gender.

Efforts like these in our business, social and educational communities will encourage us to embrace all of our human resources to create a stronger and more harmonious society. Stephen R. Wilson vice chairman, African American Forum, Spokane

Buck stops at dogs’ owner

Alvin Tesdal’s decision to blame the young girl and her rescuers for her injuries is disheartening but not really surprising. Increasingly, I see individuals refusing to take responsibility for their own actions.

In this instance, the Tesdals are ultimately responsible for this tragedy, as their dogs, “harmless giants” that they may be, were not properly contained or monitored.

Animals, domestic or wild, “papered” or not, can act unpredictably; the pack instinct can be a powerful activating force. Because of the Tesdals’ failure to manage their animals, a youngster was needlessly subjected to both the trauma of a vicious attack and the unpleasantries of her subsequent medical treatment.

To blame others for this unfortunate event reflects poor judgment and an astounding lack of social responsibility. Jeffrey A. Fong, Ph.D Spokane

Another attempt to duck responsibility

Your front page article (April 3) on lawyer Robert Fischer’s attempt to justify and blame-shift the brutal and vicious child mauling by Alvin Tesdal’s monster Cujos further cements the reality of our culture’s penchant for accountability avoidance. Larry L. Fulton Spokane

U.S. AND THE WORLD

Countries can be training aids

Since the Pentagon has plans to fight two major wars simultaneously at opposite ends of the Earth, there will always be a need for battle-tested troops. Lord knows, U.S. troops don’t get enough hands-on practice, being idle for months at a time. To achieve battle-readiness, may I suggest that the Pentagon designate 12 smaller nations, to be attacked on a rotating basis. The nations selected for this honor to have a variety of terrains and climactic conditions, but little resistance to offer.

A routine check would be made, prior to attack, that none of the nations were members of NAFTA or the World Trade Organization, or had large outstanding accounts owed to World Bank, the IMF or other financial institutions engaged in international trade or banking.

Suggested countries to be attacked might include the Maldives, Madagascar, Tasmania, New Zealand, Liechtenstein or Luxembourg, Belize, Yemen, the Lesser Antilles, San Marino, Monaco and the Vatican, all of which have direct or indirect diplomatic relations with the United States reason enough to be attacked! Switzerland, for obvious reasons, would be exempt.

Since little resistance would be offered, new and exotic weapons could be tested which could contaminate potable water in the country, destroy the sanitary infrastructure for decades and disrupt the ability of the medical community to treat civilians for a variety of conditions either caused by the attack or exacerbated by lack of medicine and medical supplies.

Oh! We’re already doing that in Iraq? How thoughtless of me. Al Mangan Spokane

Here it comes, another Vietnam

Weep, American mothers. Weep for your sons, for soon, thousands will be sent to die in the windswept forests of Kosovo and the rubble-strewn streets of Bosnia. Sent to die as their brothers died in the jungles of Vietnam.

And like Vietnam, you will be told that your sons’ deaths were a terrible mistake. Those who planned and executed the war will say that they were wrong and so very, very sorry.

However, for now you will be assured that the cause is just. That your sons are being sent to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent women and children, to make the world safe for democracy. But their involvement will only escalate the massacre, and the killing will triple and quadruple. And they will be shocked to know that no one wants them there, that both the Serbs and the Albanians hate them and will heap blame on them, and kill as many of your sons as they possibly can.

Weep for your sons, for soon, thousands will be sent to die in a war they have no way of ending. I know, for I’ve been there. For seven years I saw this scenario of the absurd unfold in Vietnam. To paraphrase Shakespeare: It is a mission spawned by idiots full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

Are your sons no more than sheep being led to the slaughter? Is it not time to say No! They will not go? Sheridan Peterson Deer Park

APPRECIATION

Fitzgerald helped shape GU team

As we continue to praise Gonzaga’s basketball successes and its great players and coaches, we should include Dan Fitzgerald.

That Fitzgerald is out of the limelight now is his own doing, but the fact that the Zags have been so spectacularly in the limelight is partly his doing.

Over the years, Fitzgerald shaped the program that makes GU basketball what it is today. He understood Gonzaga’s mission and helped ensure that Gonzaga’s athletes and athletic programs would reflect and contribute to its mission. He helped his players, including some of the present team, to become real members of the Gonzaga community and to grow into good young people and good students, as well as good athletes. That the players reflect so well on Gonzaga reflects well on him.

When we talk about what a wonderful ride it was to the Elite Eight, we need to remember his influence was very much present on that ride, even though he himself was not. Betsy Downey Spokane