Letters To The Editor

TECHNOLOGY

Clear the way for Hanford FFTF

Radioactive isotopes are becoming a more frequently used treatment for cancer. At this time we are buying these from Canada and other countries.

We have at Hanford the ability to make these isotopes either from materials brought from outside sources or even from some of the materials we have deposited here at Richland. Richland has been designated as a center for the research in the use of radioisotopes for cancer and this research will be started almost immediately.

We also have at Hanford the Fast Flux Test Facility which is a unique machine for the making of research materials. This machine could make isotopes as short-lived as four hours or as long-lived as the research investigator needs. This generator could be put into use with a fraction of the cost of a new accelerator that would have to be designated and built specifically for this purpose.

We urge that the Department of Energy consider an environmental impact statement for the FFTF at Hanford so we may be able to get started on this research. Delay in this further delays the use of this new treatment for cancer. We understand that this would avoid a lot of the side effects that we currently have in the chemical treatment of this dreaded disease. Politics and the public’s uneducated fear of radiation should not play a part in this decision. The public’s fear of cancer is real and we must do everything we can to get this research moving as fast as we can. A.G. Corrado, M.D. Richland

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Let me tell you about `healing’

Re: Tamara J. Newman of Spokane’s April 5 letter, “Replacement workers part of healing.”

Did it ever occur to Newman that in this case Kaiser CEOs are the dirt and infection that is killing the body, which is the union? Did it further occur to Newman that a scab is also an irritant, something that you constantly pick at because you can’t stand the ugliness of it? In most cases, where there once was a scab remains a lifelong scar.

I can honestly say that the earned title of scab does not mean “a healing cover of a wound.” You see, not only is my husband a Steelworker on strike at Kaiser Trentwood, my brother is a scab there, too. He is not healing any wounds. He has, in fact, torn a family apart. Char McIntyre Spokane

Trying seeing past fat cats’ side

Tamara J. Newman (Letters, April 5), you have no idea what’s going on with the Kaiser strike. It is our right to strike when things are unfair. It has been unfair at Kaiser for many years. The fat cats at the top are getting fatter and they do not want to share.

I hope I never have you assist me, should I need medical attention; I believe you would rub salt in my wound. You seem to be a very angry.

Becky E. Pope Spokane

`Scab’ appellation fitting

Re: “Replacement workers part of healing”

Your skin is a devoted part of your body and will be there to protect you for as long as you live. A scab is only a temporary replacement showing up only if you inflict damage to your skin through accident or carelessness.

A scab is ugly. With little effort it can be removed and must be replaced by another of its kind. The scab does only a medium quality, temporary job of protecting a small part of the body while the skin protects the entire body devotedly. Imagine the pain and embarrassment the body would endure if all of the skin was replaced by ugly, inefficient scabs. Thus the term “scab.”

Kaiser being the body, the temporary workers being the scabs and the Steelworkers being the devoted skin that will faithfully endure the inflictions placed upon it as it devotes its life to its body - I am proud of my devoted skin and detest the thought of a scab in my house. F.D. Peterson Spokane

There’s another way to fund raises

I understand teachers’ frustration over perceptions of unfair pay. As a building trades contractor, I see construction workers on school projects receive artificially inflated “prevailing” wages, frequently 15-25 percent higher than the market wages we enjoy for identical private work.

As a father and taxpayer, I would like to see the excess in “prevailing” wages redirected toward paying teachers what they deserve. This wouldn’t require a tax increase, either.

Unfortunately, prevailing wages are a large bone of contention between union and merit construction companies, and the unions need prevailing wage laws to be competitive. I’m going to encourage my legislators to consider exempting public school construction from prevailing wage requirements as a means of freeing money for other uses. I encourage others to do the same. Tad Gropp Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Consider the role model factor

Re: Arden Johnson’s April 5 letter, “Stand up to National Honor Society.”

Johnson stated that the two girls’ pregnancies had no reflection on scholarship. She’s right. But it does reflect upon two of the other three aspects of NHS: character and leadership.

As vice president of my high school’s chapter, I gave a speech to this year’s inductees about the qualities of a good character, one of these “being a good role model.” A role model for young girls does not get pregnant out of wedlock. Leadership, being the other affected area, is obvious. How can you expect to lead others when you aren’t able to demonstrate control over your own life?

I may only be 17 years old, but I understand what’s morally right. Society has changed so that it is socially acceptable for a young girl to be pregnant.

The National Honor Society is supposed to be the elite of the school. The rules vary between chapters and if this Texas chapter felt that the girls’ pregnancies did not live up to their image of a model student, I agree.

Our chapter did induct an unwed mother this year. She has to follow the same rules of conduct and service that every other member must. It is completely up to the adviser and officers of each chapter to decide how the chapter will address issues that arise. Genevieve K. Green Medical Lake

Teenagers need night spot of their own

It seems that lately teens have been getting into more trouble than usual. Whether it be drugs, alcohol or destruction of property, teens are getting really anxious. I think a logical answer is to provide other alternatives for kids. We get bored, and sometimes we do stupid things just to pass the time.

If we had a place to go, such as a teen night club, we would have the chance to relax and have fun, be supervised and stay out of trouble. Dances at school are so popular, but we don’t have them every weekend, just once a month. Why not have a place where kids will want to go to listen to music, dance and hang out with their friends? This would keep so many kids out of trouble. Ashley Mellon, age 15 Spokane

Teens deserve benefit of the doubt

I am 15 and a freshman at Mead High School. I’m tired of discrimination against people in my age group. Ever since I have looked like a teenager, I’ve been followed around stores by clerks. I feel prejudged and stereotyped.

I have never stolen. To have it be assumed that I would steal because I’m a teenager makes me disappointed in my peers.

I know that most adults think we are nothing but slackers and idiotic delinquents who play our music too loud. Well that’s not true. I don’t like loud music, I get good grades and I am not a minority among my peers.

To all adults who prejudge teenagers: Please stop looking down on us because we were born after 1979. Caitlin Miller Spokane

Don’t read too much into tattoos

I am really upset with the comments of Toni Lodge in the March 26 front page story on chemical dependency.

I am a professional person and conduct myself as such, and I have five tattoos. Tattoos are not the cause of chemical dependency, and Lodge should know that from the core of her studies.

For myself, my tattoos are self-expression. They all mark milestones in my personal life, none of which are drug related in any manner. These comments are what causes stereotyping of the population with tattoos, and that is one thing we need less of today.

I think Lodge would be surprised at the number of professional people who have tattoos, who have never as much as experimented with drugs or alcohol.

I believe Lodge is Native American. Would she like any of the stereotypical comments that go along with being Native American published in an article about chemical dependency? I think not. Lori L. Hankel Spokane

THE ENVIRONMENT

Murray bill right for Hanford Reach

As more salmon stocks are listed as endangered, the time has come to permanently protect the irreplaceable salmon spawning habitat of the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. Sen. Patty Murray has introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate to do just that. Her bill would designate the Reach a recreational, wild and scenic river.

Murray’s bill does not involve breaching any dams, include any private property or require special funding by local residents. Murray’s bill provides the Reach the fisheries and wildlife experts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service while also including a wide range of stakeholders, including local government authorities, in developing the Reach’s management plan. Her bill provides studies to consolidate checkerboard land ownership of Hanford lands in Benton County for economic development near north Richland while preserving our remaining public lands in the public’s hands.

Wild and scenic designation for the Reach enjoys the support of the vast majority of regional residents, the majority of Washington state’s congressional delegation, the cities of Kennewick and Richland and the governors of Pacific Northwest states. If we’re serious about saving salmon, it’s time to save Hanford Reach as America’s next recreation wild and scenic river. Bob Wilson Richland

Dam arguments don’t hold water

Alice Parker (Letters, March 27) condemns Samantha Mace’s March 15 guest column as being biased and supporting an agenda of returning to the past. The opinion Mace expressed was that four dams should be mothballed to save the Snake River salmon.

I admit I am also biased toward that position, but only because almost every knowledgeable scientist who has studied the problem has come to that same conclusion.

Parker points out other factors that can lead to a decrease in the salmon population, such as “harvesting, predators, ocean conditions, habitat and pollution.” While these can certainly contribute to the problem, none shows any drastic changes that could correlate in time with the sudden decrease in salmon. Construction of the dams does.

I am getting tired of hearing from dam supporters on how dams provide the benefits of irrigation and flood control. This is true for some dams but not for the four that are the source of contention. This misinformation has been one of the cornerstones of dam supporters’ rhetoric for some time. These dams were never intended for flood control. As for irrigation, only 14 farms pump water from the Snake River in the area and they did so even before the dams were in place.

I can only surmise that if one has no real arguments, one must rely on misleading the public. Vern P. Stevens Kellogg, Idaho

Article on breaching worth reading

To breach or not to breach, that is the question that has engendered discussion, letters, meetings and polarization of the citizens of the Northwest.

I read a very informative article on the subject prepared by a professional engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the April issue of Civil Engineering magazine, which is published by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The author addresses all four dams on the lower Snake River and identifies major construction phasing requirements associated with embankment removal or concrete dam removal, including economic considerations and ramifications for the citizens who depend on the dams and reservoirs for their livelihood.

All interested citizens and involved public agencies should read the article. It highlights the issues involved with the dams and reservoirs and provides a wealth of information that must be considered before a final decision is rendered by responsible people.

Local professional engineers who are members of the American Society of Civil Engineers and local libraries that subscribe to technical journals would have a copy. James W. Bradford retired civil/structural engineer, Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Bulldogs showed they have class

All the millionaire, professional basketball players and their fans recently got to witness basketball as it was meant to be played - with a well honed team effort. There was no fighting, biting, kicking, spitting, posturing, pompous trash-talking individuals on the court. No team member was arrested for soliciting prostitution or drug use. Women, young and old alike, were safe on the streets of the host cities from egotistical, eccentric ball players.

Too bad the professional ranks don’t have the class or real emotional clout of a college team. It will never happen because gold and greed breed contempt for all that it touches. How sad. Good job, Bulldogs! James A. Nelson Spokane

Ornery Saint Bernards aren’t rare

I just read the Saint Bernard attack article where a 30-year breeder said, “I can’t tell you what a shock it is that one of our gentle giants would harm a child.”

“Gentle giant,” my posterior! In more than 20 years of involvement with dogs, including working at a Saint Bernard showing and breeding kennel, I have known a lot of Saint Bernards. Many were unpredictable and bad-tempered, some were euthanized for viciousness. In the dog show world, it’s no secret that the Saint Bernard breed has temperament problems. I can’t see how this breeder could be shocked at the recent attack incident. I wasn’t.

In dogs, temperament is inherited. When a badtempered or vicious dog is used for breeding, many of its offspring will also be that way. Ethical dog breeders don’t breed these individuals.

Saint Bernards are also highly prone to painful genetic health problems, which makes it more likely that they will be bad tempered. Giant size, unstable temperament and pain are a dangerous combination.

The legal outcome of this attack incident is not yet known. Regardless, I sincerely hope that Alvin Tesdal will never again breed his dogs. In my opinion, they have shown clearly that they are not breeding quality. The world doesn’t need any more vicious Saint Bernards. Sarah Schoenfeld Spokane

Too-weak a hand on the war throttle

Cowardice at the top accounts for the mess we’ve made of intervening in the Balkans, just as it did for messing up our Vietnam intervention. President Johnson feared the political fallout from doing what it took to win in Vietnam, but was equally afraid of withdrawing for the same reason. President Clinton is also too cowardly to either get out or go in decisively.

Clinton hides behind a facade of multinationalism, but NATO - formed to defend Europe against a Soviet Bloc that no longer exists, and supported by us because the Soviets also threatened us - wouldn’t have intervened unless we insisted, and it is a European problem. It makes no more sense for us to lead the intervention in Europe than it would for European members of NATO to intervene in Chiapas, Mexico, to save the Mayan Indians.

A case can be made for intervening in the Balkans on humanitarian grounds, but not in the way we have. As long as we can tolerate the government of a foreign nation, we have no moral right to resort to war, to risk the lives of our servicemen and kill citizens of that other nation. If we go to war, our goal ought to be nothing less than changing the enemy nation’s government, and for our servicemen’s sake, the method (proven in Desert Storm) should be overwhelming force.

Knowing this doesn’t help a bit, though, because Clinton lacks the moral courage to act on it. Edwin G. Davis Spokane

Story was a gem

All of us at Jewelry Design Center would like to thank The Spokesman-Review and all of the local jewelry businesses that participated in the article, “Improve your diamond mind” (March 30).

So much of what we see and hear tends to focus on the dishonest, fly-by-night jewelry operations. It was very refreshing to hear an informative, objective view on the jewelry industry here in Spokane.

Your article benefited all of the honest, reputable and established jewelry businesses in this area. Thank you for publishing a positive representation of our industry. Brian D. Toone, manager Jewelry Design Center, Spokane