Letters To The Editor
IDAHO VIEWPOINTS
Support police, stay out of their way
It’s our city; let’s keep it peaceful
We pay our police officers to keep our city peaceful. Let us leave them to do their job.
This jokester who peeled rubber on our main street, Sherman Avenue, needs to grow up. What is he trying to prove? Is he still a kid? He should go out on a lonely country road and peel rubber all day until his tires blow out.
What would have happened if our good police officers were not at the Coeur d’Alene Park during Saturday afternoon’s conflict between the Aryans and the Jewish Defense League? There was a lot of innocent children and citizens in the park at that moment.
One more item. It seems the out-of-towners are the cause of the problems in this city: Aryans, the Jewish Defense League and their backers, motorcycle riders from Hayden and some of the backers of the man who peeled rubber.
Let’s allow our police officers to do their job. Dan J. Stredni Coeur d’Alene
Police deserve respect, cooperation
I’ve noticed the many articles and letters railing about the police. I support the police. Where would we be without them?
I know there are good and bad people in all professions. However, without the peace officers there would be anarchy.
We will never know if lives were saved by crowd control action in Coeur d’Alene. We will never know if lives were saved when peace officers intervened in the kegger party. The lives that may have been saved could be those of your son or daughter.
I lost a son in a traffic accident. My son was 36 at the time. The drunk man driving the vehicle that hit my son’s vehicle at a speed estimated over 100 mph was only 27. Two young lives destroyed by alcohol.
Disregard for law and order must be replaced with respect for the police doing a difficult job.
It is time we stand by all of the good the peace officers throughout this land do, day after day. They are the ones who see the hate and carnage on humanity perpetrated by those who have no respect for anything or anybody.
During the national week in support of police, I installed two blue lightbulbs in my garage’s outdoor fixtures. I shall turn these lights on every night for a few hours in support of the police.
We all need to show respect and support for peace officers. Otherwise, the hatemongers, drunks and crazies will overrun us. Roger E. Harris Coeur d’Alene
Newspaper right to ignore `event’
Referring to editorial writer D.F. Oliveria’s July 8 column regarding the Coeur d’Alene Press’ decision to not print anything on the Aryan Nations’ “event,” let me say that I support their decision fully.
Print worthwhile news but do not support the efforts of these scum. Getting publicity is what they want and the most damaging thing we can do to their effort is to ignore them. Watch that they do not expand and get out of hand, in which event we would need to take action and print the facts.
But their stupid little march is best ignored. Ralph Hallock Hayden
HEALTH CARE
Options information readily available
I want to reassure the seniors and disabled Americans covered by Medicare who read your story, “PacifiCare to pull out of region” (July 1) about the decisions of some HMOs to leave Medicare.
If HMOs decide to stop serving beneficiaries in certain areas, we want to make sure that every affected beneficiary has accurate information about the options available to them. Every beneficiary is still in Medicare. A beneficiary in an HMO that is leaving can remain with that HMO until the end of this year. Many beneficiaries will have the choice of another Medicare HMO.
Medicare also has information about beneficiaries’ options available at 1-800-MEDICARE, on the Internet at www.medicare.gov, in the Medicare & You 2000 handbook this fall. And through a network of national and local organizations, we have instructed HMOs that are leaving to provide beneficiaries with information, both now and this fall, about their options.
The Health Care Financing Administration is committed to making sure that the more than 39 million Americans in Medicare receive the quality health care they deserve, whether through managed care or traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Remember, about 17 percent, or 6.8 million, Medicare beneficiaries choose to get their health care from managed care. The remaining millions still depend on traditional Medicare.
But whatever decisions HMOs make about doing business with Medicare, Medicare will always be there for every beneficiary, with the quality health care each one deserves and accurate information for making choices. Nancy-Ann DeParle, administrator Department of Health and Human Services
NEO-NAZIS AND OTHERS
Just turn your back on them
So, the Aryan Nations will have the American Civil Liberties Union to secure its right to march down Sherman Avenue. That’s understandable.
What’s not understandable is why so many well-meaning people insist on playing the game according to the rules laid down by the Aryan Nations. It’s a big mistake to engage in a shouting match with someone who loves to shout, to trade obscenities with someone who knows more four-letter words than you do.
As my old grandpappy loved to remind me, “Never get into a spraying contest with a skunk.”
I have proposed this before. Let me propose it again. The Amish call it shunning. In the military it went along with being drummed out of the corps. It’s the simple gesture of turning your back on those whose conduct has made their presence unacceptable.
Let the Aryan Nations members march down Sherman Avenue. Line the way with as many good citizens as we can muster. Then, as Richard Butler and his people march by, in silence, turn your back on them, just as we turn our backs on their hate message. Let it be known as the day the Aryan Nations marched through the heart of Coeur d’Alene and never saw a friendly face or heard an encouraging word. Barrie K. MacConnell Coeur d’Alene
Accentuate the ridiculousness
During the parade, as the goose steppers stomp by, extend your arm in the traditional Hitler salute. Then bend your wrist down at a right angle to your arm, extend your fingers, and then shake your wrist profusely as if it had a spastic condition.
People will think you’re nuts but if everybody does it, the funny farm truck can’t haul us all off.
As a special effect, the “area nation” ladies could paint their fingernails red, white and blue.
Also, be sure to use deodorant that day, to accommodate the crowd. All those arms in the air may tend to change the atmosphere. Everyone could carry a small microwave with them, in tribute to Hitler because he liked ovens so much! Arleigh V. Luoma Rose Lake
JDL people troublemakers, too
Saturday morning, my husband and I were at City Park when we noticed in the bandshell seven men putting up a banner with a closed fist on it. One of the men was Irv Rubin, Jewish Defense League leader. I felt this was my chance to ask a few questions and let him know I didn’t like his presence in our town. We let them know we didn’t want to argue or yell. They were loud and obnoxious, and sounded like they were brainwashed with the same answers over and over.
A couple of journalists and photographers gathered around, listened and took pictures. To my husband’s question of “What’s next?” Rubin said, “Maybe Geraldo will come with us next year. Hopefully, we can bring some drug addicts, blacks and others that the Aryans hate, and blast loud rap music in front of the compound.”
We were shocked, but told him his tactics aren’t welcome here.
I hope some of you are as mad as we are and don’t want every Fourth of July to be a circus in Coeur d’Alene. You can send your comments to Rubin at his e-mail address, jdljdl@aol.com, or regular mail: JDL, P.O. Box 480370, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
Hate fighting hate is stupid and proven not to work. I know a lot of good Christian people feel like we do and many were there Saturday to let Rubin know we don’t agree with Aryans but we don’t agree with his methods, either. Let’s use our heads, not our fists. Barbara J. Welch Hayden
Don’t give Aryans desired hubbub
As an Idaho resident, I feel anything we can do to get the Aryans out of our state is a big plus. I do have mixed feelings on picketing because it serves no purpose except giving the Aryans the publicity they need. It won’t make them go away. It simply makes them feel more powerful. A better way would be to shut down the community during their parade so no one would be there but them! Suzi Bingham Corral, Idaho
OFF THE NET
Something that must be tolerated
I do think everyone from Charles Manson to the white power movement now is treated with kid gloves by the law. Like one hand (the ACLU) washes the other (be it KKK or Aryans). They’re suckers for a bad time that hard-working, freedom-loving individuals have to put up with. It is too bad there isn’t a solution. Sandra Evans England
Keep the pressure on
We need to take a strong, visible stand against Nazis.
It is good to see that someone is taking a stand. I support the ARA and the JDL wholeheartedly. As a former member and believer of the Aryan Nations, I read your paper daily to keep up on any happenings concerning the racist Aryan Nations. Floyd Cochran Moshannon, Pa.
Right on, protesters
Re: “Neo-Nazi leader nearly drowned out by shouts of protest,” (July 4). My hat’s off to the courageous human rights defenders who confronted those racists. It’s good to see people of the region taking back their town. Helen Gilbert Seattle
Protester shouldn’t stand alone
Re: Jewish activist plans picketing of Aryans,” (July 2). Any community that would let this courageous soul protest alone is cowardly. Kathryn Henne Seattle
Coalition gets my thanks
Thank you to Coalition Against Nazis for working against these dangerous bigots. If local officials would stop supporting them tacitly by silence and complicity, it would not be such a big problem. Adrienne Weller Portland
I’m proud of police, community
I see the Coeur d’Alene police and community handling all of this with courage, pride and dignity. I hope they can keep up the good work. My prayers are with this small community. Cynthia Barcum Spokane
OTHER TOPICS
Creatures can be friends and allies
“Wild animals creating havoc” (July 1) focused on the annoyance that humans feel when wildlife adapts to the urban environment. It also described the solution many people choose: having the animals trapped and removed.
It is not the animals that are creating havoc. Most problems caused by wildlife are easily remedied by simple actions. If animals move under the porch, remove the porch covering, because animals will not den in an open space. Skunks and raccoons will frequently dig up freshly-planted bulbs because they notice the disturbed soil and assume a rodent or insect is responsible. Tamp the soil in firmly and set a sprinkler over it until the soil settles. If necessary, place a piece of wood over the bulbs for a week and then remove.
The small, shallow holes that appear in the lawn indicate that the animals were eating lawn-consuming grubs.
Garbage placed in plastic bags and then in a can with a tight lid will rarely be knocked over.
Trapping a mother raccoon and removing her is sentencing her babies to slow starvation, and the adult is likely dumped in a habitat she has not been trained to deal with. Trapping is only a temporary solution, anyway, since another raccoon will fill the territorial vacancy.
Raccoons and skunks are an appreciated element of my perennial gardens. One year, they removed a yellowjacket nest that caused my neighbors’ children daily stings and they regularly eat insects, mice, moles and gophers. Jeanne Dammarell Spokane
Compounding wrongs isn’t right
Peter C. Dolina would justify crude behavior by pointing to American military operations during World War II (Letters, June 27). Two wrongs do not make a right, however, and there is always some person or group whose behavior is worse than one’s own. Using this kind of justification leaves no basis for maintaining a civil society.
The examples he cites, including the bombing of Dresden and Leipzig “when the war was already won” are not that simple. The tactic of terror bombing of cities was devised by Hitler and used repeatedly by him. The Nazi V1 and V2 rockets introduced late in the war for use against London could not be aimed precisely and were intended only for killing and demoralizing civilians.
Also, until the very end it was never sure that the war was already won. It had appeared so in December 1944, when the Nazi counterattack in the Battle of the Bulge nearly overran Allied forces. The war continued for another six months.
The alternative to using atomic bombs on Japan was an invasion. This would have produced heavy loss of life on both sides. By quickly ending the war, the atomic bombs certainly saved more lives than they cost.
The best evidence of the reasonableness of American behavior during Word War II is that our former enemies do not hate us but quickly became friends and allies. Contrast that with the Serbs and their enemies. Robert E. Forman Colville, Wash.
Base opinion on first-person learning
Re: “Evangelicals take issue with rivals” (July 3).
I pose a couple of questions.
1. If you had lived in Jesus’ day and wanted to find out the truth about him, would you ask those who opposed him? Would you expect a fair and honest assessment from Caiaphas?
If you are curious about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, ask a Latter-day Saint or attend their Sunday services. If you are curious about the temple that is being built, there will be an open house.
2. Is it fair and unbiased reporting to give space on the front page to the anti-Mormon speaker while burying more neutral articles (such as the one regarding the appointment of the president for the temple) deeper inside the paper? Could the front page article have included just one location and time of a Latter-day Saints service as an alternative to the anti-Mormon speaker?
The counsel Gamaliel gave in Acts 5, verses 34-35 and 38-39 is good advice for those wondering what to do about the Mormons or any other group. Joell G. Woodbrey Newman Lake