Letters To The Editor

Consumer issues

I was also on my own

Re: “Buyer, you’re on your own” (Letters, July 20).

I do not make a habit of complaining about the services I recieve from companies, but I have found it necessary to complain on two occasions. Once to the BBB and once to the health department. Both of the responses I received were similar to Linda Becker’s.

The BBB did “investigate” the company but found no problem with it. Although I had written proof to back up my accusation, the BBB claimed there was nothing it could do, but that I could seek an attorney if I chose.

As for my complaint to the health department about my witnessing food being re-served in a well-known fast-food chain restaurant, I received only a phone call reassuring me that they had discussed it with the restaurant manager who told them that their employees do not do that sort of thing.

I can’t stress the importance of being an aware customer. Pay attention to what services you receive, because the institutions that are meant to help you probably won’t. And I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be the next person to get the re-served food. Jessica M. Crinean Spokane

`Buyers are not alone’

Re: “Buyer, you’re on your own” (Letters, July 20).

I would not breech the confidentiality of a client-business issue by addressing Linda Becker’s comments directly in the newspaper. However, we would appreciate the opportunity to speak with her about her complaint. I encourage her or anyone else with a BBB complaint to call me directly. We are here to improve the relations between business and customers.

In some cases, we may not be able to take action but will explain the reasons and offer other options. We cannot rescue people from their own mistakes and we will ask for input from all concerned parties. Needless to say, we do not always make everyone happy. As a neutral party, we do not pass judgment, just solutions.

We are most effective when people call us before they do business. My dedicated staff responds to more than 4,000 inquiry staff calls per month, assisting residents with buying decisions. Yes, we handle complaints but the bulk of our work is proactive. We promote the use of ethical businesses in Eastern Washington and North Idaho by issuing reliability reports in large numbers.

Buyers are not alone. Jan Quintrall, president Better Business Bureau, Spokane

In the paper

Cartoon `hits a new low’

Milt Priggee’s disgusting, rude, crude, inexcusable “cartoon” of John F. Kennedy Jr. (July 20) hits a new low for your newspaper. Marion Bond Spokane

Cartoon was most appropriate

Milt Priggee’s cartoons sometimes bring me to tears - apoplectic tears of red-faced anger, such as when he is libeling the national rifle association. His cartoon of John and Carolyn Kennedy going through the pearly gates was a masterpiece of the medium which moistened my cheeks with such tears as at the end of “Lassie Come Home” or “National Velvet,” when Liz wins the steeplechase.

Unnecessary, untimely deaths always cause unusual anguish and despair. But we tape up our guts and go on, as will the Kennedys and Bessettes. We’ll hopefully learn the hard and tragic lessons thereby taught and move on to a hopeful future.

All three victims were from families of wealth and privilege, with all the concomitant opportunities for abusive and libertine adult lives. That John and his sister did not go that way, despite the mystique of Camelot and almost cult status accorded the Knnedy presidency, is a tribute to a close family and the character and values instilled by their mother.

Priggee’s statement was not a slap of disrespect to the face of death or the memory of the Kennedys and Lauren Bessette. It is an affirmation of what most of us hope for at the inevitable time of our own passing. I celebrate family, faith and our nation, whereby children of wealth and privilege can contribute as much to our culture as those who arise from poverty, deprivation and adversity. Brehon K. McFarland Colville

Cartoon shocking, deplorable

To say that I was shocked when I saw the Milt Priggee cartoon dealing with the deaths of John and Caroline Kennedy would be putting it mildly.

Not only did this cartoon make a sham of their deaths, it mocked the death of President Kennedy. Or does Priggee and the editorial staff of The Spokesman-Review consider that a joke also?

How dare anyone make light of the tragic deaths of these three young and gifted people. When did death become a laughing matter? If your children had died in a tragic accident, would you want this kind of tribute? I think not. Barbara J. Tish Spokane

`Homecoming’ spirit captured well

Re: “Death no joking matter” by Janis K. Gilson (Letters, July 22).

I was shocked that someone would be appalled by Milt Priggee’s July 20 cartoon of John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyne entering heaven. I found the depiction uplifting. I was saddened by the tragedy and Priggee’s cartoon reminded me that there is another side to death.

J.F.K. Jr. is now with his parents again in his savior’s kingdom. What is so appalling about that? As Catholic Christians, we rejoice at our “homecoming” in the afterlife. Priggee captured a joyful entry into the Kingdom. I do not find that to be insensitive. I also fail to view the cartoon as a joke, as Gilson saw it. Rather, I recall the book of Revelation’s vision of the New Jerusalem where, it is proclaimed: “He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, nor crying, nor pain.” (Rev. 21:4). Matthew T. Pyrc Spokane

Other topics

Statistic came from flawed study

Shelly Flores-Pacha (“We need more wilderness lands,” Letters, July 19) states that “Thirty-two times as many jobs have been created by recreation and other nonconsumptive uses of public lands than logging, mining and ranching combined.” This statement is based on a seriously flawed analysis by the U.S. Forest Service.

I and two other economists - Wilbur Maki at the University of Minnesota and William McKillop at the University of California/Berkeley - recently authored a published, peer-reviewed analysis that debunks the Forest Service study. We found that the Forest Service analysis relies on excessively high and scientifically unsupported estimates of recreation use and an improperly formulated economic analysis.

Our alternative estimate of recreation use and an orthodox economic impact analysis suggests that timber activities will continue to dominate other uses of the national forests. Con Schallau Moscow

Beware evil on the grow

Re: Paul Graves’ `Include the sign of reconciliation” (July 17) and D.F. Oliveria’s Hot Potatoes column of July 22.

I enjoyed Graves’ message on Matthew 16 and the analogy to human rights issues. It helped remind us all that God’s followers should always act out of love, mercy and kindness. That said, however, please see Matthew 12:38-45. If evil begins to “leaven” itself, it will grow. Jesus told his apostles to beware the leaven, and he didn’t mean the bread, Jonah (the sign) said repent! Cinda L. Smaagaard Spokane

Supernatural nonsense worrisome

I’m concerned about the escalating trend toward belief in all sorts of supernatural and paranormal concepts. It seems fashionable and hip to believe in these popular myths and uncool to be skeptical about them.

No fewer than 10 movies will be released in the next few months that are centered around common paranormal themes: hauntings, devil possessions, doomsday scenarios, magical books, witches, spirit communication. Most of these movies have a theme where a cute or handsome victim experiences real paranormal events, and then has to convince a hardened skeptic-scientist-psychologist, who refuses to believe it in spite of all the evidence. This bears no relationship to the truth of these themes, which is a long history of falsified evidence, outright fraud and human gullibility.

I hope some of us are alarmed by the sheer profusion of this stuff. That’s all we need, in the age of science, for millions of moviegoers to come away with the impression that all rational human beings are living in denial. For further information, please see www.csicop.org. Cara Plata Pullman

I did not see JDL at parade

This is to clarify some misimpressions of columnist D.F. Oliveria and letter writers criticizing the Jewish Defense League in its confrontational tactics with the Aryans. I didn’t see the JDL or its leaders, Irv Ruben or Barney Krugel of Los Angeles, at the July 10 Aryan Parade. Gary A. Edwards Coeur d’Alene