Letters To The Editor

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Nethercutt should ignore the static

I am outraged over the recent attack ads running on both television and radio against our Rep. George Nethercutt.

Rep. Nethercutt has done a great job as our congressman. He has fought to end unfair government sanctions against our farmers, to increase medical research funding to cure diseases such as diabetes and cancer, and has kept in close touch with the people of our region.

He is a true public servant and I urge Nethercutt to ignore the nasty attacks of these outsiders and to continue in his service to Eastern Washington. Eloise D. Paddock Spokane

Change of mind, lie are different

I am thoroughly disgusted with all of the television ads insinuating that Rep. George Nethercutt could ever be in the same class with President Bill Clinton.

First, there is a tremendous difference between telling an outright lie (“I did not have sex with that woman.”) and, over a period of time, changing your mind on an issue. Who among us has never changed our mind?

Secondly, we in the 5th Congressional District are certainly capable of thinking for ourselves. We don’t need outsiders spending thousands of dollars attempting to tell us what we do and do not want or need.

Last, when we’re fortunate enough to find someone with honesty and integrity, shouldn’t we do everything in our power to convince them to change their mind and continue? Even though Nethercutt hasn’t announced his decision, my family and I certainly hope he will run again. He will definitely have our support. Anne R. Franks Spokane

Term limits supporters fouling up

Recently, I have read numerous comments regarding term limits and Rep. George Nethercutt. But I have yet to hear anyone state the obvious about this matter. For those who support term limits, the dumbest thing we could do is to replace those legislators who support term limits. This would be like shooting ourselves in the foot.

Nethercutt is a very effective representative and we need him in Washington, D.C., for many reasons, not the least of which is to support term limits for all Congress persons. Lindsey Mahar Spokane

Madison’s concern has come to pass

James Madison’s audience must have thought he was engaging in complete exaggeration when, in a 1792 speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, he declared, “If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare and are the sole and supreme judges of the general welfare … they may appoint teachers in every state, county and city, and pay them out of their public treasury; they may take into their own hands the education of children, establishing in like manner schools throughout the union.”

Madison, the chief architect of the U.S. Constitution, was a man of vision, but his imagination was not sufficiently perverse to envision the likes of the Clinton administration.

A Jan. 21 White House press release testifies that what Madison had predicted in a flight of sarcastic rhetoric has now become a policy “triumph” for the Clinton administration. “President Clinton and Vice President Gore unveiled initiatives to help provide a qualified teacher in every classroom.” The press release announced major increases in funding for four federal teaching subsidy programs with the fiscal 2000 budget. Curt Kruger Spokane

U.S. AND THE WORLD

Love it or leave it

Re: Kalil Islam’s March 8 letter stating that he would prefer not to be involved in our cult of believers here in America because we treat the world so badly.

I’m happy that we have a free country, in which he can come and partake of. If he doesn’t like it, he may want to move back to a less repressive regime like Iraq or Iran. He also states that our nation is Christian. It’s obviously not. We do not teach the Bible. It used to be Christian but it’s now a democratic government that is worldlier minded. Of course there are problems and he has a choice. Harvey Fritz Moses Lake

Germans guilty of blatant hypocrisy

Re: The Germany protest story March 5. Germans accused the United States of barbarism for executing two brothers convicted of murder. Members of the German parliament were calling for sanctions against the United States and calling this barbaric.

If they really want to know what barbaric is, let them examine their own history. The two brothers were guilty of murder, but millions killed by Germans in gas chambers, firing squads, etc., were innocent people.

After what happened in Germany over 50 years ago, how do they have the nerve to call anyone barbaric? Chester C. Whisman Spokane

ABORTION/REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Fallacy behind justice’s `contribution’

In her March 10 column, “Blackmun earned women’s thanks,” Geraldine Ferraro sings the praises of what the late Justice Harry Blackmun has done for society. However, while glorifying a woman’s right to choose to have a child or terminate its life, Ferraro blatantly avoids mentioning the real issue behind the topic: the choice to have sexual intercourse in the first place.

Conveniently, it has been deemed OK by society for women to shrug off responsibility for their choice to have sex. Voices cry out, What if the woman didn’t have a choice? What if she was raped? I answer that with a question: Have two wrongs ever made a right? By the theft of one person’s rights (rape), it becomes OK to take away another’s rights (murder, or the conveniently supplied euphemism, “abortion”)?

Women’s rights advocates focus on the issue of the right to choose. In the majority of cases, though, common sense dictates that the choice to have sex is made before the choice to end a child’s life.

Yes, women have the right to make their own decisions. So let’s start by reminding ourselves of a basic principle: every action has a consequence. Society allowing women to “forget” that principle by offering them an easy way out does nothing to enforce the idea of responsible adults.

What is my teenage generation going to grow up thinking? That it is OK in society to shirk responsibility? Because, after all, it’s my right to choose. Patricia M. Migliuri, age 17 Spokane

Think contraception, not control

Extremists are gearing up for yet another assault on women’s rights to control the size of their families and the need for protection from those “ who not only want to tell us what’s moral” but also “wish to impose, by law, their moral values on the rest of us” (Gail Parke Jr.’s Jan. 22 letter.

Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., said that “… the GOP will fall into the ash bin of history” should it fail to “outlaw” abortion . (Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press).

Why the constant, emotionally charged use of the word “abortion”? Educated people understand that safe, efficacious and affordable contraceptives will prevent abortion. Those howling loudest against abortion are often the same people who oppose contraception. “Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful” (Nietzsche).

Funds to help women to reduce the number of children they bear are being systematically cut - worldwide. Far too few grasp the fact that, without birth control, we will soon have standing-room-only on this planet.

Those who stoop to terrorism in the guise of free speech should understand that the opposition has identical rights. “There is no grievance that is a fit object for redress by mob law.” (Abraham Lincoln)

From a church billboard: “The religious right is neither.” Such is the truth.

Reason must prevail if we are to work together toward solving problems with family planning issues. If we fail to limit the number of births, war, pestilence and famine will do it for us. Who, in all conscience, would wish this? Joyce M. Paris Spokane

Population growth the real menace

I am responding to Mary Ellan Moe’s letter against abortion (March 12).

Moe states that “38 million lives - all innocent - have been lost since abortion was legalized in 1973.”

Where’s the problem? Could you imagine this already overpopulated country with 38 million more people? We’ve already cut down hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of acres of much-needed trees to expand cities and build new ones. With 38 million more people, we would have more homeless people, poverty, unemployment, etc.

Moe also states that “barbarians historically cannot touch what we are doing in America with legal partial-birth abortion.” This is not true, since at least 38 million people - innocent and already alive - have died by the hands of Christianity. I’m assuming Moe is a Christian and trying to force her beliefs on those who don’t care about it. I think she should follow the “live and let live” policy. Cliff Mann Spokane

Activist acting out of ignorance

Re: “Abortion protester tries new tactic”

Teresa Van Camp’s assumption that everyone who walks through the doors of Planned Parenthood is there to seek an abortion is as ludicrous and ignorant as me assuming that every time you visit a book store you are there to purchase adult-only material, or anytime you enter a video store you are there to rent a porno film. I am sure if I stood outside either of these locations to snap pictures of said predators and happened to take your picture, I would be slapped with a lawsuit for violating your civil rights faster than I could say I am only sending them to a fellow activist.

Please consider the following true story.

I was 22 years old, newly married, and if it had not been for the availability and affordability of services at Planned Parenthood I might not be here today. Due to Planned Parenthood’s thoroughness, I was diagnosed with an abnormal pap indicating the presence of precancerous cells. With their help, I was able to have the proper procedures done to prevent its further spread. Had I been intimidated or prevented by your actions from entering Planned Parenthood 17 years ago, you would have my life and that of my future children to answer for someday.

In other words, Van Camp, your hands would be no cleaner than those you are trying so hard to intimidate. Mary Sharon Bowman Spokane

Casting a wide , clumsy, evil net

Re: “Abortion protester tries new tactic” (March 7).

My family doctor’s office is located where Teresa Van Camp was taking her pictures. My husband and I were just recently there for general practitioner-related illnesses. I don’t mind having my purse searched each time I enter this building, because the guard is looking for weapons that anti-abortion fanatics might bring in, but Van Camp’s latest activity of photographing everyone going inside has gone too far for my comfort.

My reason for seeing my doctor has nothing to do with Planned Parenthood; he just happens to be located in the same building.

I have a real problem with the chance of my picture being sent to an anti-abortion Web site simply because I had a sinus infection or took my 14-year-old daughter for a sports physical.

Van Camp’s goal may very well be to save the lives of unborn babies, but she also appears to affiliate herself with known terrorists that endorse murder. Anyone mentioned as possibly being associated with abortion in The Nuremberg Files is a potential target for death.

She complained about the infringement on free speech and the right to oppose abortion. What about my right to see the doctor of my choice? If I go to my doctor and Van Camp takes my picture and sends it to The Nuremberg Files, is she marking me for death? Will my name be crossed off a Web site list if something were to suddenly happen to me? Cherie Linquist Cheney

OTHER TOPICS

Circumcision a human rights violation

I am happy to see our local paper finally reporting information on circumcision (March 1). However, it is not nearly enough. The article doesn’t address human rights issues of the procedure that many of us see as male genital mutilation.

It’s a human rights violation to remove a normal, functional part of any person’s body without fully informed consent of the person. An infant cannot give consent, and a parent doesn’t have the right to make that choice. If a parent brought a newborn child in to have his eyelids removed, would doctors proceed? No, and a good doctor would inform the parent of reasons not to.

So, you say, but that makes no sense; the eyelid is useful and needed. Well take a look at information about the actual functions of the foreskin. The foreskin is a highly sensitized organ of touch. It has many protective, sensory and sexual functions including protection of the glans (head), immunological defense by production of antibacterial and antiviral proteins and erogenous sensitivity. Removing the foreskin robs the child victim of over 20,000 nerve endings.

There are severe risks with the procedure, including death, gangrene and necrosis. Get more informed about this rampant form of child abuse. Look on the Internet under www.nocirc.org and www.noharm.org. A wealth of information is available. April Cathcart Spokane

Mudslide caused by human blunder

I read your article on the Bonners Ferry mudslide and I couldn’t believe that the report showed that the mudslide was not predictable. I live in Spokane and sometimes my work takes me up north through Bonners Ferry. There have been slides there in the past caused by removing trees.

Just two weeks before the accident happened, I drove through the area with my fellow workers and we just shook our heads. We expected something could very well happen by removing all the trees and topsoil on that hillside. The springs were well-evident just by driving the road. I remember saying that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

I guess they got what they deserved. How stupid do they think the public is that they can pull this one over? I hope the Idaho Transportation Department learns its lesson. Jim Alto Spokane

Murderer will pay for crime

She lies on the side of a small mountain, her grave overlooking a spring creek. Paired Mallards swim without interference while joggers and cyclists pass nearby. In summer, children swing and play baseball in an attractive park just below her resting place. Seasons come and go.

A year has passed since my sister-in-law, Sandy Bauer’s, life was taken from her by violent means, and the perpetrator remains at large. The Omak Police Department has worked hard on the case asking questions and giving countless polygraphs. They are noncommittal and the family has given them latitude. After all, they cannot manufacture clues if none exists. Still, we had hoped that somehow DNA testing would provide some kind of breakthrough; none has come. One speculates as to who might have done such a cruel and wicked deed.

Sandy’s sons, Frank and Nick Adams, continue to work hard to provide for their families. Lillian Bauer, Sandy’s mother, worries about her husband, Arthur Bauer’s, constantly failing health. Little Dalton, Sandy’s grandson, has ceased asking, “Where’s Grandma Sandy?” Life goes on.

In “Mere Christianity,” noted British writer and logician C.S. Lewis argues that mankind knows intuitively that the wicked will not go unpunished. Sandy’s family concurs for they hold an absolute belief that God will have the final say in the matter. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay’ saith the Lord.”

It is a fearsome thing to stand unrepentant, a murderer, before an omniscient God who knows the truth in all things. Dwayne Wells Portland

Y2K - let’s take it in stride

Y2K. We hear it all the time now. Some say forget it; someone will solve it in time. Others think everything we have built through the years will collapse, bringing anarchy, so they buy guns, hoard - and fear.

What happened to clear thinking? Why not lay up a few weeks’ supply of necessary items, including water? If nothing happens, give the surplus to charity or save it for another natural disaster, such as another ice storm, and trust God to protect and meet all needs. If this seems farfetched, literature is full of instances where people have survived impossible situations of every type imaginable.

I like the approach portrayed in “Y2K - the Play” still being performed Sundays through Wednesdays at First Assembly of God in Spokane. KREM-TV News featured a nice review of the play recently. Oren C. House Spokane