Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Fairness not subject to majority rule

We celebrate the victory for basic fairness in the City Council’s decision to include homosexuals in the city’s Human Rights Ordinance. It is not up to a majority vote to determine if a minority is to be accorded basic human rights enjoyed by other citizens. Our Bill of Rights defines rights not subject to majority vote. Equal justice is the most fundamental of those rights.

A majority of our citizens has no right to decide to exclude homosexuals from protections afforded other unjustly treated minorities. Nor is it the right of a majority to pick and choose which minorities will be afforded protection.

The argument that the ordinance provides “special” rights or protection is groundless. Our culture has ignored the history of mistreatment of homosexuals that qualifies them to be included with other protected minorities.

In the name of human decency, let us stop this self-righteous and vicious mistreatment of members of our human family who have been treated badly for all too long. Janet and Robert Stevenson Spokane

Consider what else is lifestyle choice

I’m a 23-year-old voting resident of Spokane and I agree with “equal rights, not special rights.” I believe special rights for a lifestyle choice runs contrary to our society.

In fact, I urge everyone to petition your federal legislators to remove freedom of religion from the list of unacceptable discriminations. It’s obvious to me that religious views are purely a matter of choice. Why should our businesses be forced to hire and work with people whose religious values aren’t the same as the owner’s? This is just one more example of needless, restrictive legislation that hinders our businesses and one that will lead to a multitude of lawsuits.

As a gay man with a religious background behind him (I served as a chaplain assistant in the U.S. Army), I know that religion truly is the only “choice” listed on the City Council’s human rights ordinance. If “equal rights, not special rights” lives up to its name, the council should make striking this “lifestyle choice” off the ordinance their No. 1 priority. Robert C. Rush Spokane

Ordinary, not special, rights at issue

I’m trying to grasp the reasoning of those who would strike the phrase “sexual orientation” from Spokane’s new human rights ordinance. They argue that it confers “special” rights on gay people.

If that’s true, isn’t it also special to protect the rights of others named in the ordinance - race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, marital status and disability?

Unfortunately society does, at times, treat all these groups specially. So it becomes necessary to take special measures to ensure civil rights the rest of us enjoy ordinarily. Maybe we can just call this a Special Ordinance to Assure Ordinary Rights.

The City Council does not ask anyone to approve of or agree with anyone covered by the ordinance. It isn’t legislating private morality so much as enforcing public humanity. It’s not instituting a new code of ethics, simply trying to protect the rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” for all the city’s citizens.

In biblical terms, the council is trying to treat others as its members would like to be treated. Is that so radical?

The word “civil” comes from the Latin root, civitas, meaning citizen. By what justification may we deny civil rights to any citizen? Human rights for all humans. What a concept!

My error, of course, is in trying to locate logic where fear abounds. Fear shrinks our minds and hearts.

I have never been so proud of the Spokane City Council as when it voted for a complete human rights ordinance. I would like to be equally proud of our community. Rev. Larry Winters Cheney

Put north-south freeway underground

Maybe it’s not geologically feasible, but I don’t see why not. I suspect that most of the houses along the proposed north-south freeway route have basements. Why not really look to the future and make a statement of how we should value our people and environment, and put the thing underground?

Envision an enticing greenway above it. Surrounding property values would appreciate, not plummet. Who would complain about living next to a brand new park?

If the French and English can build a tunnel under the English Channel, surely we can dig for, build and bury a freeway. Let’s think futuristic on this one, folks. Put all that concrete above the cars to support a green space, instead of the old-fashioned way that always causes a numbing, anti-human eyesore belching noise and air pollution. Tom Bellinger Spokane

Unmarked abutments are hazardous

A couple of months ago, I hit a concrete abutment located at an intersection in the city. It cost me $105 to replace my car’s oil pan.

Since then, I’ve started noticing such abutments around Spokane. So many of them have all kinds of chunks knocked out of them - especially the longer extensions which lead up to the bigger abutment at the end, such as one finds in the left turn lane.

The problem is that these concrete abutments don’t have any reflectors imbedded in the concrete, such as I have seen in larger cities.

Concrete abutments are low in elevation and dark gray in color. They are very hard to see at night. Spokane desperately needs to install reflectors. Robert R. Smith Spokane

Stamping books - ah, sweet memories

Editorial writer Rebecca Nappi’s view of the book-stamping procedures at the Spokane Public Library (Opinion, March 13) gave me a pleasant, memorable trip back in time - 64 years, to be exact.

Once again, I am 10 years old and entering the public library in Hillyard, where my lifelong love affair with books began. I tug open one of the heavy oak doors into my magic kingdom and immediately inhale the singular scent of newly shellacked cloth bindings and O’Cedar furniture polish that permeates the cathedral-ceiling room where east and west walls are centerpieced by huge, velvet-draped, arched windows.

Picking and choosing my books, and handing them up to the keeper of the castle, makes me feel good. Her smile tells me she knows I am a reliable person, as she performs the “four-thump overture”; ink pad, card in the pocket, ink pad, due-date slip. It is music to my ears.

Electronic scanners have replaced the card in the pocket, but two thumps are better than none. Ruth Gruennert Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Carpetbaggers, take a hike

I am sick of those attack ads against Rep. George Nethercutt. U.S. Term Limits is not a local organization, it’s a group of carpetbaggers come to town to tell us hicks how to live our lives.

I watched an interview with the president of Term Limits. All he did was camouflage when asked about the Colorado congressman who has announced his run for a fourth term after saying he would quit after three terms. They are only concerned with Nethercutt. Sounds like he is becoming a big factor and has the knee-jerk liberals worried. Way to go, Nethercutt. Looks like you are doing a heck of a job in the other Washington.

To the carpetbaggers trying to tell us hicks how to live, get out of town. I have my own term limits in two fingers of my left hand. Those are the fingers that hold the stylus used to punch out the little square on my ballot. When I think Nethercutt is doing a poor job, I will use those fingers to vote for his opponent, and I don’t need some slick sleeve from the big city to tell me when that time has come. From what I see coming out of the East, you people have done a lousy job and you need an honest guy like Nethercutt looking over your shoulder and trying to keep you straight. John H. McGregor Spokane

Promise them anything, but …

The recent spate of illogic by the DOGs (Defenders Of George) is missing the point. It is not just a term limits thing, it’s about keeping your promises.

The greatest irony of the whole pledge debate is that only Rep. George Nethercutt could make Rep. Helen Chenoweth appear honorable. Dick Leferink Inchelium, Wash.

Shall we shoot ourselves in the foot?

The March 16 letter by A. Lamont Smith touched on a problem in our 5th District’s representation.

It seems that though Rep. George Nethercutt is highly respected in Congress and probably ready for a chairmanship, his campaign promise made in 1992 will prevent his running for re-election. Nethercutt is obviously the first politician to be caught in a misjudgment. Also, it was such a big one, no one can remember anything to compare with its importance.

The Inland Northwest is ready to capitalize on the six-year investment in Nethercutt but might choose to shoot itself in the foot instead. It would be understandable if term limits - a good idea - were judicially legal, but they are not.

Now, due to a pledge to an unconstitutional idea judged illegal, we might be ready to invest another decade to place a representative in the position Nethercutt now occupies. Are we going to use our heads or let emotions rule? Loren Kay Morse Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Laws to protect riding dogs? You bet

Irresponsibility is the cause of regulation. As long as pet owners ignore the basic safety required to protect pets, laws will be necessary. To complain about more regulations and ignore the safety problem is totally irresponsible.

Please get cross ties if your dog(s) must ride in the back of pickup trucks. Whenever I see a dog tied to the back of a truck, I have flashbacks.

In January 1990, I was on the freeway just north of Boise. In front of me a beautiful Husky was “tied” in the back of a truck. In the blink of an eye, that beautiful dog was over the side, rope around his neck. He was beaten beyond recognition against the back tires. These pet owners drove five miles at 70 mph before they realized what had happened. They ignored my frantic honking and waving.

I did not stop. I could not control my anger and grief.

Wise up, pet owners. Please be responsible for these beautiful, loving animals. If more laws are needed, so be it. Let’s enforce the ones already on the books.

My dogs have never ridden in the back of a truck and never will, and I have seatbelts for my dogs in my car. Millie E. Erickson Spokane

Tesdals are responsible pet owners

In response to Aimee Martin’s letter of March 16 concerning the four saint Bernard’s, I am angered by her description of the Tesdals as “irresponsible pet owners.” Unfortunately, she is forming judgments about something she knows nothing about.

As lifelong friends of the Tesdal family, we have spent a great deal of time at their home and with their dogs. Never, at any time, have we seen any type of behavior from these animals that could ever be considered aggressive or vicious. These animals are show dogs and have been bred and raised to be comfortable and tolerant around people, including children. None of the four has any past history of violence or aggression.

The Tesdals are responsible pet owners who have always taken precautions to ensure the safety of their dogs, as well as the safety of the people around them. It’s sad to see other people forming conclusions about them based upon their own ignorance, instead of taking the time to learn the facts. Denise M. Sutton Greenacres

DiMaggio, Monroe - great cartoon

What a treat and emotional feeling to see a cartoon of Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, and not some ball-nose guy with boxer shorts with hearts. It made my day and put a smile on my face. Barbara Clark Spokane