Letters To The Editor

In the public eye

Family expresses gratitude

For my son, Brian Judge, and myself, I want to thank everyone for their warm and caring response. We are overwhelmed with the community’s generosity through prayers, calls, letters, cards, e-mail and funds for his present and future needs.

We are grateful for his life and to those emergency response teams who did so much to make it possible.

There are insufficient words of gratitude to express how deeply I have been touched by the acts of such wonderful people as DeAnne Downing who started a trust fund for Brian, those who have raised and are raising money through several events, the special medical staff at Deaconess who tended this needs and the Shriners for accepting him as a patient, and all of you known and unknown extraordinary people who are sharing from your hearts.

Students throughout Spokane have spent hours making cards and each has been received and cherished. Electronic mail has come from all over the country, too, and Brian appreciates that. Once he gets his own computer he’ll try to contact as many of you as possible to thank you personally.

Brian is progressing quickly and is well on his way to adjusting. He recently visited his Seth Woodard classmates and promised to be back in class shortly. He also expressed his concern that everyone know he was not dared by any of his friends as rumored. His actions were solely his own. Pat and Brian Judge and the Judge Family Spokane

Elian is a child, not a symbol

I’m appalled at what Elian Gonzalez is being forced to endure in the name of an obsolete cold war, opportunistic adults, including politicians, who pile on for their own interests. What has happened to our common sense, compassion and sense of right and wrong - our commitment to family values?

Elian was clandestinely spirited away from his homeland and subjected to a highly risky and dangerous sea voyage. He suffered the loss of his father, grandparents, relatives, friends, schoolmates, home and possessions - all of which give us a sense of connectedness, identity and security. No closures, goodbyes or choices.

He experienced the sinking of his boat and the death of his mother. What kind of terror was his companion while lashed to an inner tube in that threatening sea, alone?

Elian became a weapon in an ideological war, pulled in many directions, confused, still traumatized by his experiences, sensing the need to please the new adults in his life to feel safe. How has Elian been helped to mourn his losses and make sense of his experiences? He has been kept from returning to his father while pressured to make commitments to near strangers in a different country.

Disneyland, new clothes, bikes, crowds on the back fence, intrusive media, riding in parades and photo ops with politicians just don’t cut it! This is a very young child, not a symbol, hostage, mascot or pet!

There is no evidence that Elian’s father was ever abusive or abandoned his child - the only reasons any court would consider terminating a parent’s rights and relationship. Send him home to mourn, heal and belong. Valerie R. Smith, MSW Spokane

Postal Service has best deal around

The “Your View” cartoon of Jan 31. jumped on one of my pet peeves. What is up with people, criticizing postal rate hikes?

The fact is, there is no better deal in the history of the United States, or perhaps in the history of Western civilization, than the U.S Postal Service.

Let’s say aunt Ida in Fargo North Dakota needs a copy of my classic 1959 National Geographic article on the Wilds of Borneo. So I ask my friend Bob, “Will you take this National Geographic to Fargo for me? I’ll pay you 34 cents to do it, but I need it there in three days or less.”

Suppose I need to send my cousin Wilbur, who is on Peace Corps assignment in Argentina, a picture of his dog Fred to make Wilbur feel less guilty about being gone for two years. Again I go to Bob, “Will you run down to Argentina and drop off this photo with Wilbur for me? I’ll pay you 60 cents to do it.”

To send a letter to a fraternity brother in New York City costs less than one-quarter the price of a McDonald’s Big Mac. Which is a better value for your money? The obvious fact is the U.S. Postal Service could charge 100 times what it does for a letter and you still could not get as good a deal from anyone else.

So quit whining about the U.S. Postal Service rates and look at what you get for your dollar. There is not a better deal to be found anywhere! Mike Poutiatine Spokane

In the paper

Two sides to all stories

Re: Doug Clark column Jan. 25 about the Washington State Patrol

I can comprehend the public’s ire at the situation involving the Powell brothers, but as in all things there are two sides. WSP Detective Tracy Hanson was only doing the job assigned to her.

I knew Hanson over 20 years ago, although I haven’t spoken with her in at least 15 years. I do know that Hanson has always been a very dedicated and loyal person in all aspects of her life. It did not matter to Hanson whether a race had to be finished or run in pain (as she ran many races in both high school and college track and cross country), or a difficult assignment to be completed, she has always persevered to the finish.

Every person critical of Hanson should reflect on their own lives and face the times when each one of us has been called on to do a job that might have been difficult or uncomfortable. A quitter can easily refuse that job, but it takes a person with courage to complete that job to the best of one’s ability.

Although it seems to be an unpopular stance on the entire situation, and with no disrespect intended toward the Powells, I commend WSP Detective Hanson on her courage to do her job. She followed through with the job assigned her even at the risk of offending or alienate the beloved WSP family. Perhaps I am wrong, but I thought that was what was expected of any and all of our law enforcement officers. Cheryl R. Olinger Spokane

Writer’s view of paper `naive’

In Gil Binsfield’s letter of Feb. 3 he infers that I have done something wrong when he states, “unlikely that a state agency like the WSP would send Chris a Dear John letter if he was just having coffee at the Spokane office where the investigating detective works.”

Binsfield can ask Capt. Dubee what it was I did to offend his daughter, Detective Tracy (Binsfield) Hansen and he will be told by Dubee that I did nothing wrong.

Binsfield states a WSP detective “conducted a license fraud investigation that involved them.” This investigation did not involve me. It was conducted against my brother, Pete Powell.

He refers to the WSP not commenting on an active investigation. The investigation is over. The Department of Revenue ruled in Pete’s favor in November.

Intelligent readers, even those who can’t read between the lines, will know that no one dictates to any newspaper what stories they will report on. To make the statement that Doug Clark is a friend of the Powells and that is the reason the column was written is at best naive. The only personal agenda involved in this situation, I believe, is the investigation Hanson launched against my brother Pete (and now her apparent agenda against me).

It is ironic to me that several years ago while I was Binsfield’s supervisor, he stated to me that his daughter, Detective Hansen, considered me to be the best sergeant she had worked for. Chris Powell Spokane

Other topics

Peace begins within

I am responding to the excellent article, “Cranky?” (Feb. 1) by sharing a recent experience.

I was waiting for a city bus and the lady beside me was expressing much anger over the fact that the sidewalks had not been shoveled. I agreed that cleared sidewalks would be helpful and then went on to gently point out to her that we need not allow anything outside of us to take away our peace. She responded with appreciation and said that she knew that to be true. What was formerly a tense atmosphere became peaceful.

I continued by sharing my belief that if all of the anger, war and ill-will in our world was to stop, the process had to begin with me. It could be no other way. She agreed and we enjoyed a very wonderful conversation the rest of the time waiting for the bus.

Crankiness and other negative feelings are ultimately overcome as we realize the truth of our being, i.e., that deep within us there is a center of peace, joy and love which is waiting to be accessed and expressed. One way to find this center is in times of receptive silence. Another way is by sharing peace, joy and love with others. In seeking to bless others in terms of that which is eternal we find ourselves. Tom Durst Spokane

Letter on Indians has errors

Re: “Plateau Indian’s culture most humane” (Letters, Jan. 21).

I own a book store with lots of books and I have lots of time to read. I find Lillian A. Ackerman reiterates Robert Ruby’s comments of Jan. 11, concerning Indian brutality. However, her letter has errors.

Ruby’s comments covered Indians of the Pacific Northwest, two cultural areas, the Coastal and Plateau. If Ackerman will research population densities she will see that in the Coastal area the lush flora and abundance of fauna sustained many tribes with high census. The tribes lived in stationary domiciles. The dense forest provided material for building houses, carving out canoes and even fashioning clothing. With such resources at hand, the tribes were wealthy because they could harvest surplus. It is from such accumulation that a class structure was supported. And from this there developed the brutal practice of slavery.

It was different in the Plateau, a semi-arid area where tribes had to move from root grounds, to berry fields, to game areas and fishing spots. Consequently the Plateau supported fewer tribes with lower census. The Indian people most often ended the winter with starvation, sustaining themselves by chewing on moss that hung from trees. Ackerman’s comments were limited to the last century when artificial irrigation was introduced.

Now to respond to Ackerman’s comments about land ownership. In the Coastal area and along the Washington-Oregon border, families owned their own fishing spots along river banks. No one else could intrude without invitation. The families’ ownership of fishing spots passed from generation to generation. Tom Connelly Moses Lake, Wash.

More control not the answer

Re: “Sunday blues” by Susan Reimer (IN Life, Jan. 30).

I was disappointed to realize Dr. Sedlacek’s remedy for the Sunday blues made no mention of keeping it holy as the fourth commandment states (Exodus 22:8). If Reimer were to interview God, I think, according to what I have read in the Scriptures, he would say something like:

“Quit rushing so. Tear up `the list’ for a day and slow down. Take a nap.

Make Sunday significant. Meet with my other disciples and encourage each other. Bring your praise, your tithes and offerings and your family to my house.

Give me your time and I will take your anxiety, sadness, loneliness and your sometimes `do nothing’ lives and give you purpose, wisdom, direction.” Sedlacek was correct in saying, “The problem isn’t with Sundays, it’s with us.” His suggestion, however, was weak when he said we’ll feel better if we take control of the day. We don’t need more control. We need to be re-created according to God’s plan - by focusing one day a week on his worthiness and ability to control our life. We’ll even sleep better. Jan I. McNaught Cheney

Frito Lay understands business basic

Re: Farmers protesting Frito Lay’s recent ban on genetically modified organisms (GMO) in their products.

Recently farmers have been quoted protesting the unfairness of boycotts of agricultural products with genetically modified organisms. Sounds like some farmers and agri-business don’t appreciate the rules of a market economy. It doesn’t matter if GMO products are nutritious, it doesn’t matter if they are cheaper to produce, it doesn’t even matter if they are safe. It’s a consumer choice, and consumers don’t have to buy.

If I manufacture cheaper cars with features that I think everybody needs, but nobody wants to buy them, is it unfairness or am I not listening to what the consumer wants? It could be the glow-in-the-dark bumpers; maybe I can convince people they’re safe instead of weird. Or maybe the consumer sees something in the long-term sustainability of my super new engine that I’ve overlooked. Either way, the consumer doesn’t have to buy.

Frito Lay understands this. They cater to their customers. If GMO will cut into Frito Lay’s sales, they aren’t buying. It’s not a fairness issue, and it’s not a boycott. If growing GMO cuts into your farm product sales, either develop your market or change what you grow. Consider that its just possible the consumer sees problems that you don’t, and GMO is an idea whose time has not yet arrived. Sue Lani W. Madsen Edwall, Wash.

Over the line

No ducking for political cover

The decision concerning the Burlington Northern Santa Fe refueling depot is not about politics. It is about water - pure, clean, aquifer water that must provide for the health and well-being of the people of the Spokane region for hundreds of years to come.

No expert, no solution, no counsel can be silenced in this great debate. The stakes are too high for our children and grandchildren.

A Spokane County commissioner who hides behind a threat of some liability and refuses to send their best resources into this crucial turning point has failed to speak for Spokane families for generations to come.

We need every wise judgment to decide this issue. It cannot be about politics. It must be about water. Steve Badraun Coeur d’Alene

Benefits would offset threats

Re: BNSF fuel depot

People seem to be overlooking the fact that there is already an oil pipeline running right over the top of the aquifer and it is buried, making any leaks that much closer to the water supply. Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s depot would be on the surface, with several impermeable layers between any spill and the water supply.

Additionally, Rathdrum sees almost all of the traffic between much of the Eastern United States and the Northwest. Currently, locomotives go to the Seattle tunnel for refueling. With the projected increases in rail traffic, this single facility is going to become very crowded, and the company’s on-time performance is going to suffer. A fuel depot at Hauser Yard would allow shorter turnaround times at Seattle Yard, resulting in lower rates and faster deliveries for everything from cars to TV’s to grain to UPS packages (yes, they travel by rail).

The economic benefits to the entire country offset the nearly nonexistent threats to the local drinking water., With the monitoring already in place for the groundwater, at the first hint of any leakage the facility could be shut down. Give it a chance.

In this country, people are innocent until proven guilty. Without this premise, our entire judicial system would break down. Yet that’s just how groups like Friends of the Aquifer are treating BNSF - guilty until proven innocent. That’s no way to treat an industry so vital to the past and future growth of this country. Aaron J. Clark Pullman