Letters To The Editor

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

AARP resource helps grandparents

Despite the belief that the extended family is a thing of the past, the American Association of Retired Persons’ grandparents survey shows the intergenerational family is alive and well.

Your article, “AARP finds strong ties to grandparents, kids” (Jan. 6), reports that more than 10 percent are care givers for their grandchildren and half are companions or keep in contact by phone and by mail.

With 21 grandkids and 16 great-grandkids, I personally keep in touch via e-mail and a family newsletter.

Many grandparents have surrogate parent roles, as primary care givers or as live-in or part-time care givers. Others are concerned with visitation rights, especially in broken homes where custodial parents try to break ties with their partners’ families.

AARP’s Grandparents Information Center is a valuable resource to help such grandparents cope with these roles. The center serves grandparents raising grandchildren, those concerned with visitation rights, step-grandparents and traditional grandparents who want to have a positive role in their grandchildren’s‘ lives.

Information about the center and the survey is available on the Internet at www.aarp.org or call the national office of AARP, 1-800-424-3410, on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern time.

The center can also refer you to state and local support groups such as Second Timers in Spokane. Elinor F. Nuxoll Spokane

Knowledge can dispel fear, hate

I would like to express my appreciation for Radha Nandagopal’s Jan. 8 Your Turn commentary, “People of the Hindu faith have accomplished plenty.”

With more education and information about different faiths and cultures would come understanding and compassion in our community. I fear that there is so much ignorance in our community, due to the lack of exposure to different cultures, that many people react out of fear and mistrust. We need more informative articles like Nandagopal’s and more opportunities for the citizens of this city to learn and experience different faiths and cultures. I encourage The Spokesman-Review as well as other media to step up to the challenge of informing and inspiring our community and becoming a solution to fear and ignorance. Mary Naber Spokane

No race has a patent on violence

Re: “Columnist omits grisly details,” (Letters, Jan. 11).

The events that Robert Ruby described in his letter concerning the Indian nations could just as easily apply to any race, any country, at any time throughout history to this present day. Which would argue that all humanity is equally capable of savagery, not just a specific race. Joan E. Harman Coeur d’Alene

PEOPLE AND ANIMALS

Humane Society critic wrong

One of the things I have noticed in my tenure with the Humane Society is that animal people at times tend to promulgate opinions, however ludicrous, without bothering to check out the facts.

In response to Marilee Earle’s Jan. 10 letter, in which she wanted to know “how many dogs the Humane Society had to put down” to make room for the dachshunds purchased from a breeder, the answer is none - as a simple phone call to the shelter would have revealed.

We are the largest animal welfare facility in the area, and we had the room. That is what enabled us to rescue the doxies. When we are full, which is infrequent, we can refer animals to other shelters, to our foster parents program or to one of the many rescue groups with whom we deal. We don’t put animals down simply to make room for new ones. Joe O’Shaughnessy, executive director Spokane Humane Society

People’s choices overtax shelters

I helped bring dachshunds back from the breeder to which Marilee Earle referred in her letter (“Know and avoid puppy mills”). I assure her no dogs were killed to make room for the dachshunds. They were kept in the exam and the small dog/puppy rooms. Earle served on the shelter committee at one time and should know the Humane Society doesn’t operate that way.

However, had we been bringing in that many big dogs, the situation would have been significantly different. The period after the holidays, like every other season, seems to be a popular one for dumping the loyal family dog or cat at the shelter.

If hobby breeders wouldn’t breed, and pet owners would take responsibility for having their pets sterilized, we wouldn’t be filling up shelters with dogs like the dachshunds, and the shelters wouldn’t be overrun with big dogs and cats. Louise Long Spokane

THE ENVIRONMENT

Conveyors of hysteria, get a grip

Re: D.F. Oliveria’s Jan. 5 editorial applauding the state of Idaho for filing a lawsuit challenging President Clinton’s roadless proposal.

Clinton is asking the Forest Service to explore the possibility of protecting some of the remaining roadless areas on national forests across America. This process requires full compliance with NEPA, which guarantees extensive public input.

Apparently, Oliveria and the state are uninformed about the National Environmental Policy Act process. NEPA requires that federal agencies conduct “scoping” prior to proposing major federal actions that may impact the environment. The “roadless protection” proposal is in scoping. Scoping consists of asking the public for comment on something federal agencies are thinking about doing but for which an actual proposal has not been developed.

Commenting on scoping is a formality and shouldn’t require four months. The state could just say no.

The time to get overwrought about Forest Service proposals is when the agency has developed a range of alternatives, as required by NEPA, and puts it out for public review, as required by NEPA.

The state and Oliveria are buying into the timber industry’s usual hysterical response to the mere idea of conserving wildlife and fish habitat, as opposed to destroying it for corporate profit.

The so-called information that is the focus of the lawsuit likely doesn’t exist. A lawsuit at this stage is premature and likely to be thrown out.

No one can legally challenge a Forest Service proposal until a final decision is issued - not even the state of Idaho. And prior to suing, one must file an administrative appeal of the decision.

The state is spinning its wheels and squandering taxpayers’ dollars by filing this frivolous lawsuit. Liz Sedler Sandpoint

OTHER TOPICS

Ditzyland, here I come

I’m contemplating moving to Rep. Helen Chenoweth’s district in Idaho as soon as possible, after seeing her on the “ABC Evening News” on Jan. 7.

Chenoweth was interviewed as part of a group of members of Congress, their spouses, staff and who knows who else, on a taxpayer-paid junket to southern Africa to study national parks!

Chenoweth said that roads are anathema to animals in the United States. However she learned that roads are used by animals in Africa.

Such astounding thinking and insight boggles the mind! Try as he might, George Nethercutt, my present congressman, cannot come close to the cerebral brilliance of Chenoweth! Pack the bags, I’m on my way! Jon C. Gardner Spokane

Days past were kinder, gentler

As I read the newspaper about the many problems we are having, I can’t help but remember how different life was when I grew up in Spokane in the 1930s and ‘40s.

I lived in a close-knit community where everyone knew everyone for miles around. Doors were unlocked. We didn’t fear being robbed or attacked in our houses or on the streets. We didn’t hear of robberies, drugs, street kids, gangs, school shootings and so forth. We didn’t have television, the Internet, or answering machines on the phones. Recreation was visiting with people and taking the bus downtown to a movie on Sundays. Instead of playing with expensive toys, we played paper dolls, marbles, kick the can, jump rope and so forth. I would swing on a swing my dad made for me in the back yard. My brother patched up his one baseball bat and used it over and over.

Were we poor in material things? Some people would say yes. Were we happy? Yes. We felt safe and secure, and we had the human touch. How did the world change so much? Pat Paggett Spokane