Letters To The Editor
SPOKANE MATTERS
McCaslin, Roskelley are keepers
We have two excellent county commissioners in John Roskelley and Kate McCaslin, who have proven that they are working for the entire county and not for some special interests.
I did not vote for McCaslin in the last election but certainly will this coming election. She has shown that the common good of all of us comes before the greed of special interests.
Roskelley has also proven that the interests of the public come first. No one spoke up more forcefully and clearly against the railroad refueling station on Rathdrum Prairie and its possible disastrous consequences to our precious aquifer than Roskelley did.
Development is inevitable and good but it has to be controlled or those who are interested in nothing but profit for themselves can be spoilers.
The Spokane Valley, where we have lived for more than 48 years, is still a beautiful place and the crown jewel is the river, which must be protected. Let’s be smart and keep two good and reliable county commissioners in office. Al Molsness Otis Orchards
Incumbents doing a good job
I am a Republican who will vote to retain John Roskelley and Kate McCaslin as county commissioners. To say they don’t represent progress is misleading. The two have made progress in preserving forested lands against the likes of developers like Harlan Douglass and Raymond Hansen.
The Republican Party stands for more than padding the wallets of wealthy developers. Conservatives should and do support reasonable protection of our county’s environment. Roskelley, a Democrat, and McCaslin, a Republican, represent that moderation. Bob Isitt Spokane
ArtFest biggest and best ever
At the beginning of June the Cheney Cowles Museum and the Spokane Art School threw a party and more than 35,000 people came! ArtFest 2000 was the most successful in its 15-year history. Near perfect weather, the family friendly environment of Coeur d’Alene Park in Spokane’s Browne’s Addition, great art, good food, children’s activities, free salsa dance lessons and an outstanding music stage lineup all confirmed ArtFest’s reputation as one of the region’s premier arts festivals.
In terms of the economic impact of ArtFest, the festival’s art sales alone increased by more than 25 percent. Almost 20 additional artists were juried into the show this year and more than 5,000 children participated in hands-on projects in the Make It Art area.
The success of ArtFest rests in the lands of literally hundreds of volunteers from every corner of the community - students to business leaders - who gave generously of their time and talent during the three-day event. I personally extend my appreciation to ArtFest’s sponsors, volunteers and the planning committee for making this ArtFest one of the best. I would also like to thank the thousands of people who visited and supported ArtFest. Wasn’t it a great party? George Coleman, president, board of trustees Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Cheney Cowles Museum
Volunteers make all Lilac floats
Re: “Reserve junior parade awards” (Letters, June 20).
We are honored each year to be a part of the Junior Lilac Parade. These dedicated volunteers of the Spokane Jaycees devote countless hours to creating an entertaining and exciting event for the young people of our area.
Gail Kegley mentioned the Spokane Lilac Festival Royalty being a part of the Junior Lilac Parade and the royalty float receiving first place honors within the Junior Lilac Parade’s float division. We would like to correct one item in Kegley’s letter. All Spokane Lilac Festival floats are designed, built, maintained and shown by volunteers. None of our floats are professionally made. Our volunteers are available to share their tips and welcome junior float makers to work with us!
Our congratulations go to all the participants of the Junior Lilac Parade. We were pleased to have Sacajawea Middle School Band, winner of the band division of Junior Lilac, be a part of the Global Credit Union Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, presented by the Spokane Lilac Festival. Brusan Wells, executive director Spokane Lilac Festival
SYMBOLS
Vet’s solution commendable
Re: “Korean War vet ends stars and gripes forever,” June 23.
Kudos to Don. Moormann for looking at a problem and providing a solution.
Using the U.S. flag as a gate to keep one’s children in the yard is a horribly inappropriate thing to do. It’s easy to criticize, yet do nothing about it. It’s much more effective to do as Moormann did.
The children are safe and the flag is out of a degrading position. Hopefully, the Woods will find an appropriate place to hang their flag - such as on a flag pole on their home. Deborah R. Powers Spokane
Better to help than criticize
Re: “Man’s use of flag creates flap,” (June 22). I can understand both sides of this issue. This young couple is struggling financially and used what they had to keep their children in. They weren’t trying to be disrespectful to the flag or anyone.
I must admit I got a lump in my throat thinking about Old Glory being in the dirt. But instead of reeling in anger about it, why not offer a helping hand so that they can build or buy a gate?
Many in my family were involved in the wars. Some lost their lives during those conflicts or as a result of them. Many others gave their lives or limbs so that we could live in a free country. Thankfully, most of the young people today have not experienced our country at war so they do not have the same perspective of our flag as we do.
My husband is retired after 20 years of Navy service and is a veteran of conflicts. I want to send a small check. Perhaps it will only be a gesture of kindness to this young couple but, hopefully, it will cause others to reach out in kindness, too. Vi Mueller Priest River
Apply common sense
After reading the June 22 story about Ron Woods’ use of an American flag as a gate, I have a couple of thoughts.
I agree that using the American flag as a gate is inappropriate in any circumstance short of imminent matters of life and death. That said, I believe Rick Seward’s reaction is equally inappropriate, although understandable. I suggest he, his fellow veterans and anyone else who feels strongly about the situation get together and donate a gate to protect Woods’ children. I suggest that Woods then donate the soiled flag to one of the local groups that occasionally disposes of them by the traditional means.
A little common sense in a case like this can go a long way. Scott W. Cleveland Spokane
Concerned vet helped me, too
Re: “Korean War vet ends stars and gripes forever,” June 23.
Let’s give Don Moormann a medal. Here is a man who sees something which obviously offended many people and rather than making assumptions and joining the bandwagon of criticism, he comes up with a solution and follows it through.
I have to say that I am ashamed of myself for not being as responsive as Moormann. I thank him for making me stop and re-evaluate my responses. He may have made me a better person today. Laura L. Claffey Rathdrum
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
Age of Aquarius - some missed out
What’s your problem with Woodstock, Bernard Bobb? (Letters, June 20.)
Woodstock was three days of peace and music in a cow pasture in White Lake, N.Y., Bethel Township. The authorities at that time were having a little party of their own. They called it bombing North Vietnam back into the stone age.
Woodstock was an accident of spontaneous apotheosizing that expanded geometrically to a global level. It was the unexpected triumph of individualism. It was a great sunburst of spiritual illumination that was born, flowered and died on a weekend in August 1969. The flower children reached critical mass and there was a cosmic event in the form of an explosion that sent peace and love hurtling out into the everywhere, and such a thing had never been seen before nor has it since.
It was a biblical, epochal, incredible scene. If Michelangelo were alive today he would be painting scenes from Woodstock on ceilings and walls from here to Timbuktu. It was the central event that defined a generation, aptly named the boomers. It was our proudest moment.
But yet, Bobb, you hold us in disdain, we who never wished anything on you and yours but prosperity and long life.
You don’t need to be delivered from Haight Ashbury. You were never there. Dave Wagner Spokane
BELIEFS
`Train up a child’
“Oh, God.” How often have we heard that phrase lately, often in relationship to some horrendous act performed by some misguided kid who no one thought enough of to teach the difference between right and wrong? But maybe the parents themselves don’t know the difference.
“Oh, God” should have started when the child was in the womb, or before, as a prayer to God for guidance to mold the new life into an honorable, worthwhile person they could be proud of.
Check the owner’s manual (the Bible): “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6) Surefire backing for the program: “Do not hold back discipline from the child; although you beat him with the rod he will not die. You shall beat him with the rod and save his soul from hell.” (Prov. 23:13-14).
Or maybe from a school shooting! Ira Lee White Spokane
Christian values needed for our world
We hear much these days about embracing Christian spirituality as a guide for social stewardship. We should also bear in mind that the same spirituality is of value in developing a sense of environmental stewardship.
Reflection on Scripture results in understanding that “dominion” should not mean exploitation but rather responsibility and reverence, and that there are many lessons for people found in nature.
We are told in Job that in times of crisis we can ask the animals, birds, fish and the Earth itself to teach us about spirituality and its source. The state of wild salmon is so indicative of our environmental crisis. But if we listen, salmon can teach us lessons for the common survival of all creation.
Why irrigate air or obscure creation’s perfect night lights? As with other natural resources, we are wasting water and energy. Conservation is the lesson here. We need to (re)learn an attitude of caring for the commons and sharing it with all. Sustainable and equitable, instead of exploitative use of water and forests not only benefits us and those yet to come but salmon as well.
Another lesson is taking care of each other. Polarization between resource industry workers and environmentalists is madness. Past public policy decisions favoring subsidized hydroelectric and forest industries now in decline helped create the problem. New public policies recognizing Christian traditions could provide displaced workers with meaningful work that is in harmony with creation. Work and religion, sustenance and the sacred could become one and the same. David Jensen Spokane
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Thanks for nothing
This week, the Social Security Administration advised citizens who are 65 or older that we can now return to work and still get our full Social Security benefit.
Nothing can be further from the truth! First you must pay payroll tax on your earned income and then you will pay income when you report your combined income. Thanks to President Clinton, our “excessive” Social Security benefits have been taxed since 1993. Unfortunately, the Republican Congess has failed to change this Democratic tax-to-death policy. Pat Kilpatrick Post Falls
Congress not worth a plug nickel
Our House Of Representatives has become a house of eunuchs. Regardless of political affiliation, our employees continue to relinquish their votes and decision making responsibilities to the executive branch, especially in the areas of environmental issues.
Our President “Don Quixote” Clinton and his vassal, Interior Secretary Bruce “Pancho” Babbitt have emasculated an entire congressional generation. There is not enough testosterone in any of the back rooms in the halls of Congress to stand up to the environmentalists and Clinton. (My apologies to the distaff side of Congress but it is impossible to describe in feminine terms the lack of that male characteristic missing from this Congress.)
This executive hijacking of the duties of Congress has negated the need for all of these highly paid and overcompensated scalawags. They do not earn their pay nor do they live up to the responsibilities that their elected offices impose on them. They are missing in action! Dale Moody Coeur d’Alene
Radicals can be like grit in an oyster
Re: “Insinuations false, insulting,” June 23.
My hat’s off to Kim Davis for hitting the nail on the proverbial head. Those who are not “in line” with the thinking of the power brokers and the wannabes, those who seek a better quality of life, those who are sick of the ever-widening gap between the influential and the noninfluential, are publicly attacked, demeaned and referred to as the “fringe element.”
When citizens feel as if they have finally had enough of the self-interest and unresponsiveness of a political official, whoever they may be, they are referred to as the “radical element.” Those radicals in the 1700s have been honored in thousands of books as heroes, as the fathers of our democracy.
Our heroes designed this political system not for the $500-a-plate fund-raising dinners for the few, not for the secret meetings with special interest groups that donate thousands toward their agenda, but for the participation of the common citizen. What Davis describes in his comments only occurs when political figures have remained in office too long.
Remember their names. Term limits is the only antidote for the fastest-growing malignancy in our society. J.W. Esco Liberty Lake
PARTING SHOT
For freedom - well said
I was very touched by the message I received from the cover story in the June 20 IN Life section by Svetlana Kovalenko, the 10-year-old girl who came to this country from Belarus.
In less than two paragraphs she summed up what a lot of us take for granted on a daily basis: freedom, and the appreciation for it. You go, girl! Greg Gilstrap Four Lakes