Letter To The Editor

Thu., March 2, 2000

People in society

Busybodies should give it a rest

A libertarian engaged in a futile argument with a fascist finally declares, “Well, at least we have one thing in common: We both want to run my life.”

We seem to have no shortage in this region of people who want to run other people’s lives. On page A1 of the Feb. 28 Spokesman-Review we find one group of do-gooders who contemplate banning gated communities. On page A6, we come upon another that proposes banning adult entertainment establishments.

The first group subscribes to a certain tribalist conception of society nowadays known as communitarianism. “You want to try to bring people together rather than separate them,” declares one opponent of gated subdivisions. Alas, it doesn’t occur to him that perhaps we need do neither, since individuals can readily decide for themselves how much togetherness they want.

The second group subscribes to a certain archaic notion of sexual morality. “Sex is something special made by God for a husband and wife, for procreation,” they say. Alas, the fact that others hold less restrictive views on that subject carries no weight with them.

Both groups regard themselves as being among what Thomas Sowell calls “the annointed” - an elite specially chosen by God or fate to run others’ lives. Neither suffers any qualms about imposing their peculiar visions of the “good society” on the rest of us. After all, they know what’s good for us.

But, like all fascists, both groups ignore the fundamental rule for a workable society, which is: Mind your own business. G. E. Morton Spokane

Controlling people the greater threat

I fully agree with Ken Lohmayer of Citizens against Pornography. The current protest at State Line was not “a First Amendment situation.” It was a situation of unhappy people who tried to make other people’s lives miserable as well. A balanced, mature, active and successful person has no inclinations to control other people’s lives. He or she is intelligent enough to understand that as long as nobody is hurt, the best thing to do is to mind his or her own business.

This, of course, is not the case of those infamous protesters: “This business has no right to exist because it is fundamentally wrong.” “It’s time for us to clear this up once and for all.” I would almost expect a closing, Sieg heil, mein Fuehrer!

We can look the other way, as we did in Spokane, and let the zealots impose absurd regulations on strip joints. After all, this is not a mainstream entertainment and who knows what is going on there anyway. But we should admit that we are allowing prejudiced people to get their totally illogical way. And that is immoral. Peter C. Dolina Veradale

APPRECIATION

Alaska Airlines shows it cares

In the wake of Alaska Airlines flight 261 it’s so easy to speculate what happened or if someone is to blame. This is so unproductive. In cases such as this, it sometimes takes months, maybe years, before an exact cause can be identified. Even with the greatest loss, knowledge and lessons learned become of great value.

Support provided to the survivors has been above and beyond. The families of those lost have received such caring attention beginning almost immediately after the flight went down - transportation and lodging to wherever they wanted to go, child care and even the family pets have been provided for in ways too numerous to mention here.

Between the company and the independent unions, assistance for the employees to better deal with the grief and loss have also been provided. This comes a little too close to home for many in the airline industry.

I commend Alaska Airlines for the caring attitude it has shown. For many years, Alaska Airlines has had a little scripture card on each of the meals served on its flights. This tragedy has provided a great example of a company that has been doing its best to not only dish it out but to serve it up. As we go through life, it is important to walk our talk.

Thank you, Alaska Airlines, for truly helping us all see a great example of a company trying to keep the needs of those with the greatest loss in all of this at the forefront. Cindy Manning Alaska Airlines flight attendant, Gig Harbor, Wash.

Thanks for kindness, support

On Jan. 31, we lost four people we dearly loved in the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261. Our family has been devastated by the loss of our daughter, Sarah, her husband Rod and our two beautiful granddaughters, Rachel and Grace.

While our grief has been profound, we have been helped immensely by the outpouring of love and support that has come our way from all across the country. We have been especially touched by the thoughts, prayers and compassion that has come from our countless friends here in Spokane. Now, more than ever, we understand why we have made this community our home for more than 40 years.

Special thanks to Sarah’s many close friends for their continued support. Thanks also to Father George Haspedis, Sister Dorothy Byrne, the people of Sacred Heart Parish and our long-time friends, the Brasch family. All helped create a beautiful and touching memorial service.

To Sarah’s fellow employees at Alaska Airlines, we express our sincere appreciation. Our five Alaska Airlines Cares representatives have been with us every step of the way, literally becoming members of our family.

To all who have helped us begin the long, difficult healing process, we will be forever grateful. We cannot begin to thank you enough for your thoughts and prayers, your thoughtfulness and compassion, your words of support and encouragement and especially your understanding and love.

Sarah, Rod, Rachel and Grace will live forever in our hearts - as will all who have reached out to us in our time of grief. Dr. Gilbert and Kathleen Manning Spokane

Swimmers grateful for help at pool

Words cannot express the gratitude and the amount of appreciation we would like to extend to all the city employees who worked on the Shadle pool ceiling tile removal project. You are to be commended for recognizing a serious safety risk and taking immediate action to solve the problem.

Many people do not realize how much effort was required from the city’s aquatic staff and the city’s park maintenance people in cleaning up the 12,000 ceiling tiles after the Spokane Fire Department was called in to bring them down with their high-pressure hoses. We do and we thank you all.

The pool opened after only a one-week closure. The Shadle indoor pool and the Witter outdoor pool have been the home practice facilities of Spokane Area Swimming-Spokane Swim Team for over 40 years.

We also thank the YMCA and Whitworth College for providing us with important practice time in their pools during the cleanup week.

Our team feels especially proud in representing Spokane in the upcoming association, regional and national competitions and also at this summer’s Olympic trials. Todd A. Marsh coach, Spokane Area Swimming Team

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Bush decision involves justice

A letter writer recently asked how, if George W. Bush is such a pro-life advocate, he could allow the execution of Betty Lou Beets in Texas.

It’s simple. Abortion is the taking of the life of an innocent, unborn child. Beets was convicted, by a jury of her peers, of murdering her husband, burying him in her yard and making a decorative well over his grave. Plus, they found one of her other husbands buried as well. And she has been accused of trying to kill yet another husband.

So, I ask, what don’t you understand? Jeanie Defrancesco Nine Mile Falls

Keyes’ BJU visit made statement

In its rush to attack George W. Bush for speaking at Bob Jones University (“GOP race focuses on Catholics,” Feb. 28, The Spokesman-Review failed to mention that Ambassador Alan Keyes also spoke at Bob Jones University.

In contrast to his Republican rival, Bush, who obviously saw it as a chance to win some votes, Dr. Keyes saw the invitation to speak at the controversial school as an opportunity to “change some minds.”

Bush is now apologizing to Catholic and minority voters for “not speaking his heart” at the university. But Keyes doesn’t need to apologize. By his very presence, Keyes, who is Catholic, black and married to an Indian American, openly challenged the racial stereotypes and rules promulgated by the university.

Keyes is the only candidate who doesn’t compromise his principles to please an audience. Instead, Keyes uses every opportunity to educate the public as to the great Declaration principles on which this country was founded. It is his unwavering defense of these principles that compels Keyes to run for office.

The presidency is too important to be held by a politician who is talented at seducing voters through empty rhetoric, back room money laundering, slick television ads and big media endorsements. The presidency should be decided based on who the voters think can best lead the nation. Our system of government requires an informed electorate and a free press. Thank God for the Internet. Keyes’ speech is at www.keyes.2000.org. Steven M. Busch Spokane

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Propagandist left out a few things

Henry Miller’s article on genetically engineered foods (Feb. 24) was a thinly veiled piece of biotechnology industry propaganda for which it should have paid for advertising space. Having been the director of the FDA’s Office of Biotechnology, it is not surprising his views are so narrow. But it is disturbing that he is so casual with the truth.

Miller states that genetically modified foods are proven safe but conveniently neglects to mention that there is no proof. Companies hire their own “scientists” to determine the safety of their new products.

Miller erroneously attempts to equivocate simple breeding of plants with new methods, such as splicing a fish gene into a tomato.

Miller ignores evidence of beneficial insects dropping dead from Monsanto engineered corn pollen, and other potential long-term environmental impacts.

Miller’s opposition to labeling of genetically modified foods is flaky. His belief that agribusiness firms can’t afford to label foods is absurd. His claim that labeling these foods would limit consumer choice is bizarre. Contrarily, labeling would enhance choice. Currently, the only sure way to avoid these foods is to buy certified organically grown food, which often costs more (but is worth it). With labeling, those on tighter budgets could avoid gene-spliced foods as well.

Miller deifies the free market, displayed awkwardly by his willingness to defend Monsanto profits by limiting consumer choice. His deceptive article is the latest in a wave of biotech industry propaganda that has been flooding the media as news. Wade Gruhl Moscow

Modest measures can fend off hepatitis

I read with interest the recent article about the “poor grades” given to six western states, including Idaho, on their efforts to control hepatitis.

I believe in vaccination requirements to help prevent and eventually eliminate disease. It seems that most outbreaks I hear about are spread by restaurant workers. How tough can it be to make their vaccination a prerequisite for employment? The cost is surely considerably less than the cost of shots for all customers who may have been exposed. However, in the case of hepatitis, a few things can be done quickly and at little cost to help prevent future outbreaks.

First, require all restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores to provide clean restrooms with hot water and soap at the ready. Faucet handles should all be lever-operated. Paper towels and air dryers should be readily available. A person would think these things would be the norm but I challenge anybody to randomly choose five eating establishments, visit their restrooms and see. Many lack hot water and most have faucet handles that are hard to turn on/off, especially for the very young and the elderly. Many are not very clean.

Second, lets all teach our children early on the benefits of thorough hand washing after using the bathroom, before eating, after playing outside, etc. It’s simple but very effective.

Third, let’s see some ratings/comments in The Spokesman-Review’s Restaurant Notes on restroom conditions. Frank L. Krosnicki Dalton Gardens, Idaho

Will God pay your hospital bill?

Theodore M. Keith (Letters, Feb. 26) must indeed be comforted by a faith that leads to the conviction that his life is between him and his God, making seat belts unnecessary. I trust this faith also postulates that medical care after an accident in which he or his passengers were unbelted is also in God’s hands, without need of human intervention in the form of insurance payments or taxpayers’ contributions through Medicaid.

Those who choose not to use seat belts, as well as motorcyclists who choose not to wear protective helmets, are well within their rights as long as they assume full financial responsibility for their care after an accident. The rest of us who do use seat belts and helmets would pay lower insurance premiums, and our taxes could be put to more productive use than paying for the care and maintenance of uninsured victims.

Am I being facetious? To an extent. Remember that it really is true that no one is an island. Our choices affect others. Please, use seat belts and require your passengers to do the same. If you are a cyclist, wear a helmet. And yes, let’s enforce the existing laws. Jean Imperatrice Athol, Idaho

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.