Letters To The Editor
THE MEDIA
KXLY’s Mad Chatter just annoys
On March 13 KXLY’s Rick Miller again displayed the searing focus of his laser-beam mind. In condemning Gov. George Bush’s populist appeal to public “wisdom,” Miller ranted about how ignorant and stupid the masses are. In his divine opinion, the public is to be “feared.” Then, like a cynical Cheshire cat with “very long claws and a great many teeth,” he invited someone to challenge his position. Nobody responded. So I ask: What is wrong with this picture? Miller insults the audience, then invites conversation. How intelligent is that?
More and more, Miller sounds like King George III, whose opinion of the masses parallels his own. However, King George, along with his generals, learned how devastating the masses could be, from Lexington to Concord - sic semper tyrannis.
Whereas Miller quietly holds delusions of being Spokane’s radio answer to Socrates, in reality he is like Lewis Carroll’s Queen of Hearts, screaming across the airwaves, “Off with their heads!” Imitating some European monarch who insults her guests yet invites them to participate in her party, Miller would be wise to heed Alice’s words: “You should learn not to make personal remarks. It’s very rude.”
The next thing we know, Miller will demand everyone play croquet with flamingos while the band plays “The World Turned Upside Down.” Angel Manuel Fitzpatrick Jr. Fairfield
Say the name correctly
Having graduated from Gonzaga Prep and having taken R-TV in college after a stint in Uncle Sam’s Army (where I was trained to speak phonetically on the radio), I am constantly aggravated by the inability of local (and network) broadcasters to pronounce the name “Gonzaga” properly.
Just for the record, it’s not Gun-zaga, Gen-zaga or Gen-zawga. Instead try “Gone” (as in you’re gone), “zag” (as in zig zag) and “a” (as in American). Get a clue! John M. O’Brien Spokane
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
This region does have racist problem
Re: “We’re such racists - yada yada” (March 8): Dorothy Glass seems to take pride in the fact that there are fewer racist groups in five Northwest states than in Alabama and Florida. What she doesn’t take into account is population and history.
In 1997, Alabama and Florida had more than 17 million people, while Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Wyoming held just more than 10 million. Also, slavery and racism started in the Deep South; wouldn’t you expect racism to be prevalent in those states rather than in the Northwest?
Many racist groups are finding safe haven in Northwest states to espouse their hate-filled rhetoric. More groups are moving here yearly. How many racists or racist groups moving here will it take before Glass thinks we have too many? I say one racist is one too many. One racist act is one too many. One act of hatred is one too many.
Glass ends her letter, “Idaho, if you don’t love it, leave it.” I have lived here all my life and I love Idaho and Washington. I say: Idaho, if you love it, work to get rid of racism and hatred.
Finally, as for the large Hispanic population in the Idaho prison system that Glass mentions, most are illegal aliens or poor migrant farm workers. In our prisons, you will see very few wealthy inmates. Clyde Ries Spokane
We appreciate racist alert
On March 12, the bold headline, “ Racist pagans identified” immediately caught my eye. This article, written by Bill Morlin, was wonderfully researched, thought-out and well-written.
Thank heavens The Spokesman-Review has such a wonderful reporter who has the guts to bring to Spokane’s attention that we have a nasty little hate group living and working in our midst.
The White Order of Thule has come to Spokane and, thanks to The Spokesman-Review and Bill Morlin, it is now exposed. We know where they work, businesses that embrace them, their beliefs and alleged crimes that authorities fear they’re involved in.
As several friends and I see it, Spokane has the following choices:
1. We can run like hell from Spokane and leave it to these morons.
2. We can wait 50 years for them to become inbred, at which time we can come back to Spokane and reclaim it.
3. We can wake up and smell the Starbucks and find ways to encourage these hate groups to leave our lovely city. We can let them know we’ll have no tolerance for them.
4. We can learn where they work and boycott any businesses that cater to hatemongering, encouraging others to do the same.
We can reclaim our city for all good things and people. Shari Montgomery Spokane
Actively oppose hatemongers
Racism and hatred rear their ugly heads again in North Idaho. Just in time for the Christian holidays, a hate-filled diatribe from the 11th Hour Remnant Messenger arrived in mailboxes in North Idaho. Signed by Carl Story and Vincent Bertollini of Sandpoint, the most recent mailing is filled with racism and special hatred of the Jews.
The brochure, like the poster Story and Bertollini published last year, professes to identify whites, or Aryans, as the true children of Israel. It also portrays Jews, people of color and religions other than Christianity as evil and responsible for the world’s problems. It attacks the human rights task force for its effort to promote respect and dignity for people of all races. I especially abhor the fact that Story and Bertollini are masquerading as Christians when their words and actions are in direct opposition to the teachings and examples set by our Lord.
It’s time for all of us to speak out against hatred and racism, whether it’s in our community or inflicted from elsewhere. As Edmund Burke stated, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” We need to make sure racists and anti-Semites hear the message clearly from North Idaho - that we will not submit to their will: not here, not now, not ever! Allen B. Chrisman Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Yes, we do need full-time mothers
Columnist Kathleen Parker contributes an excellent article in “The mother of all lib-era stigmas” (Opinion, March 15.) She presents the negative cultural view of motherhood as a career accurately. The art of motherhood is a fine gift, and those chosen for this role in life rarely receive its badge of honor.
Perhaps it takes a world of catastrophes, with children murdering their parents and their peers, before we wake to the fact that good mothering is essential to the physical and psychological well-being of our children.
Being a full-time mother offers immeasurable rewards, but few get past the hard work, sacrifice of material goods or lack of praise in public sentiment. Women of every status are lured to seek happiness outside the home. Left in the nest are children forced to take flight before they are ready. Unfortunately, many experience little peace, security or contentment during their formative years of life.
The payoff for women who do embrace their role as mother comes when they discover the essence of their work involves sharing the commodity of love with the children they bring into the world, who, in turn, validate this effort by living out wholesome lives with others. Motherhood is one of the noblest of professions.
Out of this career choice comes another plus: Men reclaim their identity in roles of father, husband and keeper. An old-fashioned concept made new again could be a good thing. Connie Pomeroy Spokane
GUNS AND VIOLENCE
This is no way to make us safer
The Clinton administration’s extortion of Smith & Wesson, in the name of child safety, aids the criminal.
Crime usually is so sudden that a homeowner would not have the time to deactivate locks on his pistol. This move furthers the ultimate goal of disarming American citizens. Trigger locks shift the liability to the homeowner and away from the burglar.
Smith & Wesson also is being forced to incorporate larger grips and heavier trigger pulls on guns in the future. Many policewomen have difficulty accurately handling pistols now; larger grips and heavier trigger pulls will further degrade accuracy and put innocent bystanders at risk.
I hope people will discount the distorted statistics put out by this administration and think of the thousands of victims of crime who are saved each year by the presence of a handgun. My opinion is backed by 32 years of law enforcement experience in high-crime areas. Bob Korkus Spokane
Consider where we’re coming from
To anti-self-defense letter writers Dan Niehenke and Dan J. Schaffer, cartoonist Milt Priggee and anyone who may have cheered their opinions on the March 21 editorial pages:
I’m glad you’re so concerned for the “safety” of our citizens, but let’s put some things into perspective by defining terms.
Gun control advocates (that’s you) want to make it as hard for children and criminals to get guns as it is for children and criminals to get drugs. Think about that for a minute.
Second Amendment advocates (that’s us self-defense-advocating “gun nuts”) only want to make it as easy for honest citizens to get, keep and bear arms for self-defense as it is for criminals to get guns to do criminal violence.
And while we’re at it, let’s all applaud Smith & Wesson for deciding to not make guns that can be used by people with small or weak hands. Ladies, the S&W petite section is now permanently closed. Have a nice day. There’s a rapist waiting in the parking lot. Bryan Potratz Spokane
Hold parents accountable
When a child kills another child or a teenager kills another teenager, the parents should be charged for the crime. Then maybe all parents would teach their children what a gun is all about and pay more attention to what their children do every day.
Once parents were subject to being charged for their children’s crimes, things would change. I know I couldn’t live with myself if one of my children had killed another child.
There are always a lot of excuses when it happens, such as, “He was such a good boy; he belonged to the Boy Scouts.” That’s what wrong in this day and age - people think their children can do no wrong. Joe Hilzendeger Spokane
Enforcing laws we have is a must
How many times have you read or heard a news story saying that we need a new law every time some kind of crime is committed with any kind of firearm? When will the people demanding these laws realize that more laws are not the solution to this problem?
If the laws currently on the books - local, state and federal - were enforced, most of the problems we have now might be drastically reduced.
It must be very frustrating for the police to know that when a criminal is arrested, it’s probably not the first time he’s been arrested for committing the same crime. Those responsible for prosecuting any criminals arrested seem to rarely utilize the existing laws regarding felons arrested with any kind of firearm in their possession. Ernest J. Chamberlain Spokane
IN THE PUBLIC EYE
Frahm a fine athlete and gracious, too
We enjoyed your feature on Gonzaga basketball great Richie Frahm. While he is well-known for his considerable success on the court, our family had opportunity to witness some lesser known traits of this outstanding young man.
Like everyone else in Spokane, we were glued to the TV as the Bulldogs made their run in last year’s NCAA tournament and our then-10-year-old son had quickly designated Frahm as his favorite player.
Not long afterward, we were in the Spokane airport when Andrew spotted his hero. Seizing the moment, we approached Frahm and were rewarded with graciousness beyond the call of duty. He spent time chatting with us and showing genuine interest in our son. Andrew not only got to meet and get acquainted with his hero, but he also came away with photos (later autographed) of himself and Frahm, plus a totally unexpected plum - his NCAA tournament hat! Our son’s trip was made before we even got off the ground.
How thankful we are that someone of Frahm’s character, being in the position of a role model, would choose to impact a boy’s life in such a positive way. Frahm may have some entertaining idiosyncrasies, as your article suggests, but we think of him as a gifted athlete and a fine young gentleman. Paul and Bonny Peterson Spokane
If Wood goes, park system loses
I have worked as a volunteer at Mount Spokane State Park in a variety of contexts over the last 10 years: clearing trails, as an organizer of a kids cross-country ski program, at cross-country ski races and as a member of the Mount Spokane Advisory Committee and as a Selkirk Nordic Ski Education Foundation board Member.
Based on this experience, I believe Pete Wood is the best thing that ever happened to the park. He has worked very hard with limited resources to meet the desires of often-competing recreation pressures and to preserve the ecological integrity of the park in the face of increasing use and sometimes abuse on the part of visitors.
Wood has strived to make the park a better place, and it has been a delight through the years to know and work with him.
It would be a huge loss for the park, for the entire park system and for all park users if there were repercussions to Wood’s career because of allegations about what appear to be minor oversights or indiscretions. I have seen him put in many long hours on behalf of the park outside of the normal workday. Playing some golf in the afternoon is a technicality. Tom Frost Spokane
IDAHO VIEWPOINTS
Girl knows Oden Bay’s importance
At the most recent commissioners hearing on the proposed sewer lagoon at Oden Bay (Feb. 23), a 13-year-old girl saw clearly what all the adults present failed to perceive. It didn’t matter that the project was technically feasible or needed design approval by the state Department of Environmental Quality. It would adversely affect her home. A home she shares with eagles, bear, moose and birds too numerous to count. A home she felt comfortable in going around in stretch pants and parka.
She saw that any modification in the Oden Bay community would change forever her dream of bringing her children to this unique place to share with them the wonder that is our community.
I can only hope that our commissioners have the vision to see what she sees. This lagoon proposal is not only a discussion about technical feasibility and design criteria, or who has oversight and liability, but also about the lagoon’s long-term adverse impact on a way of life.
To my eyes, there is no way that this proposal can meet any of the goals of the Bonner County comprehensive plan and probably can be seen as an uncompensated taking of portions of adjoining properties.
Thank you, Kristen, for showing us the way. G.E. Beyer Sandpoint