Letters To The Editor

Wed., Sept. 20, 2000

Spokane matters

Spokane, its paper, impressive

I recently spent a long weekend visiting children and grandchildren in your city. While there I had the good fortune to read your newspaper. I found it to be arranged well, presenting not only the current news but also exceptionally interesting articles.

I also am impressed with your beautiful parks, well-manicured neighborhoods and friendly people. Spokane appears to have the “small town touch” with the large city advantages. Thanks for providing a community with so many advantages. Jane Mast Glendive, Mont.

Unity building event part of solution

I moved to Spokane less than a year ago and was in a state of culture shock for some time. For me, a young black woman, this community was an isolating and unwelcoming place. Up until a month ago, I’d been preparing to return to Los Angeles with my diverse and friendly community.

What changed my mind? I heard about an event called Unity in the Community and called Bethel AME to see what this was about. The person on the phone was receptive and welcomed me to participate on the planning committee. Walking into a roomful of strangers was a scary notion that was cleared upon the warm reception from many people of many different backgrounds. There were pastors, educators, social service providers, moms and dads, students, health professionals, businesses and law enforcement - together for a common goal: to bring the diverse communities together to celebrate and build bridges. Not only did I volunteer my time, I made new friends and had doors open for me. The Unity in the Community event filled my spirit and confirmed that Spokane can be a place for all people.

Despite this community’s image as a racist haven, efforts are underway through a variety of different avenues to interact, discuss, work and play with people of difference. Perhaps less criticism of such events and more involvement from every sector of this community will create an image that we all desire. It’s up to us. Each of us chooses to be either part of the problem or part of the solution. L. Jasmine Porter Spokane

LC grad building on solid base

As I pack to leave for my sophomore year at Stanford University, I would like to applaud the teachers and administrators at Lewis and Clark High School. Their efforts and lessons prepared me and many other students for jobs, college and life.

The Class of 1999 sent capable graduates into the workplace, training programs, two-year colleges and four-year colleges. We owe our success to the foundation laid by the wonderful people at LC. Stanford University is filled with good students, yet many in my freshman class were unprepared for the challenge and stress of college course work. The teachers at LC gave me a rock-solid base in composing concise papers, deciphering calculus problems, appreciating history, conversing in Spanish and analyzing science experiments. I left LC with wonderful time-management and study skills. I knew the value of putting my nose to the grindstone, trying everything and never giving up.

I have visited Holley Mason, the Tigers’ temporary home, and have found the same exuberance, drive and excellence among the staff as I experienced during my high school career. I am proud to know that my sister Caroline is now an LC freshman.

Thank you, teachers and administrators at Lewis and Clark. You are the best in so many ways! Go Tigers! Eleanor V. Tripp Spokane/Stanford, Calif.

Idaho viewpoints

How will tribe manage lake?

Pretty strange, don’t you think, that the same Coeur d’Alene Tribe claiming environmental stewardship of Lake Coeur d’Alene and suing the mining companies out of business for alleged damage to its ancestral lands can’t even manage smoke from its own grassfields?

Last Thursday’s.. smoke insult was quite an accomplishment. It’s not very often you can clobber the skies of three entire counties for two days. Here in Shoshone County, on the day after, we couldn’t even see the sky.

Talk about your human health risk. Environmental effects of mining in the Silver Valley have yet to send one person to the hospital. Sloppy air management on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation has sent dozens to the infirmaries, and forced dozens of others to move out of the area.

I just can’t wait until the tribe starts working its wonders on the waters of the Coeur d’Alene Basin, too. Perhaps the $90,000 grant they just got from taxpayers to help tribal government learn how to regulate the environment will help.

Or not. David P. Bond Kellogg

Law and justice

Scalia dealing in stereotypes

Maybe Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia should get out and about a little more or at least read the newspapers. His prejudicial generalization (Spokesman Review, Sept. 8) of the kind of people who would choose to burn flags as “Scruffy, bearded, sandal-wearing people” is a little dated. After all, many nonscruffy, nonbearded and/or booted individuals have been known to burn the red, white and blue. Somehow, his comments do not imbue me with confidence in the fairness of the Supreme Court. Pamela Bunderson Pullman

Punishment insufficient

In regards to Colleen Odenthal’s brush with the “law,” it appears that she did get some pretty preferential treatment. It would be no more than right if Police Chief Roger Bragdon would have her car towed and impounded for the required amount of time.

If that does not happen, I would think that all judges would dismiss all towing and impounds on any other motorists. The decision by Deputy Chief Al Odenthal stinks to high heaven. I do not believe that the punishment meted out was near enough. Maybe he should lose his job over such a violation of his office.

Let’s make people in police families have to live by the same laws that the rest of us have to live by. Come on, Chief Bragdon, let’s do the right thing and have the car towed and impounded, according to the requirements of the law.

It sure proves that if you know someone you can get away with anything. Ed Weilep Spokane

Time for harsher penalties

Sex offenders are the lowest form of predators. They prey on the young and old alike. They are equal opportunity life destroyers.

They deserve to be locked up for as long as possible. They don’t change and have shown repeatedly that given the chance they will reoffend!

We have in custody now the most dangerous of the lot. Sure, they are well behaved; they can’t act out their sick fantasies. They know that to get out they have to show certain behavior and say the right things. They are sick and disgusting and gave up their rights to roam and act out their impulses.

The courts have ruled that it’s unconstitutional to keep them after they have served their time. The solution would clearly be to have longer prison times - 20 or 30 years sounds good.

It’s now up to our legislators to increase the penalties and give good reason if they don’t. The money spent on housing, supervision, tracking and manpower could all be eliminated. These animals don’t change - just the victims and the lives destroyed do. Michael P. Fleenor Spokane

People in society

Follow school-zone driving rules

To all people driving Spokane streets:

School is open and it is time for these lessons once again (as everyone tends to forget).

School plus children plus crossing guards equals 20 mph in school zones.

Crossing guards plus flashing lights equals slow down and stop! Do not speed up in hopes of getting across the crosswalk line before you are stopped. Do not stop as close as possible to the crosswalk or guard. Stay back!

The street signs (the ones with the pictures of walking children) read “School Zone, 20 mph when children present.” Children are usually present during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., taking in account before- and after-school programs. You must slow down and go 20 mph, even when the children are in the school and not physically seen. And slow down when they are on the playground even though the grounds are fenced.

My daughter attends Steven’s Elementary School, which sits off of the very busy Mission Avenue. Every day I take her to school I see many violations of the rules. I go 20 mph in these zones. I am tired of being cursed at, honked at, yelled at and flipped off because people think I am driving too slowly.

Come on folks, think of the children! Think of the consequences and heartache of hitting and killing a child because you were going too fast. Slow down and remember the lessons! Kathy R. Hartman Spokane

Supplies bring joy to Bemiss students

Sometimes family circumstances make it difficult for parents to send a child to their first day of school with little more than the motivation to learn. The last two years, the generous spirit of Washington Trust Bank employees has ensured that Bemiss Elementary students will have not only the desire to learn, but also the supplies to be a successful learner. Self-esteem is increased when students are academically successful and feel a part of their school. Having the same school supplies as other students in their class is the beginning for students to believe that they are a part of our school and that they can be successful.

The Washington Trust Bank employees generous donation to Bemiss Elementary is one example of the strong community support we enjoy. As Bemiss staff and bank employees unloaded Suburbans overflowing with boxes of school supplies and backpacks, it was difficult to tell who was more excited, the school staff or the bank staff! Certainly no one was more excited than the children who received new backpacks filled with supplies on the first day of school.

The entire Bemiss community thanks everyone at Washington Trust for assisting us in starting the school year on a positive note for so many children. We truly are grateful to live and teach in a community that demonstrates such caring for its children. Lorna L. Spear, principal Bemiss Elementary School, Spokane

Government and politics

Reciprocity not guaranteed

Your Sept. 5 story on Senate consideration of a bill to permanently normalize trade relations with China has the facts exactly.

The legislation being considered will, if passed, “normalize” our trade relations with China. This means we will accept imports from China with tariffs levied by the United States at the same levels as those we impose on any other nation with which we have these “normal” trade relations. This, in effect, means our tariffs will be lower on Chinese imports than they would be without normalization.

The legislation being considered will not change the tariffs China places on imports from the U.S. How could it? What would be the effect if China passed a law saying that from now on the automobile speed limit in Spokane will be 5 mph? It’s nonsense. It may well be that foreign trade officials in both countries may have an understanding that if we legislate permanent normal trade relations they will lower their tariffs to such-and-such levels. It is reasonable to expect that they will lower their tariffs if we lower ours. But it is still up to China alone to do that - not us. Richard T. Brown Spokane

Be obedient to God with vote

In this election we have two leading candidates for president of the United States. One candidate has publicly stated his faith in Jesus Christ and his desire to serve and follow Jesus. The other leading candidate has professed his faith but he does not believe that the Bible is the inert Word of God.

It is time for believers in Jesus Christ to put their union affiliations, political affiliations and any other affiliation or interest that turns them against the Word of God aside and be obedient to God and carefully study issues and let the will of God work in their hearts.

I believe that Jesus wants His people to be active in politics, to be representing Him at all times in the political process. I refer those who care to a book by Tony Nassif, “Jesus, Politics and the Church.” After reading this book and seeing and understanding how men from Adam on were involved in politics, I believe that, as Christians, we have no choice but to be obedient to God and become involved.

We need to put our fear or reluctance behind us and be obedient and serve God, not man. I refer you to Jeremiah 17:5-11 as a prime reason we need to trust God, not man. M.L. Farver Coulee Dam, Wash.

Bush’s education views for children

Without question, Al Gore and the National Education Association are in complete lockstep. NEA delegates were far and away the best represented group at the Democratic National Convention and Gore was the centerpiece of NEA’s Chicago convention this summer. It was also clear that the NEA’s platform resolutions spelled out what Gore must do for them as president.

One resolution stated, “The association believes that performance pay, such as merit pay, or any other system of compensation based on an evaluation of an education employee’s performance, are inappropriate.” Another stated, “The association opposes providing additional compensation to attract and/or retain education employees in hard to recruit positions.”

There it is, in black and white. They will not be held accountable for results and they will not act as any other business would to correct a labor shortage. Unlike George Bush’s emphasis on performance standards, competition and choice, Gore’s NEA marching orders are strictly for the benefit of the teachers’ wallets and job security, not the best interest of our children.

Wake up people. It’s time to understand what the real objectives of these presidential candidates are when it comes to education and vote accordingly to improve our kids’ education. James Dowell Liberty Lake

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.
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Rob Curley

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