Why not front-page news?

I am very disappointed to see that the newspaper chose to put an article about the anniversary of Pearl Harbor on the back page of the paper (“Remembering Dec. 7,” Dec. 7). I feel, as I am sure many Americans feel, that we should show a little more respect to those who died on that dreadful day in history. We as a country have lost sight of the brave men who have given their lives for our freedom. There was nothing on the front page of Wednesday’s paper that was more important than placing an article about Pearl Harbor on the front page where it belongs. All I ask is that we pay tribute to those who have given us what we have today and take our freedom for granted.

Ashley Brown

Spokane

Phosphate story lacked facts

The Nov. 30 town hall meeting article on the issue of fertilizer and phosphates missed the mark (“Industry in lather on plan to ban phosphates”). The introduction “Local officials and environmentalists faced off Tuesday with detergent and fertilizer industry representatives” may sound interesting but it hardly was accurate in describing my intent when presenting before the public, concerned environmental groups and government officials.

While it is true that I said an immediate phosphate ban would be an economic hardship on our company, I also stated that as far as chemical fertilizers were concerned, we could comply by 2007. My concern was that organic products would not survive an all-out ban on phosphates and that should be considered.

Our company is committed to organic options for lawn and landscape fertility. We hope to work with Commissioner Todd Mielke and other groups to help promote river health and hopefully find a way to save organic fertilizer as a landscape option. At the next day’s meeting in Spokane Valley, I committed to discontinue the use of all phosphates in chemical fertilizers we use on or before Jan. 1, 2007.

Mike Fairburn

President, Living Water Lawn & Tree Care, Spokane

Give us national coverage

Spokane is watching this paper with interest to see how it will cover the next round of local politics. The paper has exerted its influence now to bring down two mayors in a row. The paper gained no friends or readers in the process. Why not stay out of local politics, other than to do full reporting on the candidates’ backgrounds before the election, something clearly not done in the last mayoral election? How about not endorsing local candidates? How about limiting attacks on local officials to one columnist rather than requiring every editorialist to do so? These are boundaries that are normally understood in journalism, but frequently ignored here, leading to widespread criticism that this paper makes itself a major part of the local political story. There was a period in which the paper and its owners owned City Hall. That era is passing with the gradual decline of newspaper readership.

I wish that the paper would instead use its resources to do some thorough reporting on national politics. There’s a story there, but we aren’t reading about it in Spokane, which might explain why some letters to the editor supporting the president’s policies continue to use long-debunked information.

Greg Presley

Spokane

Tree removal uproots beauty

Before we use the clear zone policy as a reason to take out trees (“Targeted trees,” Dec. 8), let us use a cost/benefit analysis. I used to drive from work downtown up Bernard to home. At about 18th, the temperature was five degrees cooler, less energy used. Trees clean the air. Have the sidewalk go around the trees, much cheaper. Not least is the beauty of tree-lined streets.

Now, the benefit of a clear zone. How many cars have hit a tree on either of those streets? We are to give up all those benefits of trees, our urban landscape, for a few hapless, irresponsible citizens that may hit a tree? And how much is the cost to take down those trees?

I ask you to drive Mission and see if you would rather see trees or the “landscape” of Division or any of the other treeless streets in our city. Look at the example of Liberty Lake. They see no clear zone necessity.

I would like to see the city’s cost/benefits analysis. In fact I challenge them to prove they are saving any money or enough to justify the loss of landscape that won’t be as mature in most of our lifetimes.

Kay Stoltz

Spokane

A vote for return postage

The poll tax was thrown out in the South years ago, but has just been given new birth by the Spokane County commissioners by requiring individuals to pay to vote. On the front page of The Spokesman-Review, a staff writer stated “Die-hard poll voters better stock up on stamps” (“County votes to vote by mail,” Dec. 7). In other words, pay 37 cents to vote – soon to be 39 cents.

The poll tax was established to prevent the poor and blacks from voting. It ultimately became illegal to require individuals to pay to vote.

Personally, I like to be able to vote by mail and can afford to pay for stamps, but there is a fundamental principle about requiring individuals to pay to vote. I would hope that our elected commissioners would recognize the precedent they have established and make corrections with postage-free mail-in ballots.

Walter Powers

Cheney

Shop with a conscience

At this time of year, with the holidays just around the corner, most people make a sincere effort to put others first and to help their fellow man. I want to commend all the caring people for their efforts, but I would like to remind everyone to consider that their holiday spending can have devastating impacts impact beyond our borders and here at home.

All too often the gifts we buy our loved ones were made in developing nations, usually by children and women of color who work long hours in unsafe conditions, earning just enough to stay alive. In some cases they were made here in America, again by children and women of color, most of whom immigrated to this country legally or are even American citizens.

So when you are doing your holiday shopping, or any other shopping for that matter, please take some time to research just what is behind the label. A little more effort on your part will guarantee that by giving your loved ones gifts that support worker rights at home and abroad you can feel better about your purchases. For more information and to find out what you can do go to www.laborrights.org.

Noah J. Hassler

Moscow, Idaho

Christ already in Christmas

Could we give the indignant letters and sermons about “Xmas” and “put Christ back in Christmas” a rest this year? Two thousand years ago, the common working language of early Christians was Greek. The first two letters of “Christ” in Greek are chi and rho, which in capitals look like our letters X and P. This is why you sometimes see those two letters superimposed in churches: persecuted early Christians used to scratch that on doorposts as code for a safe place to worship. So “Xmas” already has Christ in it. You’d think everyone would know that by now.

Jim Dettwiler

Spokane Valley

Ahern needs reality check

Regarding “Lawmaker wants ‘Christmas’ back in Capitol ‘Holiday Tree,’” Dec. 8. I would suggest that Rep. John Ahern of the 6th Legislative District concentrate his efforts in Olympia on helping to find ways to feed the hungry, find affordable medical care for the thousands of people in our community and state that can’t afford to see a doctor, figure out how businesses in Spokane can compete against North Idaho who are taking our jobs every day because they are far more pro-business, protect our drinking water and environment, and a variety of far more important issues than to worry about what we call a tree.

It seems to me that Mr. Ahern is pandering to a particular group in making those kinds of statement. I for one resent it.

Our Founding Fathers put the separation of church and state in place for a reason. Mr. Ahern, you need to figure out your priorities. Please do not forget you represent all the people of your district, not just Christians. For the record, there are those of us that are not Christian that believe in God, worship in our place of worship, believe in “family values” just like you. We just don’t hold press conferences to gain votes over it.

Stephen Berde

Spokane

Christmas is too materialistic

When I was a little girl Christmas was like a magic time. Christmas was a happy word. Christmas meant celebrating the birth of Christ to Christians.

A holiday meant a day off from school, a day off from work or a summer break when you could go fishing.

Now it is just a time to spend money. Why don’t we call it a Moneyday and be done with it? No more lovely Christmases!

Leila Garnsey

Spokane

Charities can use help

Thank you for the article with regard to the 70 men and six women who died on Spokane’s streets in the last 10 years (“Remembering the forgotten,” Nov. 19). I am appalled and ashamed. We are reminded daily of our excess wealth yet people died because they lacked daily medication and access to health care or for lack of shelter.

We can use our talents and knowledge to help those who are less fortunate. We can knit scarves or hats for the homeless, cook at a shelter, play music for a benefit concert, drive an ill neighbor to the doctor, use our contacts or organizing skills to create change.

Disadvantaged families often give to those in need. It humbles me. During this season of spending, we can change our priorities of consumption, forgo extras and give more of our time and money to the homeless or other charities.

Gandhi once said, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” I challenge each of us to take this to heart, not just for the season, but for the rest of our lives.

Darlene Melvin

Spokane

Tax cuts are mind-boggling

Trying to understand the House of Representatives and our “representative” Cathy McMorris is a little baffling to me. Just this week the House passed tax cut legislation that will provide tax relief to the wealthiest Americans. This appears to be a yearly happening. Last week the House voted to cut support for the poorest and most struggling of Americans by slashing health care, student loans and food stamps.

Let’s see, take from the poor and give it to the rich – Reverse Robin Hood. Or is it Republican Robin Hood? At least we know that Christian faith has nothing to do with it because Jesus said, “When you did it to the least of these, you did it to me!”

Mike Nelson

Davenport, Wash.

America weak under Dems

Democrats desperately want this war to become another Vietnam, which we lost because of political involvement from the anti-war left. We pulled out when we should have let the Army do its job. The left wants us to worry what the world thinks of what we are doing. Why? Many of those countries benefited from Saddam’s tyrannical regime; of course they are upset we intervened. The Democrats wanted President Bush to include them in deciding to go to war when it was “cool” to do so and now they are saying we were lied to. Wrong, the only difference is that then they thought it would benefit them politically to be on the right side of the issue – it didn’t and now they are trying to vilify the war. Face it, when the left is in charge, America is weaker. Clinton gave Saddam over eight years to disperse the WMDs to the same nations that “insurgents” are coming from. What will they say if they are found when used on us? The left has invested its future and success in the failure of America and the war on terror. Their reacquiring power is more important than our security.

Rob C. Leach

Mica, Wash.

Teachers are underpaid

In response to Scott Spray’s letter on Dec. 6 (“Public employees overpaid”).

While I’ll agree that many government employees are overpaid, I’m shocked that anyone could think our teachers are overpaid. I was raised by a single mother and teacher, and we constantly had to struggle to make ends meet. We could never afford cable or a cell phone. I hardly got new boots for winter unless we went to Spokane and shopped at a discount store. Most of my clothes were hand-me-downs from my cousins.

A new car was even further impossible; my mother has owned only one new car in her lifetime, and she bought that in 1990. I totaled that car in 2000, shortly after getting my driver’s license, and we could only afford (at great financial strain) a used vehicle.

Even these days, a teacher fresh out of school makes about $20,000 a year (in Bonner County). I make more as a shelf stocker for a grocery store. My mother, at the top of the Bonner County pay scale, makes less than my boss.

To say that my mother is overpaid is to negate all the years of my childhood wondering why my friends had nicer things.

Elliot Stoll

Spokane Valley

Evolution has not been proven

There are a lot of people who are very upset about the idea of intelligent design. I’m not saying whether or not it should be taught in science classes, but to believe that our grandparents were monkeys takes a lot more faith than ID (“Can ID explain the war?” Dec. 4). Especially since the “missing link” is still missing! And I can’t care how much psychobabble you use, evolution has not been proven. People just accept it as fact simply because evolution scientists use a lot of big words and discredit God.

Just because something occurs in nature or naturally, that doesn’t mean God had nothing to do with it. No creationists I know “suspend nature’s laws” (“ID illogic is painful,” Dec. 4). Nature does not disprove God any more than my having a car “disproves” me.

P.S. The evolution theory has been revised a lot too. Originally it stated the Earth was only “thousands” of years old. In just about 35 years, it has gone from “thousands” of years to “millions” of years to the latest favorite, “billions.”

The book “Darwin’s Black Box” by Mr. Michael Behe is also an interesting read. (By the way, this author was not a Christian when he wrote this book.)

Rachel J. Brown

Deer Park