Don’t fudge fish standard

Very soon, Washington is going to establish its fish consumption rates, a very important factor when the state constructs its water quality standards. Water quality standards are the benchmarks that dictate how clean our water is and the basis for what we, as a state, will hold polluters accountable for.

If we set our fish consumption rate low, more toxic pollution is permitted to enter our waters. Currently, the state estimates that people eat less than a cracker-sized amount of fish per day (6.5 grams), which is one of the lowest rates in the country.

One of Washington’s most striking features is its culture that embraces fisheries and ecology. I have lived in Washington for three years, and Washington’s intrinsic pride in the fish and other seafood that comes from within its borders is certainly unique. Fish from Washington are prominently featured on menus throughout the state, and rightfully so.

Washington’s fish consumption rate should reflect our actual consumption of fish and seafood, and the increased fish consumption rate of our large and most vulnerable populations: tribal members, recreational fishers, and Asian and Pacific island immigrants.

Pilar Rodarte

Spokane

Women free to choose

“No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her body. No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother.” This quote from Margaret Sanger perfectly explains my perspective on abortion.

We are a free society and we are capable of making our own decisions. We don’t need the government to make our choices for us. Freedom of religion is promised to every U.S. citizen, so why should it be acceptable for one religion to have power to influence the laws? Why should we allow men to make a law that could never, under any occurrence, apply to a man? It’s unethical.

Some women aren’t even physically capable of having a child, and those women have the right to make the choice to live. Consider the fact that 70,000 girls between the ages 15 and 19 die each year due to pregnancy and childbirth. If you can’t trust somebody with a choice, how could you trust them with a child?

I am pro-choice, not pro-abortion. If you’re against abortion, then don’t have one.

Hannah Camyn

Spokane

Do they ever compromise?

It would be interesting to know if our elected officials – primarily those in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and it seems more Republicans than Democrats, depending on the issue – also fail to compromise with their spouses or significant others, their children, their in-laws, their neighbors and their friends?

If so, I’d like to know how they get away with that – but then again, maybe not.

Frank Neeri

Spokane

Silence spoke volumes

The local police’s motorcycle procession kicked off the annual Lilac Parade, and was greeted by dead silence from the denizens. Not one hoot, cheer or polite clap.

Forty-five seconds later the Fire Department rides by to roaring applause. The icy silence for our protectors spoke volumes about the state of relations between the Spokane Police Department and the populace of Spokane.

Benjamin Burgad

Spokane