Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE COUNTY

Dump Amend because of his record

Citizens of Spokane, city and county, shouldn’t allow the issues of supporting a recall petition against Coroner Dexter Amend to be construed as supportive of gay-lesbian issues.

It’s obvious from recent articles in this newspaper that Dr. Amend doesn’t have the support of city or county government, local police or the Spokane County Medical Society, whose ethics committee is reviewing his conduct.

Dr. Amend’s personal opinions have no place in his functioning as county coroner. County Commissioner Steve Hasson is right in saying “We need to separate church and state … you just don’t bring church to work with you.”

I urge county citizens to put themselves in the position of the families, police and victims who have suffered or had their investigations thwarted by Dr. Amend’s insensitive and incompetent behavior. If you are asked to sign a recall petition, please do so and then vote for recall. Do this based on the facts, not on personal bias you may feel toward the gay and lesbian community. Jeffry E. Sayler Spokane

Financial foul-up not what we need

Chris Anderson for County Commissioner? I don’t think so. It appears that Mr. Anderson talks the big talk, but fails to walk the walk.

A transplant from California, Anderson not only brought his supposed expertise as a certified public accountant and financial analyst but also his Californian-size debts to the people of Washington.

Mr. Anderson moved to the Inland Northwest with $322,970 in financial liabilities and, upon arrival, proceeded to dump his financial baggage on the good citizens of Washington state by declaring Chapter 7 bankruptcy (Case No. 93-01790-K1R) in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Washington, Oct. 25, 1993.

The comedy continues when Spokane County hires and fires Mr. Anderson as a “financial systems manager” at $43,395 annual salary. Mr. Anderson is then elected as a Spokane City Councilman, where he envisions himself as “a strident advocate of wise spending and long-range planning.”

If Mr. Anderson can’t keep his own checkbook in order, do you really think he has the professional savvy to balance the county budget? I don’t think so. Brett Pierce Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Trough made of trucks unappetizing

I just returned from PigOut in the Park. A more appropriate name might be PigOut in the Parking Lot.

Inside the ring of trucks, trailers, pickups and garbage trailers, a variety of foods were offered. The resemblance to a wagon train preparing for an ambush was remarkable and indeed may be appropriate, given the looks of the hungry hordes about to attack.

Food requests were being shouted to be heard over the sound of refrigerated vans. Music was heard faintly in the background. Children were in danger of being run over by ice trucks positioning themselves in the desired formation.

It appeared that anyone who did not wish to pay for street parking simply pulled onto the grass. A truck stop offers better ambiance. Karen M. Sprague Chattaroy

Handicapped access inadequate

I’m concerned about more wheelchair ramps in Spokane. I’m in a wheelchair and I also see many people in wheelchairs. It’s frustrating not to be able to get where you want to go, or get up and down. Friends, please look around and see the problems of the handicapped. We would all be thankful for your help. Norma Stewart Spokane

Science center deserves support

In the years spent raising my family and teaching school I have come to appreciate a human bond that unites color, age, culture, educational and economic differences; a curiosity, fascination with the wonders of the world around us: science.

This September, the people of Spokane will decide whether to provide an opportunity to engage our community in a hands-on science center modeled after the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. This center will cause no additional cost to the taxpayer.

A yes vote will be proof of our community’s faith in positive values and growth for all of us. Nancy Pierson Jones Spokane

PRIGGEE

Cartoon an eloquent farewell

Bravo, Milt Priggee. Bravo for a touching, eloquent and compassionate farewell tribute to a beautiful little girl - Kara Claypool. Bob and Lin Long Spokane

Priggee work evokes range of feelings

Regarding the Priggee cartoon on Kara Claypool: I’ve never had a cartoon break my heart, make me cry and then feel hope, all in one surge of emotion. Ruth Fox Cheney

Brickbats signify a job well done

I commend Milt Priggee for his cartoon of Aug. 31, regarding the Fuhrman tapes. His uncaptioned drawing captured the significance of the tapes better than any words could have.

Keep up the good work, Milt, and don’t let your narrow-minded critics get you down. As long as they’re complaining, you’re doing it right. William Phillips Pullman

OTHER TOPICS

Gurian’s point not well taken

After reading Michael Gurian’s Aug. 24 column, I can’t see the correlation between the commandment “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and a pro-choice issue.

How could it be a matter of someone’s character if they were to disagree about an issue that has life and death consequences? The idea of obtaining an abortion is exactly about doing unto others - commit murder and murder abounds.

Gurian set himself up perfectly, explaining why there is so much violence in society. If you want to condone abortions, this then sends a message that life is not as important as our creator intended it to be. Our need to have everything be convenient, including when and where we want children to fit into our lives, is an entirely selfish concept.

Abortion is a very direct means of character assessment. Your opinion either states life is to be honored and respected or life can be construed as easy come, easy go. Whether or not there are unwanted children out in society, we need to have a sense of urgency in respecting each living being.

The single individual making an abortion decision is making a judgment call way over their head. Few people know what they want in life. Even fewer realize what they truly need. A Bible verse sums it up rather well. Jesus said, let the little children come unto me and don’t prevent them. For to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. Mike Craddock Spokane

Lowry’s female foes a sorry lot

Re: The Associated Press article Sept. 3 about Gov. Mike Lowry’s candidacy in the next election.

It’s interesting to note that both the Washington Women’s Political Caucus and the National Organization for Women condemned Lowry for his alleged actions with Susanne Albright.

These two feminist organizations demonstrated again that justice and understanding can be damned. Why not? After 32 years of whining, they’ve since damned equality.

Whatever happened to the concept of innocent until proven guilty?

Keep in mind, it was from the lips of those stalwart progenitors of women’s lib that America was promised better justice. Fred Hoogendijk Spokane

Helmet likely saved my life

As a parent of teenagers and an avid cyclist, I commend you for your recent article emphasizing the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet while cycling.

Several months ago I was involved in a car-bicycle accident that resulted in several broken ribs, lots of road rash and a mild concussion. The helmet I was wearing now has a large crack down the middle where it struck the pavement. Had I not been wearing the helmet, I would probably not be alive today. Jonathan C. Rascoff Spokane