Letters To The Editor

Fri., Aug. 8, 1997

SPOKANE MATTERS

School board study sessions valuable

Your editorial (“Polite formalities invite indifference,” Aug. 5) calling for greater citizen attendance at school board meetings seemed well-intentioned, but it contained a significant error.

My request to hold more board “study sessions” on selected significant topics (such as the annual budget, a revised policy on promotion-retention and the proposed school board facility bond issue) was based on a desire to have more board discussion and debate and provide us with an opportunity to explore alternatives in a public forum. Study sessions do not diminish debate, nor are they held behind closed doors.

Study sessions have long been recognized as an excellent tool to allow professional educators, consultants and others to provide information to the community representatives (the board). They also provide board members an opportunity to ask questions and gather important information, all without bogging down regular business meetings, which typically have a varied agenda.

Your suggestion that the regularly scheduled board meeting is the only forum at which we can discuss issues is shortsighted and would foolishly limit the number of opportunities the board has to become informed before it takes action on critical issues.

Yes, citizens should be encouraged to attend school board meetings, including the study sessions. Rocco N. Treppiedi, director Spokane School District 81

Reject conservation futures tax

In the primary election on Sept. 16, we can kill the Spokane County conservation futures tax, and we should.

CFT money goes to buy land that is then exempt from taxes, and everyone’s taxes increase to make up for the loss, forever. The land is usually bought to prevent building on it, so the taxes that won’t be collected amount to millions of dollars over time.

CFT doesn’t pay for maintenance - controlling noxious weeds, sanitation, etc. Those are an additional expense for the county.

CFT money, about $1 million a year, is used to buy parks - called natural areas - in or near affluent neighborhoods of residents who can afford to buy their own parks. No parcel bought with CFT funds yet has been near lower-income neighborhoods.

Over half the land in Spokane County (one estimate is 62 percent), roads and streets, lakes and streams, airports, 40 square miles of state trust land, etc., already belongs to government, and less land for building makes housing less affordable.

The county already has tens of thousands of acres set aside for nature lovers like me - Mount Spokane, Riverside State Park, the Centennial Trail, Little Spokane River, the 26-square-mile Turnbull Wildlife Refuge, etc. - and millions more are within a one- or two-hour drive.

Such taxes are like cockroaches - when you see one, a lot more of the nasty little devils are around. Let’s stomp this one ourselves, then send some exterminators to the Legislature next year. Edwin G. Davis Spokane

Get into the spirit? Not so fast

I just finished reading interactive editor Rebecca Nappi’s editorial, “Get into the spirit of Subud congress,” (Aug. 3) and immediately wondered if that is such a good thing to do.

Her reasons for us embracing the Subud congress are:

Portraying a good image for Spokane.

Opportunity to experience other religions and cultures.

The $6.5 million they bring to us, of course.

My concern is directed at the opportunity to experience other religions and cultures. She says it’s not a religion but is a spiritual organization. Isn’t that what religions are? Are they not spiritual organizations in which people of like beliefs gather together?

Webster’s Dictionary defines religion as any system of faith and worship. In this sense, religion includes the beliefs and worship of pagans and Mohammedans, as well as of Christians; any religion consisting in the belief of a superior power or powers governing the world, and in the worship of such power or powers.

Sounds strangely like religion to me.

She states that they worship together. Who do they worship? The one true God, as revealed in Jesus Christ, or the stars, nature, themselves or quite possibly Satan himself? I’m not so sure I would welcome anyone and everyone who comes to town just because you think we need the exposure, their money or enlightenment from their culture and religion.

Nappi, could you please do a little more research and find out who these people really are and what they stand for before you roll out the red carpet for them and offer them our town on a silver platter? Mike A. Matiska Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Trouble began with bad examples

I was extremely interested in Frank Bartel’s column, “Elder advisers put in jeopardy under new law” (July 20).

Having had more than a little experience with probates and homeownership and sales, I have little sympathy for lawyers. It’s been my experience that people who have great need for money usually “get the shaft.” If you have a lot to start with, you get the red carpet treatment.

As far as parents giving their children all their money and assets, and living off the taxpayers, I do not believe it is moral or ethical, even if it is legal. I have seen parents of doctors and lawyers living on Social Security and in low income places. Meanwhile, childless couples and singles keep paying exorbitant taxes.

I could have done the same thing, but I chose to make my children earn their own way. I hoped to see them have grateful hearts and they can now take pride in having achieved on their own. One reasons we have a generation of ingrates is because parents would rather cheat and abuse the system than take care of themselves and make their children and grandchildren become responsible adults. Margaret M. Schuster Spokane

Don’t seek escape from your children

Re: the July 29 article, “Escaping to work.”

I’m disappointed in the recommendation to seek employment for 30 to 35 hours per week just to escape the chaos of home and children.

I understand the need for breaks. But do we really want the societal ills that have resulted from long-term escaping and ignoring our children?

When we mention our home schooling, we’re appalled at how many people reply, “I could never home school. I can’t stand my kids!”

Here’s my unprofessional opinion on how to enjoy home and children more.

Don’t take children entirely seriously and expect them to be complete adults. Major annoyances should be controlled, but minor ones can be tolerated when you realize they’re coming from someone with a puny little brain. When they’ve left the nest, all those “terrible” moments will suddenly become great humor.

Reduce demands on your time. If you’re too busy for family, you’re too busy. Little irritants seem huge when you’re rushed and tired. Kids don’t need nine soccer games per weekend as much as they need a dad playing catch or fixing plumbing and a mom for cooking together and playing games.

I recommend Elaine St. James’ book, “Simplify Your Life,” which illustrates that we all have stuff and activities we can reduce to create more time.

We’ve found that children are less annoying and destructive when given attention - talking, teaching, playing, working, etc.

Please don’t run from your children. They may not know it, but they need and want you. Dale E. Jenne Medical Lake

Abuse-abortion argument specious

This letter is in response to Clara H. House’s Aug. 1 letter, “Abortion the biggest abuse of all.”

I would like an explanation of how violent abuse toward children is related in any way to abortion in America. Does she feel that only pro-choice people have the capability to abuse their children?

What’s the relationship between a man who throws his girlfriend’s infant out the window and a young woman who was raped and became pregnant? House made a very broad, sweeping judgment about a large number of people and I fail to see anything reasonable this judgment was based on.

Being pro-choice is a sensitive issue and something everyone has an individual right to choose or reject. Abortion may not be the right decision for me, but it is not my place to decide this for the rest of the world. I cannot think of anything that is more personal.

As Americans, we should not let another personal choice be taken away from us. C.L. Stallings Spokane