op_200710_letters

Live up to our pledge

As we celebrate America’s Independence Day, I am reminded of a pledge that most Americans have made thousands of times.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America … with liberty and justice for all.”

We pledge to liberty and justice for ALL. Not just those who speak our language or have the same skin color (or the same sex, or the same religion). It’s liberty and justice for ALL.

That is our pledge. It is what we all deserve to expect, and is also what others deserve to expect of us. Liberty and justice for all. Let’s start here in reuniting us. As our country’s motto states: “Out of many, one.”

Jeff Cook-Coyle

Liberty Lake

Missing the full storyNow that we are in the process of eliminating nearly everything having to do with the Confederacy, maybe we need to close down the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. After all, Jefferson Davis (president of the Confederate States of America), Confederate generals Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, J.E.B. Stuart, James Longstreet, Richard Ewell, P.G.T. Beauregard, A.P. Hill, Albert Sydney Johnston, Braxton Bragg, Leonidas Polk, and other military leaders of the Confederate states attended that school. Moreover, Lee was once superintendent of West Point.

On the other hand, let us not forget that Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, George S. Patton, Douglas MacArthur and Dwight Eisenhower all graduated from West Point. Here is the larger question we need to consider: When are we going to pause for a moment and look at the full story when it comes to the people, places and events in American history?

Christian Perreiah

Spokane

Save the Chancery

Few people in Spokane seem to be aware of the plans of Cowles Co. to demolish the historic Chancery Building on West Riverside Avenue and to build a high-rise apartment tower.

The building was designed in the Italian Renaissance style by famed Spokane architect Kirtland Cutter in 1910. It was then expanded in 1924 by Gustaf Pehrson, also a noted architect of the time. Their talents will not be seen again in our future. This will affect the history, diversity and charm of downtown Spokane and must not happen.

The hope of all preservationists in Spokane is that this wonderful, historic building will be saved. Most of our citizens have supported their newspaper in our city and have been proud to so do.

Please join us in asking the Cowles family to not let this happen.

They need to step up and do the right thing for Spokane. There is a time in all our lives when civic action becomes more important than just making money.

Joanne Halstead Moyer

Spokane