Letters to the Editor

Fluoride no answer for kids’ rotten teeth

An open letter to Mrs. Cayetano:

Thanks for your expert opinion on the benefits and safety of fluoridating Hawai‘i’s water supply. You must have spent countless hours researching the subject before donating your time to this controversial cause.

I’m no scientist so I can’t prove if fluoride is safe to ingest or not. The two opposing sides do present some very strong, and emotional, arguments.

I just don’t want any more junk in the water that I’m paying for. As far as I’m concerned, Hawai‘i’s water has enough undesirable chemicals in it already. We don’t need any more foreign substances in our water supply.

If Hawai‘i’s kids do indeed, as you say, have the worse teeth in the nation, it’s not, as you say, because of a lack of fluoride in the water. The rotten teeth come from a poor diet and terrible oral hygiene. Period

My three adolescent kids’ teeth are fine, thank you, without my ever having poisoned their water.

If you want healthy teeth for your kids, train them to floss and brush thoroughly after meals, rinse after snacking and don’t give them sugary junk prior to bedtime.

Oh, and don’t forget to take time off from your busy schedules to take your kids to the dentist for a checkup and cleaning every six months, whether they need it or not.

Leave the water alone.

John H. Mayer
Hawai‘i Kai

Sincere apology brought on tears

When I read the Feb. headline "U.S. apology by Bush emissary apparently well received in Japan," I was puzzled. I did not think the Japanese would change their rigid attitude that easily with the visit of the second-highest-ranking officer to Japan.

It was not until I saw Adm. William Fallon on TV that I realized why. His composure and how he presented himself was striking. His sincerity was obvious, even through TV sets. Sometimes just watching the person is enough to know what he has inside. Tears came down my cheek when I saw him bow in front of family members of the missing. One person can have the power to change the sentiment of a whole nation.

The same day, I heard the news that Cmdr. Scott Waddle visited the Japanese Consulate in Honolulu and apologized, against his lawyer’s advice. It was more news that would surely move the Japanese.

That is why I was so disappointed to learn about Waddle’s interview with People magazine because I am afraid it will have a negative effect. Enough to even reverse the amicable atmosphere that two courageous men created a few days ago.

Akemi Kominami Murphy

Globalization foes seek peaceful protest

Thank you for writing about Seiji Naya in a recent editorial. I did not know about him, his current position or his background with the Asia Development Bank. I now feel more hopeful about the ADB meeting here.

Although some who protest meetings of international monetary organizations may have an "anti-globalization" agenda, many individuals and the grass-roots organizations they represent perceive globalization as irreversible. They do not oppose globalization as such, but the present form of globalization, which they believe is unsustainable.

You are accurate when you say, "They are concerned about the impact of the global economy and industrialization on the environment, on local customs and culture, on indigenous people and on the rights of workers."

They reject the "market rules all" policies of current forms of globalization, not globalization itself. Their ultimate goal is worldwide democracy.

The mainstream media have focused on the violence of protesters in Seattle and elsewhere. Both the media and the police seem unable to distinguish between the nonviolent protesters and the violent hooligans who infiltrate the ranks of the protesters and turn what is "the right of the people peaceably to assemble" into a riot.

Therese Bissen Bard

Don’t compare Hawai‘i’s energy with Mainland’s

I was surprised to read HECO’s response to Jim Harwood’s Feb. 22 letter on renewable energy. To compare Hawai‘i with the Mainland is comparing apples and oranges.

If the Mainland had the sunny days Hawai‘i does, it would be miles ahead of us with solar. If it had the wind and the waves, it would be far more innovative than our conservative electric company. If it lived isolated from fossil fuels that have to be shipped in, it would have developed many new sources of energy to reduce its dependence on oil years ago.

The electric company should take bold and brave risks in the area of renewables. No one is asking to bank our "entire energy future on renewables." We are asking for slow incremental increases over 10 years.

With able leadership, our electric bills should be going down, not up. It is a travesty for our community to have HECO fight and testify against every renewable energy bill introduced in the state Legislature. They have already killed a bill that would have convened a governor’s advisory committee to formulate a plan to underground all utility lines in the future and call for a three-year moratorium on new 138-kilovolt lines until the committee could report its findings.

Jeremy Lam

The Hawai‘i of old is gone forevermore

I rarely write letters in response to articles published in newspapers, but the diatribe of Alani Apio in the Feb. 25 Focus section bugged me enough to do so.

It has possibly never occurred to Apio that cultures die, some of them with shuddering force and some with slow erosion. Some mutate and draw from the dying culture ideas or customs they find appealing and dump the rest.

We may applaud the demise of the culture built by German Nazis but we happily take Hitler’s idea of a people’s car: the Volkswagen. We may mourn the loss of noble cultures such as typified by the ancient Greeks, but fortunately the uncouth Romans were smart enough to keep much of the best alive. We may wax romantic about the culture of old Polynesia, but that will not bring it back. Not now, not ever.

The Hawaiian culture began to die the moment the first masted sails appeared on the horizon. It was helped along by the plentiful greed of both merchants and Hawaiian royalty. It may survive in parts and pieces. Those pieces may change meaning, they may mutate. But Hawai‘i of old is gone.

There is a new dominant culture in place. You may not like it. You may despise how it came to be. You may not want to be part of it. But it will sweep away frustrated men like Apio while waving a friendly gesture to tokens of the past. Perhaps it will outlast the mighty Roman Empire, perhaps a new, more powerful culture is in the embryo stage that will erase or absorb us.

Apio would do well to make friends with that which he cannot change rather than subtly threatening those of us who would rather not rage against an imperfect but pretty darn good culture.

Rick Bundschuh
Lawa‘i, Kaua‘i

Hawaiian programs race-based for a reason

I think John Carroll, Patrick Barrett and others who question the constitutionality of Native Hawaiian entitlements need a little history lesson. They seem to have forgotten some of the events that led to Hawai‘i becoming part of the United States of America.

It certainly was not by constitutional means. Unless you consider an armed mob of businessmen pointing weapons at a sovereign ruler and then taking over the government by force constitutional. Now these gentlemen have the nerve to challenge the constitutionality of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiian Home Lands and native gathering rights because they are race-based.

Of course these programs are race-based. They were enacted to protect whatever little land and rights the Native Hawaiian race still has left.

So what is the real purpose of these gentlemen? Is it to leave all Native Hawaiians with Hawaiian Home Land leases landless? Is it to continue the historical erosion of native cultural rights?

Maybe they see it as their manifest destiny to finish the work begun by certain early American missionaries and businessmen in the 1800s.

Matt Fallau
Hilo

Legislature is holding the line against Cayetano

Hooray for our legislators! I applaud both the Republicans and the Democrats. They are bravely trying to put some logic back into the state’s financial condition.

By stopping the tax cuts and preparing to look at the needs of the garbage men, the clerks, the inspectors, the teachers, the professors and the people of Hawai‘i, they deserve applause.Ê

As we look at their courage, we realize they are declaring war on the governor and his lack of sincerity and loss of credibility. If there is one person causing turmoil, disruption and confusion in this state, it is the governor.Ê

One man should not decide the fate, careers, livelihood and happiness of so many people. We must stand strong. We must stand together. Keep up the good work.

I. Manu Ayau
Steward, HGEA

Rene Mansho should be held accountable

How can Bob Watada of the state Campaign Spending Commission just "pardon" Rene Mansho's alleged violations by not sending them to the attorney general’s office? Instead, the commission director offers her a token fine.

Mansho allegedly committed a crime against us by violating state statutes. The City Council member touted her integrity and business acumen, among other things, during her campaign. How is it that she now claims "unintentional" ignorance to her misuse of funds?

I wish I had over $32,000 to spend on trips and other luxuries for myself and my family.

Michelle Schultz

Rep. Yonamine should serve out his term

I was impressed with state Rep. Nobu Yonamine’s contriteness and his admission of "letting my constituents and family down" for not living up to the higher standards required of public officials.

Unlike Bill Clinton (who lied when charged and now continues to behave like a leech and scoundrel), Yonamine apologized and said he would resign, although he later changed his mind.

Yonamine should indeed continue to serve his constituents. His party should support him. He has served competently for over 10 years; his recent lapse in judgment should not require his resignation. Yonamine’s skills and experience are needed, and he should serve out his term and give his constituents the option of replacing him in the next election.

A. Kakazu
Mililani

State charter schools must comply with law

The Board of Education is not "pulling back from its commitment to the charter school reform movement," as stated in the Honolulu Advertiser’s Feb 5 editorial. On the contrary, the board is very supportive of innovative measures that give parents flexibility and options in providing a quality public-school education for their children.

Although it is sometimes easy to mistake caution and prudence for "cold feet," the board would much rather risk negative editorials than the health and safety of our students and staff members.

At first blush, the New Century Charter School law may appear to be simple in that the board should approve the charters for the 25 schools and allow all of the "unanswered questions to be tackled at the school level." It is deceiving and irresponsible to assume that the implementation of this law is that simplistic, especially since only Lanikai and Wai‘alae Elementary schools are existing schools and, therefore, previously under the purview of the school board. The others are brand-new.

The law clearly states that charter schools are required to comply with laws pertaining to collective bargaining, discriminatory practices, and health and safety requirements. The board fully understands that "as long as an application is complete, the board cannot turn it down."

That is precisely where the problem lies: The applications are incomplete since the charter schools do not meet the necessary health and safety requirements. It is not unreasonable to request assurances that the proposed charter school is in compliance with applicable provisions of the law.

The board acknowledges that the drafters of the charter school law had the best of intentions; however, the complexity of this matter lies in the myriad of details and confusing and flawed provisions.

Although the New Century Charter School movement is an exciting and attractive alternative that offers a variety of educational opportunities, the board must still exercise reason, not only to avoid legal entanglements, but more importantly, to maintain the health and safety of our students.

Herbert S. Watanabe
Chairman, Board of Education

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