Letters to the Editor
Rank hath privilege in captain's punishment
The disciplinary action taken against the captain of the submarine that sank the Ehime Maru, killing nine innocent Japanese civilians, is an example of "white-collar crime" privilege.
Had this been a 20-years-of-service blue-collar Army NCO from Schofield veering his Humvee into nine Japanese tourists or nine local college students, I think he or she would have been court-martialed. And somebody locally would have indicted him for negligent homicide.
I also believe he wouldn't have gotten an honorable discharge either, much less being allowed to retire — even on the piddling pension of an Army enlisted person. I also got the feeling that there was some unspoken "old boy" male supremacy stuff going on among the admiral judges.
Jim Brewer
What if the sub had sunk in collision off O'ahu?
With Cmdr. Scott Waddle's Admiral's Mast past, it looks as if we can thankfully begin putting the whole sinking of the Ehime Maru behind us. But I can't help but wonder what the consequences might have been if it were the nuclear submarine Greeneville that broke up on impact and sank instead of, or in addition to, the Japanese fishing boat it collided with.
Aside from the obvious horrific situation for the crew, what type of environmental ramifications would the sinking of a nuclear sub so close to O'ahu have on Honolulu and the Hawaiian Islands? What are the worst- and best-case scenarios for such an event?
I do not think I have heard that addressed officially by the Navy. Unofficially, I have heard that we were very lucky this time. I don't really know the answer, but is it possible that the Navy owes the people of Hawai'i a big apology, too?
Gene Descalzi
Submarine's captain has suffered enough
Yes, I'll admit it's a shame the Ehime Maru lost nine lives, and yes, it was an accident. What more can be done for the Japanese?
We have heard numerous heartfelt apologies and Cmdr. Scott Waddle must resign. What else do they want?
This was an unfortunate accident, and the key word here is "accident." I'm just saddened for the Waddles. His punishment is not only to retire from a career that was his passion, but to live with this for the rest of his life. That's more punishment than any human deserves.
I do feel for the Japanese, but I'm sorry, a lot of people have suffered costly mistakes and accidents, and the only thing we can do from here is accept our mistakes and learn from them.
N.A. Fernandez
What if Japanese sub hit an American boat?
After reading in the April 23 paper about Cmdr. Scott Waddle's "letter of reprimand" and the likelihood of his securing a "lucrative civilian job," I am compelled to consider the following:
What would the American public consider to be fair punishment of a Japanese submarine commander if an American ship were accidentally rammed and sunk by a Japanese submarine, under the same circumstances as the USS Greeneville incident? Would we think it appropriate that the commander did not face a court-martial, while the families of nine innocent people grieve for their loved ones?
If the tables were turned, would not the American families file lawsuits against the Japanese commander?
Morris Kainuma
Waddle's punishment for nine deaths ridiculous
I cannot help but feel disgust and outrage at Cmdr. Scott Waddle's ridiculous "punishment."
Poor Waddle will have a nasty letter in a file somewhere and he will have to change jobs. Where does criminal negligence begin in the Navy? How many people would he have to kill to be considered guilty of negligent homicide?
I have been a responsible driver for 40 years, but I wonder what would happen to me if I drove my car a bit too fast while showing off for Mainland visitors and ran my car into a crowd of children waiting for a bus. Would a letter be enough? Even if I cried and said I was sorry, would a letter satisfy justice?
Norman F. Hallett
100th Battalion a rock during teacher strike
I am a fifth-grade teacher at Ala Wai Elementary School, and the teachers have been blessed with the use of the 100th Battalion's Veteran's Clubhouse during the unfortunate strike.
Every morning I set foot in the quiet clubhouse I was humbled and saddened. I was saddened not because we were on strike, but because I have gone through much of my life taking my freedom for granted.
I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to have listened to and interacted with these real-life heroes. They fought honorably, and I felt that honor and humility in their voices and their actions as they unselfishly showed their support of educators.
Thank you to the 100th Battalion, their spouses and all veterans who have fought for my freedom to do what I love: educate Hawai'i's children.
Reid Kuba
Don't blame Cayetano for educational mess
The HSTA would have us believe that Gov. Cayetano is to blame for the just-ended strike. What he is to blame for is not adequately articulating his position to the public.
Cayetano has had to cope with a sustained economic downturn on the heels of a sustained boom. He has had to curb the cost of government, bloated by the giveaway years of the Ariyoshi and Waihee administrations. During those years, the size of government was grossly expanded, and in negotiations, unions seemed to be given what they asked for. As a result, benefits, retirement benefits and salaries were dramatically inflated. It was "business as usual."
And what Cayetano is to blame for is not pushing the Legislature hard enough to adopt the recommendations of his blue-ribbon commission on the economy and pushing for educational reform. In spite of his failings to implement economic reform, in his years in office, Cayetano has reduced the cost of government, and in recent negotiations has achieved a realignment of wages and benefits (vacation, sick leave, pension, medical insurance), bringing wages and benefits in line with the realities of the economy and in line with those in the private sector.
But it is the HSTA that must bear the "blame" for the strike. Over the years, the HSTA has failed to adequately assess the economic realities and their impact on the educational system. The HSTA has fought educational reform, adamantly opposed competency testing for teachers and has continued to insist on pay increases based on seniority rather than merit.
In doing so, the HSTA has fostered the general malaise of the educational system, and has failed to play a role in improving the quality of education of our children.
Peter Bianchi
Democratic machine destroying education
I am a life-long and loyal member of the Democratic Party. I have always believed that Democrats stood for the principles of equality and fair dealing for all people and that they best represented the interests of the working class.
I am also a college educator, and I have always believed the social ideas fostered in the university were best realized by the principles of the Democratic Party.
But I state unequivocally that I will not vote for another Democratic candidate until we have a genuine two-party system in this state. I urge others, particularly other educators, to do the same. I am convinced that the Democratic machine dominating local government is responsible for the crisis in our public school system.
One man, consumed with his own power, is single-handedly destroying public education in this state. With the public education strikes he precipitated, he may simultaneously be destroying the state economy as well.
This is, in my opinion, a direct result of the single-party machine that got Ben Cayetano elected governor. As citizens, we should do what we can to destroy that machine.
After witnessing the tremendous energy generated by the people recently, I am convinced we have the power to do that.
Joan D. Peters
Wai'anae
Harris should have kept quiet on Mansho
Oh, the irony. Mayor Jeremy Harris, who just six months after being re-elected to a four-year term announced he would serve less than two years of the term so he could run for governor, believes it would be disruptive to the City Council for Mansho to be recalled in the middle of her term.
I guess having to replace the mayor in the middle of his term is not disruptive? If her constituents feel sufficiently disenfranchised, they will recall her; if not, they won't.
How temporary-mayor/governor-hopeful Harris could possibly feel it is appropriate for him to inject himself into this issue is beyond the scope of comprehension.
Mike Blackwell
Mansho punishment didn't match crime
I unfortunately do not live in Rene Mansho's City Council district, so I cannot sign the recall petition and help vote her out of office.
However, I see the recall as an important step by the people of her district to clearly levy their sanction for her violations of law and ethics — sanctions not satisfactorily done by the state Campaign Spending Commission nor by the city ethics violation process.
The recall of Mansho is a collective action against a system that is not working to clear out those who rip off the taxpayers.
The Campaign Spending Commission has allowed her to pay back some of the misused campaign money as a fine, but not to the contributors, who should have had the unused money returned to them in the first place. The $40,000 fine merely transferred the money to Campaign Spending coffers, and she avoided criminal prosecution for the extreme violations.
A good system would have criminally prosecuted her for the wrongdoing and required complete restitution of all the monies misused. And remember, much of the restitution comes from the funds she gained by illegally using her position and staff of the elected office.
William E. Woods
Kalihi
Nude dancing doesn't have to scar children
I am disturbed by Kelly Hill's April 18 letter attacking Rep. Eric Hamakawa for stopping the commercial sexual exploitation bill.
I am a state STD counselor and know something about teens and sex. I am also the mother of a girl who started working in a strip club at age 17.
When I found out about my daughter's new job, I was worried and concerned, but things worked out fine. My daughter had a good experience working as a nude dancer. She made more money doing this than she would have flipping burgers. She was happy, and that made me happy.
Eventually she went on to other things. She is still doing fine. She isn't angry or emotionally damaged. Perhaps that's because I taught my daughter to be unashamed of sex and her body.
Hill stated that such things as nude dancing and erotic massage are not covered under current laws. Why should they be? If someone hurts someone, we should be concerned, but if not, we don't need Kelly Hill to tell us who should be thrown in jail. Left up to her, our fine daughters may end up in jail.
Rather than condemn Hamakawa, I applaud him.
Noreen Chun
Heroes still remain a part of our world
To the family and friends of those who lost their lives in the recent Blackhawk helicopter crash on the North Shore:
Words cannot describe the pain I know you all must feel. As a way of explanation, our son, Justin, was injured in and survived this accident (he was in the other Blackhawk). The sense of loss was real for us as well, until we found out that he had indeed survived.
Our prayers are with you, and not a day goes by without thinking of the great sacrifice your sons and husband were called on to make.
Many outside the military don't understand that there are still heroes in the world. I have always known that and will never forget to remind those I meet each day that they do yet exist.
My family and I have been privileged to meet a few of them because of this unfortunate accident, and we will forever be indebted to them and your loved ones for their loyalty and service to our country.
God bless you all.
Gary A. Kragenbrink and family
