Letters to the Editor
American Classic bankruptcy predictable
The bankruptcy of American Classic Voyages and the shutting down of its local subsidiaries, American-Hawai'i Cruises and the United States Lines, was predictable.
Eventual failure is the only possible outcome when a company must resort to sucking up to ego-driven, greedy politicians for the passing of protectionist, anti-competitive and, I dare say, anti-American legislation to keep them in business.
Waiving, amending or repealing currently restrictive legislation would easily result in the replacement of state revenue and jobs lost because of the demise of American Classic Voyages. Foreign cruise lines should immediately be allowed to operate unrestricted cruises, including onboard gambling, within U.S. waters in and around the State of Hawai'i, subject, of course, to the paying of reasonable fees to the state for these privileges.
This action would make a real difference in the state's economy as opposed to the politically motivated fluff the governor is pursuing.
Jack M. Schmidt Jr.
Kailua
Trask's comments were inappropriate
Haunani-Kay Trask and her liberal supporters are trying to draw an inappropriate parallel between Sept. 11 and U.S. foreign policy.
Any village idiot knows that our foreign policy has been at times unfair or unjust, just like every other country's. However, the point of Sept. 11 is that no grievance, and no cause, can justify a blatant and cruel attack on innocent civilians.
To call for a closer look at our policies at this time, and a refrain from reprisal, hands the terrorists a victory — it is exactly what the terrorists wanted.
Apparently while most Americans are hanging up American flags, Trask and the pacifists prefer to hang up a white flag.
Jon Clark
Where was the story about protest at UH?
I am surprised and disappointed that The Advertiser did not cover the protest at the University of Hawai'i against U.S. action in Afghanistan. I trust this is not an attempt to suppress the news.
Many readers may not know that Professors Haunani-Kay Trask and Susan Hippensteele offered to debate Gov. Ben Cayetano on Middle East issues (after he and others criticized them) and were turned down. A debate is never inappropriate in a democracy.
Community leaders should be open to listening to their constituents' points of view and should have been the ones to initiate a debate. I am sure there are many, like me, who want more information and discussion at this critical time.
Teresa Mansson
Kailua
Blaming attacks on colonialism is warped
I am compelled to respond to a recent letter from Jonathan Osorio and the rest of his University of Hawai'i like-minded cohorts. His criticism suggests that we brought terrorism onto ourselves by our "colonialistic" practices and oppressive policies to so-called Third World nations.
These are not the issues that drive Osama bin Laden and those like him. Our open society, which gives us all the opportunity of free speech, religion and culture, is an abomination to the terrorists' warped world view. Their motives are not the academic rhetoric Osorio so easily espouses. Plain and simple, they are relentlessly seeking our demise. To suggest otherwise is incomprehensible.
Finally, I wonder if Osorio's comments will provide solace to the families of 5,000 or more fellow Americans who perished that fateful day.
Robert John Kalani Reed
Hawaiians' history underlines problem
The Oct. 25 letter by J. Martinez is an example of the point Haunani-Kay Trask makes. Martinez says he (or she) has it good in America. Well, let's take a look at how Hawaiians have it.
Hawaiians have the worst socio-economic statistics in Hawai'i. Their constitutionally elected government was "illegally" overthrown and stolen. Their culture and lifestyle were altered. Their lands were stolen. They die first and face extinction in their own homeland.
They have gotten an "apology" from the United States for the violations of treaties, international laws and conventions, but nothing else.
Nearly 20,000 of them still wait for land on a Hawaiian Homelands list that was created in 1920.
It seems clear that Americans do not understand why many people are angry at them, and this goes directly to the points Trask makes.
Steve Tayama
Harris doing his job during this crisis
In the Oct. 23 front-page story by Johnny Brannon regarding Mayor Jeremy Harris' visibility, the story read in part: "Since then (Sept. 11) Hawai'i has been stunned by rising unemployment, a dengue fever outbreak and anxiety over the specter of bioterrorism. The mayor has been front and center on television in the press conferences, leading some to question whether his motivations extend beyond public safety."
Who cares? From where I sit, since Sept. 11, he has done all the right things. Whether they be politically motivated or not is beside the point.
Moreover, those same people who are questioning his "motives" are the same ones who would be calling for his head were he not so "visible."
Tom Gartner
Mililani
We aren't justified in killing innocents
Regarding David Shapiro's Oct. 24 commentary "It's a time for punishment": I have heard the example before of someone breaking into your home and killing your family, and the question, "What would you do, just stand there and let him continue killing them?" I think the answer for most people would be no. But I don't think that example fits the present scenario.
What if the murderer fled out of your home or apartment and was hiding in a surrounding home or apartment? Would you be justified in going into all those homes and apartments and killing people in them, to be certain you get the evil one? Would our justice system agree with that kind of action or reasoning, that "Well, at least we killed the murderer, even though it cost the lives of innocent people"?
Are the lives of innocent Americans more valuable than the lives of any other innocent people elsewhere, people who have the misfortune to live in those places where the evil murderers of the world may be hiding? Why are we justified in murdering innocent people in retaliation for a crime against us, and not understanding that innocent people elsewhere would feel the same way toward an attack on them, since they personally had nothing to do with the crime or perhaps even condemn that crime themselves?
Perhaps it is this kind of double standard or unequal justice that is promoting the determined attitude to destroy this country and fueling the fires of hatred against America.
Joan Warne
Kailua
Public should have been told about phone line cut
I am upset with the recent phone outage because Verizon apparently did not release any news of the problem.
I could not use my Internet service, nor the house phone, nor my cell phone (which is not Verizon). The 611 number did not work to report trouble. I tried the radio and the local TV stations. Still no luck.
Finally, I dialed "O," and after waiting some time, I spoke to an operator. She told me that a fiber-optic line was cut. I asked why this was not released to the news media. She said management did not want to.
I think this is the real problem. We are in the throes of a war with terrorists and, to keep panic to a minimum, the public needs to be informed, but not hyped up. All the public needed was a little bit of information. An accidentally cut fiber-optic line is something we can all easily understand.
Byron D. Hendrix
Kailua
Justice system here leaves empty feeling
Let's see if I have this right. A man who bilked the state out of $760,000 gets 10 years in prison. A man who had alcohol, cocaine and valium in his system crashes a car and kills a woman — and gets one year in prison.
Yes, that sounds like the justice system in Hawai'i. How sad.
Rev. Fr. Robert C. Kelsey
Commercial property tax cut would help all
The Oct. 26 Letter to the Editor by Suzanne Teller suggesting the mandatory reduction of food prices is totally absurd. She does not know that most supermarkets have a gross profit of 1 to 3 percent. On such a narrow profit margin, the only alternative is bankruptcy for those businesses.
The best solution would be the reduction of the real property taxes those businesses must pay for commercial real estate. Since the rates for commercial property are about 10 times the residential rates, the savings that would be passed on to the consumer would be substantial. From an economic view, ending the compounding and pyramiding effect of the real property tax would help lower the cost of living substantially for everyone.
Russel H. Yamashita
Ignoring UH halftime show was shameful
It really disappoints me that such a popular sports channel as ESPN leaves out a halftime show that was dedicated to our nation and the tragedies and triumphs it has gone through since Sept. 11.
A 175-piece marching band, 100 girls from Drill Team Hawai'i, 80 firefighters, 80 police officers, 25 cheerleaders, 40 dancers and over 35,000 fans stood proudly, and ESPN edited it out. How disappointing.
This show was created specifically because this event was going to be broadcast live nationwide. It's embarrassing that ESPN calls itself an American sports channel. Shame!
Matthew Martin
University of Hawai'i student (trumpet)
Put responsibility for DOE where it belongs
Isn't it rather appropriate that the members of the Board of Education went to the governor to apprise him of the resignation of the superintendent? It was but a few years ago that his committee on governmental reforms suggested that the BOE become an appointed board and the Department of Education be placed under the office and direction of the governor.
Wherein the questions: Who really runs the DOE? The governor? The BOE? Who is responsible for the failures or the success of the DOE?
The governor campaigns on it but really has no power as to its operation. The BOE rattles off on DOE failures but really has no solutions to the problems, and its anointed superintendent merely attempts to pacify everyone who thinks they know what is happening.
Is it not true that the DOE is part of the governor's Cabinet? Then why is this happening? "No broke — no fix"? The system has been broken for a long time, and it sorely is in need of a fix. Put the responsibility back where it belongs. The public and their Legislature deserve better.
Howard K. Oda
Waipahu
Ehime Maru families thank all who helped
To those who kindly helped us after the Ehime Maru accident:
Since the Ehime Maru accident in February, we have been separated from our beloved family members; and, after eight months, we were finally able to see them again and bid them farewell. When we think of the other family members of the one who has not yet been found, we have rather complex feelings and pray that their loved one will be found soon.
We would like to express our feelings of appreciation to those who were so kind to us while we were here. When we were so saddened after the accident, many people helped and supported us — the volunteers, the people of the Ehime Maru Foundation, the State of Hawai'i, the City and County of Honolulu, the consulate general of Japan at Honolulu — from all of them we received their warmhearted support.
Also, the divers who worked in dangerous and difficult conditions, all the people from the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, those who were engaged in the lifting and searching operations, the Japan Self-Defense Force with the Chihaya and the people of Kairei — all have worked earnestly and continuously around the clock to return our beloved family members to us.
Although we cannot name them individually, we would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one who went out of his way to try to ease our pain.
Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to the governments of both the United States and Japan for their generous support.
Thank you very much.
From the representatives of the families whose family members were recovered.
Kazuteru Segawa
Mitsunori Nomoto
Miyako Sakashima
Otoyoshi Furuya
Chihoko Nishida
