Letters to the Editor
Criticism of flying flag embarrassing
While some spend their time these days concerned about the message that a U.S. flag flying over a particular building sends and even writing letters to the editor calling such flag flying an act of "terrorism," other Americans, thousands of miles away, are spending their time wading through dust, jagged steel beam fragments and tons of concrete searching for remains of their countrymen and others from many countries who died on Sept. 11.
It is sad and embarrassing to me that grown adults can focus on our differences and on their own political agendas at a time when unity is paramount. The concerns that these people have may well be valid, but there is a time and a place for everything.
Don't use this horrible tragedy to further your own political or personal goals — be glad you are alive and have the freedom to express your views in public. Such a focus will then honor those who died rather than disgrace them.
Ann W. Bunch
Curbing civil liberties lets terrorists win
In the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, Attorney General John Ashcroft and the Bush administration have pushed through new laws that attack our constitutional rights as Americans ("Detention power grows," Advertiser, Sept. 19).
The new rules allow the indefinite detention or deportation of legal immigrants in this country if they are suspected of ties to terrorist regimes, even if no evidence is brought against them.
By singling out legal immigrants in this defamation of our civil liberties, our government has shamed our history as a nation of immigrants. The Bush administration has also shown what a tenuous grip we have on our legal rights as citizens.
We cannot allow our government to violate the rights and freedoms that make our country great and that make us, as Americans, free. If we allow our civil liberties to be compromised in the name of fighting terrorism, then we have let the terrorists win.
We must stand together and demand the protection of the constitutional rights of all American citizens, and the revocation of these new dangerous laws.
Eleanore Olsen
Hanalei, Kaua'i
Hawai'i stood up and was counted
On Sept. 15, we flew into Honolulu via Continental Airlines from Newark, N.J., and then onto Maui via Hawaiian Airlines. Since the recent tragedy, many people felt we were taking a chance flying so soon.
We found the airport security, Continental and Hawaiian Air employees very thorough, reassuring and comforting. We have commented in the past, this being our fifth trip to Hawai'i, that the airport security on all your islands is extremely more competent than many of the airports on the Mainland.
Many have asked us why we travel all the way from the East Coast to Hawai'i for vacation rather than the Caribbean islands, which are a much shorter flight. We always tell them not only are the Islands of Hawai'i beautiful and the weather perfect, but the culture and the people of Hawai'i are among the friendliest, warmest and most interesting we have ever met.
Hawai'i was not untouched by the tragedy of Sept. 11, and the spirit of patriotism was very evident all around the Islands. Flags were flying all over; whether they were handmade or mass produced, they flew on schools, shops, cars and small homes in the upcountry. Many shops gave us red, white and blue ribbons. Printer's Inc. on Maui sold shirts with all proceeds going to the Red Cross. Grocery stores and discount stores were taking donations for the Red Cross with your orders. People who knew we were from New Jersey expressed their concern and sympathized about the horrific day.
To anyone who didn't see and feel the love of Hawai'i in the midst of this tragedy, we can only assume they stayed in their limited space and didn't venture out to experience the real Hawai'i.
Helen and Bill Kyle
Whippany, N.J.
Food strategy needed to head off hunger here
You recently featured an article entitled "Homeless epidemic looming" in which the author noted a potential 25 percent of the population may be a few paychecks away from living on the street. With the current economic crisis and pending loss of welfare benefits, hunger and food insecurity is also an immediate health concern in Hawai'i.
State Department of Health research indicates that 18 to 20 percent of Hawai'i residents actually lived in food-insecure households in 1999-2000 despite a strong economy and high levels of federal and charitable food assistance. This means that prior to Sept. 11, an estimated 200,000 to 240,000 of our friends and neighbors — one in four children — were frequently unsure of where their next meal would come from, or if they could afford healthy foods.
Poor food intake increases risk of disease and compromises school and work performance. During this time of vast humanitarianism, our aloha spirit is needed at home to prevent hunger and higher levels of food insecurity.
While donations of food, money and volunteer time to local food pantries and foodbanks continue to be crucial to mitigating this emergency, a long-term integrated strategy is warranted to maintain a hunger-free Hawai'i.
Catherine Giles
Congressional Hunger Fellow
Shireen Zaman
Congressional Hunger Fellow
Joda Derrickson
Executive Director, Full Plate Inc.
Heightened security missed this smuggler
They say that confession is good for the soul, so here's mine: I smuggled peanuts into Aloha Stadium to enjoy during the UH football game.
My parents did not raise me to be a peanut smuggler, nor am I genetically predisposed to peanut smuggling. My goals were economic, to avoid paying $7.75 for a hot dog or $3 for a bag of peanuts. The heightened security at the stadium consisted of opening my binoculars case, thus allowing me to stash my peanuts within my folded jacket.
More than a few fans with large bags breezed through security, which led me to wonder if Aloha Stadium management was really committed to protecting the fans and players from harm, or were instead protecting the Aloha Stadium vendors by discouraging fans from bringing in their own refreshments.
It seems that Aloha Stadium has become a marketplace for cell phone companies, credit card vendors and other advertisers while, sadly, the average fan takes it on the chin — or in the wallet.
Keith Ishida
Mililani
State teachers forgoing differential bad idea
Regarding E. Hauge's suggestion that teachers with advanced degrees forego their negotiated differential to help the economy: My wife and I, as veteran teachers with master's degrees and two public-educated children in college, have a suggestion: Give us your differential and we'll spend it locally to help the economy.
You see, we're more troubled by the $200,000 to $300,000 disparity (factored over the past five years) caused by the state's refusal to pay incremental steps throughout our careers as Hawai'i teachers. We thought that the advanced-degree differential or $2,000 to $3,000 was at least some acknowledgment of our professional commitment.
Randall J. Myers
Kahuku Complex
Judith H. Myers
Sunset Beach Elementary
Armed guards aboard airliners would work
I would feel secure if the airlines employed three to five qualified and bonded armed security guards to fly with each aircraft.
The airlines could start by hiring off-duty and retired policemen, deputies, marshals, Secret Service agents, military personnel, bonded armed guards, etc. The airlines should have handguns in the cockpits for use by the air crews, mainly to defend themselves. Flight attendants who volunteer to be trained and qualified to carry concealed weapons should receive an incentive pay.
All weapons on board an aircraft should be issued and controlled by the pilot or copilot, using a well-coordinated but simple-to-execute positive ID process. An air marshal could be delegated in-flight management of all armed personnel.
Passengers should be allowed to carry aboard one see-through plastic bag provided by the airlines. Everything else should be checked in. No more rushing through the airport with carry-on bags. Air crews and flight attendants should have a priority bag check-in and pickup system. Any exception would be a weakness in the system.
Baggage check-in should be expedited. But bags should be X-rayed and sniffed by dogs after being checked in. After checking in, passengers should be available in the passenger boarding area to respond to calls to open their bags for additional hands-on inspections, if necessary. If an owner does not respond to a call, he's bumped.
There will be added costs involved. The federal government should not have to pay for everything, although it would have to inspect and oversee the process. Unfortunately, the traveler would have to bear most of the cost.
It's cheaper than the alternative.
Russel Noguchi
Pearl City
Passengers must be able to fight back
According to various news media, Osama bin Laden has stated, "We do not differentiate between those dressed in military uniforms and civilians: They are all targets in this fatwa."
If it is known that he is in fact the mastermind of this mass murder, and knowing that a hijacked aircraft will be used as a weapon of mass destruction, I propose that the pilot's compartment bulkhead and door be bulletproof. Under no circumstances is the pilot's door to be opened in-flight if there is any violence in the passenger compartment.
Now for the controversial part: Allow passengers to fight back with no penalties should injury or death result to either an unruly passenger or hijacker.
We must allow persons qualified to have a concealed-weapons permit and all qualified law enforcement personnel to have their weapons on-board with them. Those who qualify would be in addition to sky marshals. Since all weapons are concealed, the terrorists would never know who is armed, or how many are.
A classic example is Israel, where any Israeli who qualifies can carry a fully automatic assault weapon openly. This has stopped terrorists from shooting up a town square. Many have found out, by their death, that armed Israelis shoot back.
All Americans must refuse to be victims of crime and terrorism.
Vernon Okamura
Let's bring Hawai'i to rest of the world
The recent tragedies in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania have forged our country to a unified drumbeat. As painful and agonizing as these events were, we must not succumb to our own personal fears. For sure we will all struggle to rebuild consumer confidence at home and abroad. It may take weeks, months or even years.
Our leaders must challenge the norms of the past. They have to be creative and resourceful. Hawai'i must take the lead, and technology is the answer.
If the world won't come to us, then let's bring Hawai'i to the world. If the students won't come, let's bring UH, BYU and HPU to them via long-distance learning. If the patients won't come, let's bring Queen's, Straub, Kapi'olani and St. Francis to them via telemedicine and teleradiology. If the tourists won't come, let's bring paradise to them via interactive and virtual tourism.
We are all wired and ready to go. The only thing missing is the support and commitment from the leadership.
Norbert Perez
Paddler's complaint wasn't appreciated
I'm responding to Adrienne Wilson-Yamasaki's Oct. 2 incorrect viewpoint about the volunteers and officials who support Na Wahine O Ke Kai each year.
She was fortunate to join a great canoe club, Hui Lanakila, this year for the crossing. Personally, I'd like to see her cut from any crew entering this event in the future.
It's upsetting that she shared incorrect information on the wonderful rates for officials' housing that the Moloka'i Ranch provided. Allowing four to five officials to share a room resulted in more space available for the paddlers.
The dinner, provided by the organizers of this event, brought together the officials and paddlers as one. What's her problem with giving officials something to eat and drink? She received a free dinner, a medal, a T-shirt and the privilege of being part of a safe, wonderful crossing this year.
Was she joining the paddlers and officials in the early hours at Hale O Lono, singing "God Bless America"? Does she understand how important it was for all to come together during this stressful time in our lives?
I think not. She should realize that most of the volunteer officials have been and are paddlers themselves. This race is for the paddlers and it perpetuates an important part of Hawai'i's cultural history.
Joan Kaaua
Hilo
To those I offended, I want to apologize
Regarding my Oct. 2 letter: I obviously have upset quite a few of the committee members of Na Wahine O Ke Kai and the Paddling Association. I had been given mistaken information and I want to apologize to all whom I have offended.
Adrienne L. Wilson-Yamasaki
Wahiawa
