Letters to the Editor

If cutbacks needed, look at UH 'educators'

On Sept. 11, thousands of Americans and people of many other nations lost their lives due to an act of hatred. Many more are now suffering. Some Hawai'i residents are feeling the financial pinch with less income, shorter working hours or losses in jobs. The governor has spoken of the possibility of government cutbacks.

It is no secret that some of the "educators" at the University of Hawai'i have said they would be delighted to see Hawai'i free of foreign tourists, including our fellow Americans from the Mainland.

I may have a twisted way of thinking, but if the state has to cut back on spending, maybe it should eliminate the jobs of those who teach hatred, intolerance and racism to our youth in the public education system and channel our resources to those who have a more positive approach and want Hawai'i to be a place where all our people can live in harmony with the true spirit of aloha.

John Carlstrom

Put Israeli-Palestinian crisis on front burner

The irony in Trudy Rubin's Oct. 16 commentary, "Key Muslim voices are silent," was just too much.

For the vast majority of Arabs, whether they be Muslim or Christian, the key issue that infuriates them most is what they perceive as the American-financed and -endorsed slaughter of Palestinians and the theft of their land by Israel.

What about the silence of our key American leaders in public office, the entertainment industry, business and media on this ultra-sensitive and complicated issue over past decades and now? Why do they not have the courage to openly debate and educate on this key issue?

Until the Israeli-Palestinian crisis is openly explored, it won't be resolved. It will limit our ability to deal with the other key Arab American problems and continue to create fertile ground for the psycho terrorists to thrive.

Rob Hail

Hopes for better life are being thwarted

I am a 26-year-old single mother of a 4-year-old boy. I have been living in a federally subsidized housing project for nearly five years. Two years ago, I applied for HUD housing assistance (Section 8). Finally, after two years, I received approval from HUD to seek housing outside of low-income areas.

I was ecstatic for the opportunity to finally leave low-income housing. I looked forward to leaving the negativity of the housing project, and hoped that I could offer my son a healthier environment elsewhere. I have been searching for two months now. I have repeatedly been turned away simply based on assumptions about people using Section 8. Although I understand these assumptions, I can't help but feel discriminated against. I am looking to give my child a better life and a chance to see beyond the struggles of the "projects."

The rejection has almost driven me to give up hope of a better life for my son. I am normal. I work, I live and I try to provide for my family, just like everyone else. How is it that I still cannot find a home?

I just don't know what to do. My hope is that rental people will give me, or anyone like me, the chance to break the cycle. I have faith that there is someone out there who will end my struggle to fit in.

Shannan K. Gealon
Wahiawa

Hurricane Relief Fund should be returned

The Hurricane Relief Fund was established to insure homeowners should any hurricane strike Hawai'i. This fund should be used for the purpose it was intended or the monies should be returned to the insured homeowners of the state.

Any other use of the fund would amount to "bait and switch."

The Hurricane Relief Fund was established after Hurricane 'Iniki ravaged Kaua'i and parts of O'ahu. It cost the state billions of dollars to clean up the catastrophe. Since the state did not have hurricane insurance then, many homeowners were forced to pay out-of-pocket expenses for the damages their homeowners' insurance did not cover. Many of the victims of 'Iniki had to restart their lives from square one; some were forced to change their lifestyles because of an already-recessed economy.

Drew E. Kosora

Define normalcy

At the same time politicians are telling us to fly on airlines, go to work, send our children to school and don't let the terrorists stop us from acting normal, they are going into hiding. Is this normalcy?

Ronald Edmiston

What about rest of us?

Will Hawai'i be able to get financial assistance for small business that are suffering from this tragic situation? Not all of our economy is built around tourism.

Momi Beauchan
Kane'ohe