Letters to the Editor
LeMahieu resignation was lost opportunity
I am writing as a citizen of the state who is shocked, dismayed, nay disgusted, at the turn of events resulting in the tendered and accepted resignation of Paul LeMahieu as superintendent of education.
This man has really tried to make a difference in public education here, bringing new ideas, methods and energy to a system quagmired for years and years with "good ole boys" and outdated attitudes.
I, as a former teacher and a parent whose first child went to public school, which experience resulted in sending my second child to a private school, was encouraged that finally with Dr. LeMahieu, we might get some action, some innovation, inspiration. It didn't happen, although he tried and tried and tried.
Joan Husted, HSTA director, put it succinctly: "The difficulty is that we never seem to be able to get a job finished here." Amen! The infighting and special interest groups assure that, and if by some odd quirk of fate we get something done, it takes 20-plus years. Our children do not have that kind of time — it's their future at stake here.
So here we go again — lost opportunity — same old same old.
Christine Morgan
Let's send the right message to Mideast
Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, I have seen lots of flag-waving on houses and especially on cars and trucks. This action sends two conflicting messages to our Middle Eastern adversaries.
One is the patriotism that has come as a result of this terrible terrorist act. The second comes from the Saudi and Iraqi oil we use to drive our cars. America has accused Iraq of being a terrorist state, and Saudi oil money may have provided the initial funding for the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Am I calling for a war against these two countries? Of course not! But each one of us can do something here at home that will deprive these regimes of the funds to carry out these monstrous acts. It is very simple: Don't drive!
While difficult to achieve, this will strike fear in the Middle East far more persuasively than American aircraft carriers or helicopter gunships. And think what would happen if we persuaded our allies to also boycott oil from the Middle East.
At the very least, we can cut down on our driving and explore the use of alternative fuels.
Paul Briggs
Kane'ohe
Attack on professors was itself 'Nazi-like'
Regarding Thomas E. Stuart's Oct. 17 letter "UH educators need a lesson in freedom": I would just like to point out to Stuart the ways in which he misuses history to support his points and how he is helping the terrorists win their fight against the United States by promoting the restriction of freedom of speech in America.
Although I also support the U.S. response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, I believe Stuart is misusing history and supporting the erosion of the basic civil rights that our service people have so courageously fought for.
First off, Stuart thinks the professors who disagree with his views should be hunted down with the "return of the Congressional House Un-American Activities Committee." Such action is what the terrorists are hoping will happen in America. Radical Muslims do not like the United States for many reasons, but one is the freedom of expression we have.
To suggest that we should return to McCarthyism and the witch-hunts of people with differing views reminds me of Nazi Germany, absolute monarchy and most recently the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Mr. Stuart, the use of the word "Nazi-like" to describe the professors who support nonviolence is again a misrepresentation of history. In fact, the term would be better applied to your support of silencing those who disagree with you. The Nazis, controlled by Hitler, supported the silencing of those with differing views and did so violently. Also, the professors with their " 'blame America first' venom," as you stated, are not like the Nazis for that very reason. Nazis would never spew "blame Germany first" venom; they placed Germany above all other countries.
Craig Crisler
Kahalu'u
Profiling important to ward off terrorists
Regarding Johnny Brannon's Oct. 22 article "Military detains 2 Waikiki tourists": Might I refer you to an article in the Oct. 19 Wall Street Journal by Peggy Noonan, "Profiles Encouraged" (http:// opinionjournal.com/columnists/ pnoonan/).
With organized mass murderers on the loose in our totally open society, we are finally coming to the dawning reality that suspicious characters had better be scrutinized. That scrutiny falls to the FBI and the military, and be thankful they are doing their jobs.
J.T. Miller
House dissenter displayed courage
The talk of what we can and cannot say in the wake of Sept. 11 is truly frightening. Among those freedoms we are hell-bent to protect, isn't one of them freedom of speech? And what about that argument about what can and cannot be called courage?
In my book, Rep. Barbara Lee is the personification of the word. This middle-aged African American woman cast the lone dissenting vote against giving President Bush unlimited powers to wage war on our fellow human beings, and her life has been threatened. What is next: war on those who dissent?
Barbara Mullen
Waimanalo
Economic stimulus should target schools
The governor is asking the Legislature for $1 billion in construction money to help stimulate our economy. The state school system has a backlog of $616 million in repairs to school facilities. Why not have the construction workers do the work on the maintenance and repairs that the public schools so desperately need?
Seems like a win-win solution to two problems.
Marcia Gross
Casino gambling could return health
What's wrong with this picture?
• Las Vegas hotel occupancy is back in the 90th percentile. Honolulu hotels are in the 50th and laying off people. Las Vegas Airport has lines around the terminal. Honolulu Airport is deserted.
• Interisland cruise lines go bankrupt.
• The governor and his friends "beg" the Japanese to return.
Where are the "do-gooders" who, in their minority, refuse to let the majority have a say on casino gambling? Are they offering unemployment money to those who are not working now because of their minority beliefs?
Vote for casino gambling.
Thomas E. Herman
'Aiea
Laid-off working class ready to roll up sleeves
The Oct. 17 article by Dan Nakaso listed scary numbers of unemployed and increased homelessness and substance-abuse problems resulting from the new wave of pain, fear and no money. "Life goes on," says Bob Krauss, looking at the beautiful world around us, the flip side of despair, on the same Advertiser page.
The healing side of the paralysis and humility of no work for the working class is to provide work and restore dignity. Social service officials know this. Yet, some of the suggestions offered legislators were unbelievable. None involved work. One involved creating more beach room for our homeless by changing our laws. (Move over, tourists!)
The massive clean-up of the Leeward Coast just began. Parts of Wai'anae are still seas of empty, rubbish-riddled lots and areas of mattresses, refrigerators, broken furniture, tires and trash. Underneath it all, there is great beauty. A lot of good men need work and want it. Hire them to restore our land.
If up to $400,000 was needed on Oct. 17 to help the Hawai'i Foodbank, don't worry. Workingmen will put rice in their own children's mouths. $800,000 needed for anticipated abuse problems? Men who work hard are too tired to mess around.
Janet Powell
Wai'anae
Cruise ship workers badly underestimated
I want to salute the American Classic employees who demonstrated the aloha spirit to the end, despite having been kept at sea — both literally and figuratively — for fear that they would jump ship and not perform their duties onboard. The Mainland owners of the line badly underestimated their Island employees.
I also feel sorry for the passengers, especially those whose monies were paid up front and will never get to take what was, no doubt, to be the trip of their dreams. Suggesting that credit card companies make refunds is a cheap shot: asking other entities to sustain losses for an insolvent company.
As a Big Island resident, I seem to recall concessions were made to American Classic and improvements made to docking facilities, at state expense, to ensure the benefit of tourist dollars spent onshore.
Not only is this a coup de grace to Hawai'i's economy at an ill-timed moment, but it leads me to wonder just what exorbitant salaries and perks continue to be received by American Classic executives. Stranded personnel should at least have their fares home paid.
Victoria C. Hoagland
Ocean View, Big Island
Put stadium security into proper perspective
A few of my friends have just returned from New York and have viewed the terrible destruction of the World Trade Center firsthand. They all said it was an eye-opener and something they will never, ever forget. It's been well past a month since that tragedy, and you can smell the smoke from the fires that are still burning.
Upon their return, they joined the rest of the gang for a tailgate party at Aloha Stadium. An hour before kickoff, some of the guys were sitting around and grumbling about the new security policies and wondering if it was just a ploy to stop us from sneaking in food and a little extra beer.
At that point, one friend said, "Gee, I wonder if the people in the World Trade Center or on the airplanes that crashed into them would be griping about added security policies or people checking their bags?"
No one said a word. We all started walking toward the stadium, happy that we were still around to watch a Saturday football game and our favorite team beat the pants off its opponents.
James Omoto
The time is perfect to offer military discounts
There have been many ideas presented in this forum in recent days, all with an eye toward helping Hawai'i work for economic recovery. The one recurring theme is that Hawai'i needs to look for ways to not be so dependent on tourism. It is the one thing that unites almost every faction here.
It is also agreed that any solution will take time. In the meantime, airlines are flying with cabins not filled. The hotels are running at just a fraction of their capacities. Waikiki Beach bears a striking resemblance to the less-crowded beaches on the Windward side. The people who work in the industry are being laid off in record numbers. The politicians and business leaders are scrambling to find ways to reassure people on the Mainland and in other countries that it is safe to fly, safe to come to Hawai'i.
There is another large industry in Hawai'i. An industry that is, in fact, building up in this time of downsizing and belt-tightening. There is a large population in these Islands who will not be losing their jobs and that have a guaranteed income. These are the men and women of the U.S. military.
The military and their families are used to living on strict budgets and will go anywhere they can get a "deal" or a bargain. Their budgets also prevent them from enjoying the many natural wonders and delights here in paradise. Granted, many tourist attractions offer the same kama'aina discounts to military, but more could be done. There is a huge gap in marketing to this very large group of people.
Why not take this opportunity of empty tourist attractions and slow retail times to combine our need for economic recovery and our gratitude to these men and women who sacrifice daily to protect our freedoms? Why not make it economically feasible for them to spend a weekend in Waikiki? Why not give them a bottom-line dollar reason to shop retail off base? Why not offer them opportunities to visit other islands at discounted rates? Why not even offer them discounted opportunities to travel home to the Mainland to visit their families?
Gerri Williams
Kailua
