Letters to the Editor
Bin Laden called on the wrong guy
It never ceases to amaze me how we, as a nation, always manage to band together and pull through our toughest times.
Amid the rubble, a calling card lay in the steel and broken glass. Have no doubt about it, we will call on you, whoever you are — and, as the president stated, we will not make any distinction to those who aided in this tragedy.
We should not even question as to whether we should or shouldn't. This is cut and dried. Retaliate for the sake of all those who lost their lives. Retaliate so that our calling card will leave scars so deep that no one would dare to touch us again. Retaliate so that the callers will not return our calls.
Once and for all, let's get it out of our system.
Talk is too cheap these days, and even the all-divine word of "forgiveness" is beginning to wear and tear along the seams.
Osama bin Laden, you picked on the wrong guy. Your days are numbered, and I stand behind our president.
Fran Tomi
Inconvenienced driver is too self-centered
I was disturbed to find that the military is being blamed for traffic congestion around the island.
Most Island residents recognize that with only a certain number of routes in and out of the Honolulu area, at times traffic problems do occur. What has enraged me this time is that one resident has written to both Island papers to complain about how the military mishandled the security checkpoints, and she should not have been inconvenienced in getting to work.
I can't think of any more an inconvenience than those dead or missing that were on their way to work at the World Trade Center or the Pentagon, can you? To me, that puts sitting in traffic in a whole new perspective, for I am alive to be able to do so.
A second letter writer blames our current president for the attacks, stating that if George Bush hadn't ignored all of Bill Clinton's work on Middle Eastern policy, this wouldn't have happened. Let me think back on this: Attack on World Trade Center, 1993, under Clinton's watch. Attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, 1998, under Clinton's watch. Attack on USS Cole, 2000, under Clinton's watch. Cuts in U.S. intelligence budget, 1992-2000, under Clinton's watch. I think I see a pattern developing, and it doesn't point toward President Bush.
Dana Goodman
'Ewa Beach
Offer rewards instead of military strikes
I have an idea for a win/win solution: Instead of going in with aerial strikes and other military might, we go in with money and offer substantial rewards for the delivery of terrorists. Not just in Afghanistan, but worldwide.
I'm going to try to get this message to as many places as I can — maybe you can help spread it?
Karin Ireland
Don't discriminate against Arabs, Muslims
Please, America, especially in Hawai'i, do not do to the Arab and Muslim communities what America did to Japanese Americans during World War II.
We are all Americans. Do not repeat the mistakes from the past. Don't forget, America is a country of immigrants.
Cathy Kimball
Kailua
Economic effects here will be hard
It will be some time before we fully realize what will happen to Hawai'i as a result of the "Attack on America." However, based on what happened during the Gulf War, we should be telling people to prepare for some hard times.
The economic effect will be immediate, dramatic and long term.
Over the past 10 years, corporate reserves have vanished (except big insurance). There is no safety net for a downturn. They will either sell out to buyers or try layoffs and downsizing in hope of surviving until things improve.
This time, though, expect the layoffs to hit middle management hard — those $50,000 to $60,000 salaried jobs that drive purchasing power in Hawai'i. There is just no fat left to sustain corporate staff levels.
Steve Lenzi
Remember the heroes aboard Flight 93
Pray for those aboard United Flight 93: Tom Burnett. Jeremy Glick. Jeff Krawzyck.
Pray for them and others on that plane who acted to thwart another large-scale tragedy on the ground, and ultimately died in a Pennsylvania meadow.
As we reflect on last Tuesday's events and come to grips with the challenges presented us to protect and preserve life, liberty, our very existence as a nation, let us remember these brave souls on that flight who died that fateful morning. They made the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of others on the ground.
Remember them when you are called upon to make much smaller sacrifices in the weeks, months and years ahead.
Never forget 93 — when America first fought back.
Mark R. Simonds
Ha'iku
Military retaliation would be mistake
I am so bitterly disappointed with our government, and, if the most recent polls are right, the overall public sentiment in our country in the wake of the Sept. 11 disasters ("Polls: Americans want military retaliation," Sept. 16).
The almost unanimous cry of our national leaders and of American citizens for war and military retaliation against countries that we suspect harbor terrorists, even if innocent lives are lost, sickens me.
Understandably, we as a nation are frightened and angry and deeply saddened by the terrorist attacks last week. And yes, we must find a way to be sure a disaster like this never happens here again. But if there is one lesson we should learn from all this, it is that it is always fundamentally wrong for innocent people to be killed because of broader political aims, regardless of their nationality.
We as a nation must honor the thousands of people who perished last week by showing that we are so much better than terrorists who are willing to kill civilians to prove a point. We must stand up and say, "No more innocent people will die by our hand because of Sept. 11."
I wish that our leaders would be clear-headed and not give in to the panic that is seizing our citizenry in this horrible time. Sadly, this is not the case. It is up to us to demand justice be done to the people responsible for these acts, but that no more innocent lives, American, Afghan or otherwise, be lost. We have already lost too much.
Noli Hoye
Ha'ena
Cockpits should be made entry-proof
The enormousness of heightened airport security to prevent any future similar hijacks is of unrealistic proportions.
Are we willing to pay significantly elevated prices to travel by plane for the added security measures and personnel? Are we willing to wait for two hours just to pass through the security checkpoints and then have to dump out our bags and purses in the trays when we have a pen-like object that shows up on the X-ray monitors? Should we be given plastic forks and knives during our in-flight meals?
What needs to be done is for all airlines to reconfigure their cockpits to be entry-proof. Four-inch steel doors with bolt locks can accomplish this.
Bathrooms and food should be provided to all pilots in their expanded room, and under no circumstance whatsoever should the pilots open that door until they land.
Chad Omori
Mililani
Let's take beefed-up security in stride
Security is airtight at the airports these days. Travelers are understanding and patient while their stuff and their selves are scrutinized.
Let's be prepared to make the beefed-up security something we expect and demand. We mustn't allow it to become lax over time, as has happened in the past.
And as time goes on, let's not become impatient with the security personnel. When they want to double-check a bag, instead of giving them an impatient look, smile and thank them for doing a good job — they are looking out for us.
Lisa Kim-Bryant
Kihei
Lifting Ehime Maru is Corps of Engineers job
The snapping of cables in the Navy's repeated attempts to lift the Ehime Maru is like a Keystone Cops comedy.
It reminds me of the Navy's attempts to send a rocket into orbit in Project Vanguard at Cape Canaveral back around 1960 or so. They couldn't get off the ground after repeated attempts, except to fall over. The location was facetiously renamed Cape Carnival because it was like a circus.
Success was attained when the project was turned over to the Army. It looks as if it's time for the Army Corps of Engineers to take over the job of lifting the Ehime Maru.
Ted Chernin
Coquis aren't worth disturbing the peace
Having been born and raised in Puerto Rico, I have been following the coqui controversy with much interest and understanding. Coquis and their unique sound have always been a source of pride. Part of the pride stemmed from the fact that it was understood these frogs could not grow anywhere else in the world.
As a Hawai'i resident for almost 30 years, I feel the uniqueness of our quiet nights is equally special and worth preserving. I support all efforts to eradicate coquis in Hawai'i.
Viva el coqu’ en Puerto Rico.
Bambi D'Olier
Bring back real tea; processed is terrible
There are some mighty good sales people in the iced-tea business.
I'm watching restaurant after restaurant going from good brewed tea to concentrated, out-of-a-dispenser tea that is heavy, dark and tastes as if it has branch parts in it. Soft-drink dispensers have been serving undrinkable tea for quite a while — sweetened and unsweetened. You find it in cartons at the supermarket.
We need a scientific study showing processed tea is detrimental to health. Bring back real tea, freshly brewed.
Jan Foster
Wai'anae
So what's the state doing with the money?
Let's take a look at the Hurricane Relief Fund (now obsolete). From my understanding, the fund was established by the state to help homeowners in case of a hurricane since many insurance companies dropped this coverage after Hurricane 'Iniki. Homeowners paid into this mandatory fund.
There is an average of one devastating hurricane every 10 years and that 10-year cycle is upon us. So what does the state do? It decides to back out and let private companies step back in and provide coverage.
In other words, the state gambled, then at that critical time took the money and stopped gambling. How much did it win and what is being done with the money collected from homeowners?
John Gallagher
'Ewa Beach
Slow drivers don't belong in fast lane
Regarding the Sept. 7 letter by M. Nakasone: I can't tell you how many times I have passed drivers doing 45 to 50 mph in the left lane. You are probably one of those drivers who will not stay out of the left lane, don't even do the speed limit and yet are clueless as to why they are being tailgated and passed.
Some drivers are constantly changing lanes to get around slow drivers who are spread out all over the place.
Slow drivers should stay out of the fast lane, that is, the left lane, or better yet, just stay off the freeway.
M.L. Knapp
'Ewa Beach
Advanced degrees don't make better teachers
Getting a higher degree shouldn't be the only criterion for teachers getting a raise. A master's or a doctorate in elementary education will not make one a better teacher.
Children at this level need teachers who can instruct at their level, and communicate and respond to their needs.
Teachers who plan to get a master's or doctorate may earn their degrees in administrative or educational subjects to advance themselves by becoming administrators (vice principals or principals) and not in the subject area they teach.
R.T. Shimabukuro
Dick Tomey a great addition to UH games
Dick Tomey's debut as a UH color commentator was superb. Tomey's insight and knowledge of football's subtleties truly enhanced the UH-Montana broadcast.
Tomey and Jim Leahy complemented each other well. Best wishes to Tomey, Leahy and of course the 'Bows/Warriors for a successful season.
Barry Markowitz
La'ie
