Letters to the Editor
Gov. Lingle should pardon Chocolate
Chocolate the dog should be let out of quarantine to die at home. I know all too well how it feels to lose a pet. I just lost my 9-year-old, but she at least had the option to die peacefully at home with the people who love her.
If the governor can give pardons to criminals, why can't it be done for a dog that never hurt anyone, unlike the criminals who have been released back into our society?
Chocolate can't give anyone rabies when she is sick and dying of cancer. Does Dr. Foppoli want the blood of a dog and two humans on his hands? It shouldn't take two weeks or more to find a way to release Chocolate.
With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Lingle can and should give poor Chocolate an executive pardon.
Jennie Wolfe
Eventually we'll have to stop developments
In response to Harry Saunders' Dec. 4 letter on the General Plan: How much more growth would he like to see?
O'ahu is an island. We do not have the luxury of expanding indefinitely as our population grows. Sure, we need to house the current and future generations, but statements like his are expected from a developer like Castle & Cooke. We cannot continue to freely develop houses and communities regardless of the need because eventually every piece of land will be populated, and then what kind of paradise will we have?
We have the same problem on the Windward side as populations and traffic continue to increase but available housing is almost nonexistent. More housing equals more people. More people equals more cars. More cars equals more traffic, as well as all the other ills that go along with heavily populated areas.
At some point we are going to have to say "enough" and utilize what we have now. Stop looking for the quick answers and try something that will work for the long run even if it means some of Hawai'i's children have to move away.
Kai Takayama
Kane'ohe
Dennis Kanahele didn't deserve being pardoned
The recent pardoning of Dennis Kanahele for terroristic threatening and firearms, assault and traffic violations has no basis in justice.
In the past, Mr. Kanahele's nefarious deeds have also included unlawful occupation of public lands, baseless allegations of criminal acts by a federal judge and harboring a federal fugitive.
There are many Hawaiians who dedicate their lives to the perpetuation and preservation of our culture in a pono manner. Whether cultural icons or defenders of native entitlements, these individuals seek no personal recompense other than to be accorded the same rights that our state endows to every law-abiding person.
Cultural activism versus acts that are inherently immoral stand at opposite ends of the justice spectrum and must be treated accordingly.
Under the two previous administrations, Mr. Kanahele's contemptuous actions have gained him both a long-term land lease of over 40 acres in Waimanalo and complete absolution from numerous convictions. The demoralizing effect that these actions have on law-abiding individuals is cumulative and serves to erode one's confidence in Hawai'i's justice system.
Defying public trust and safety must never equate to the types of executive rewards that Mr. Kanahele has been privileged to.
Noa Dettweiler
Waimanalo
Human interest story on the Chuns wonderful
My compliments for the exceptional article by Michael Tsai on Ron and Jeanette Chun on Dec. 4. I met Ron and Jeanette almost four years ago and I am proud to call them my friends. The Honolulu Marathon Association is indeed fortunate to have such dedicated folks on the staff.
Each time I visit Honolulu, I at least speak with the Chuns, and whenever possible I try to get together with them and their families to spend some quality time. I especially enjoyed the bit about Tommy Kono and Jeanette — you should see Jeanette's eyes sparkle with impish mischief and great respect and admiration when she speaks of Tommy.
This is the kind of human interest journalism we need more of instead of the constant barrage of gloom and doom.
Tom Holston
Virginia Beach, Va.
Interfaith community seeks campaign reform
Your Dec. 4 editorial "Legislators must revisit election finance reform" is right on target. As you state, "The ultimate reform is public financing of campaigns."
I recently had the opportunity to journey to Washington, D.C., to attend The Interfaith Alliance seminar on "Campaign Finance Reform & Faith." This two-day workshop provided an opportunity to see the success of what is termed Clean Money Campaign Finance Reform. States like Maine, Arizona, Vermont and Massachusetts have passed very successful legislation that allows the end of dependence on special-interest money.
This past month, we had three field organizers from The Interfaith Alliance visit O'ahu for the very purpose of discussing finance reform. Last week, we had Maine legislator Rep. Boyd Marley speak to the Open Table Interfaith Group on the topic of the clean election program in Maine.
Many of us in the interfaith community have pledged to join hands with the many groups that make up the Hawai'i Clean Election movement. We are convinced more than ever that having "clean elections" in Hawai'i will bring equality, fairness and integrity back into the public sector.
This is much more than a political matter; it goes to the very foundation of what is good and proper for our people. Our state needs, as you stated, "a reform-minded atmosphere."
As we move forward, let us return our state government to truly being of and by the people.
Rev. Vaughn F. Beckman
Pastor, First Christian Church
Lingle inaugural came across as arrogant
I watched and listened through the eyes and ears of a defeated Democrat to Linda Lingle's inaugural address. What I hoped for did not happen. I had hoped that Gov. Lingle would acknowledge that she is standing on the shoulders of many hard-working, well-intentioned and many times successful politicians and states-persons.
Instead, I heard an arrogant speech about the terrible mess the state is in and what a horrible government we have had until now. And how she is going to fix all that is wrong with the mess the Democrats made.
If I had been in the front row as the former governor and lieutenant governor were, along with the Democratic senators and representatives, I think I would have walked out. Gov. Lingle insulted them in every possible way. Everything she said could have been said without the "edge" of arrogance and sanctimony.
It appears to me that Republicanism comes across as "in your face" whether it is delivered by President Bush or Gov. Lingle.
I have one last word to say to Gov. Lingle: The beautiful state of Hawai'i, even with all of its challenges, is greatly indebted to the Democratic Party.
Jo An Gaines
End global warming or drought will continue
Water officials in Maui are right to worry that the current drought will continue. Drought is becoming more common and intense in many areas as a result of global warming.
As temperatures go up, so does the rate of evaporation, contributing to dry conditions. Crops, recreational lakes and our front lawns stand to suffer from more frequent drought unless necessary changes are made to stop global warming.
A continuing rise in global temperatures is the direct consequence of global warming. Rising temperatures means more frequent droughts in many areas.
Humans have created this problem by burning coal, oil and natural gas. As fossil fuels burn, they surround the world in a heat-trapping blanket of carbon dioxide, creating the rise in temperatures that we know as global warming.
Clean energy is the solution to this problem, providing the energy we need without pumping carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.
We must act now to stop global warming, and the only way to do so is to shift from fossil fuels to clean energy options that do not produce carbon dioxide such as solar and wind power. To succeed, clean energy needs the kind of government support that dirty, fossil fuel-based energy already has.
Our government must take action to prevent future droughts and stop global warming.
Melanie Schmidt
Power Shift Communications coordinator, Washington, D.C.
'You flick it, we ticket' campaign is in order
I agree with letter writer Doug Swanek's view that there is too much littering in our beautiful Islands.
I propose that we start the fight with the "you flick it, we ticket" campaign. Let's see how all the smokers who don't think twice about flicking their cigarette butts onto the sidewalk, the beach, our roadways and elsewhere like a $100 or $200 ticket for littering.
In addition to encouraging more responsible behavior, we could use their contributions to fund litter-removal efforts around the state.
Dan Melmed
Fix the deafening beeps
When will the staff at the airport either learn to hang up the intercom phone properly or when will whoever makes such decisions replace the airport phone system?
Those deafening beeps from improper hang-up procedures are painful to the ears.
William J. King
Let's also keep Christ out of Hanukkah
After reading the Dec. 5 "Let's keep Christ in Christmas" letter to the editor, I feel compelled to set some facts straight. As a former Christian and converted Jew, I have experienced the holiday season from both sides of the proverbial fence, and have a few bones to pick with L.E. Harris.
First, it really isn't a coincidence that Christmas is celebrated at this time of year. In the year 274 A.D., solstice fell on Dec. 25. Despite the beliefs about Christ that the birth stories expressed, the church did not observe a festival for the celebration of the event until the 4th century.
The date was chosen to counter the pagan festivities connected with the winter solstice; since 274 A.D., under the emperor Aurelian, Rome had celebrated the feast of the "Invincible Sun" (or Saturnalia) on Dec. 25 (Christmas, The 1995 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia). Notice that the festival was of the invincible sun, not son ... and please note the date.
Second, regarding Hanukkah being an "obscure Jewish holiday that was vaulted to the forefront because it occurred around Christmas": The first Hanukkah was celebrated a year after the incident took place in 164 B.C.E. The rabbis instituted that it be celebrated every year, and it has been celebrated ever since. The dates of Hanukkah commemorate an actual historical event that occurred in the winter months 164 years before the birth of Jesus Christ and five centuries before the institution of Christmas as a Christian holiday.
As far as Lewis' statement "It's as if there were no Christmas, and someone was busy trying to invent it — other groups, other cultures, other religions, just because it was just too good to be missed": I suggest he look to his own religious forefathers for an explanation of that, as I have often thought the same thing. Ironically, Hanukkah is a holiday that asks us to remember religious tolerance for all.
I have six lovely children who are the envy of their classmates when they tell of eight straight nights of gift-giving, singing, praying, playing dreidel and, oh yes, those delicious latkes. Imagine eight nights in which the television isn't on and isn't missed. And as an added bonus, we get to enjoy the lovely Christmas lights and music that are so prevalent this time of year.
In closing, I would just like to say, yes, by all means keep the Christ in Christmas. But for goodness' sakes, let's keep him out of Hanukkah.
Karen Aron
