Letters to the Editor
Parents should have say in minor's abortion
It is insane to say a minor doesn't need parental consent to have a surgical procedure — abortion — done. Parental consent is required for any other operation performed on a minor.
But a minor is free and clear to have the operation without parental consent.
An abortion hurts the family — and the girl involved. The ACLU and Planned Parenthood don't care about the pain and suffering of the girl or her family. For the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, it's not about the law; it's about one less human being in this world.
Joseph Sardinha III
Waialua
Abortion easier to get than driver's permit
If you're a minor in Hawai'i, it's easier to get an abortion than it is a driver's permit.
To get a driver's permit, my stepson needed both parents' signature on the application. His mother's signature had to be notarized because she lives out of state. A birth certificate and Social Security card were also required, along with a copy of his parents' divorce papers — including proof that his mother was remarried, since her name is now different from his. Only after jumping through all these hoops was he allowed to take the test for his permit.
To get an abortion, though, no parental consent is needed — or so it will be if Planned Parenthood and the ACLU have their way.
Give me a break.
Maureen Purington
Kailua
Administration must release information
In the realm of labor law, an employer is not required to accede to financial demands made by the union that represents its employees. However, when that employer bases its refusal on an alleged inability to pay but refuses to support that contention by opening its books upon the union's demand, it is deemed to have bargained in bad faith, in violation of federal law.
In the same fashion, when government policy-makers fashion policy based on conversations with interested parties but refuse to disclose with whom they had those conversations and some details of them and refuse to disclose who was denied such access, they deal in bad faith with both Congress and the American people.
The president and vice president should rethink their determination to deny the GAO information concerning the meetings of the Energy Task Force lest they be held to have dealt in bad faith with Congress and the people whom they were elected to represent.
Michael O. Miller
NLRB deputy chief administrative law judge (retired)
Don't pass a law against my speech
I completely agree with Professor Chris Iijima and Bill Hoshijo and the others at the "Hate Language & Its Consequences" forum, as reported on Jan. 17. They recommend that we pass laws against speech meant to ridicule others or make them feel or look bad in the eyes of others.
I am so tired of hearing atheists and homosexual activists refer to people like me as "superstitious, backward, bigoted, hateful and homophobic" because I happen to believe in a Supreme Being whom I cannot see with my eyes and because I feel that homosexuality is a sin and downright unnatural.
I will be delighted when our resident atheist, Mitch Kahle, and Michael Golojuch and the other homosexual activists who have been ridiculing Christians and other people who believe in God are prosecuted and thrown in jail for their endless hateful diatribes and actions, which are meant to do nothing more than make me feel stupid, ignorant, hard-hearted and cruel. They want me to feel bad and they want other people to think I'm unkind and stupid.
I expect that Mr. Hoshijo, who is the head of the Hawai'i Civil Rights Commission, and his allies who have advocated the passage of these laws will be advocating for this during this legislative session so that we can put a stop to the hateful speech of Kahle, Golojuch and the other homosexual extremists. All power to you, Misters Hoshijo and Iijima. I can't wait to institute our theocracy and shut these atheists up once and for all.
What? I got it all wrong? It's not those guys whom you were going to go after? It was me? Well, then, I change my mind. I don't think I would like these laws after all.
Evette Shamon
Student 'field trip' wasn't appropriate
I was dismayed to read that a junior high school "field trip" to a local game emporium was interrupted by a fire. Is this an appropriate field trip for our public school students?
When I was in school, a field trip was usually to a museum to learn from exhibits that couldn't be brought to the classroom. I can only assume that the Department of Education, which is always asking for additional funds, believes that:
- Our students have too much time during the school day for academics.
- Our students, who attend school until the mid-afternoon, need additional time for recreation and it must come out of school hours.
- They are already teaching our students everything they need to know to get good jobs and become good citizens in our community.
- Playing video and other games during school time is a valid educational experience.
Really! How do these people keep their jobs?
Howard Wiener
Stairway down to ocean should be preserved
It was with special interest that I read Suzanne Roig's Feb. 4 article on the sea ladder in front of the Diamond Head Ambassador Apartments.
The original ladder was installed in late 1955 or early 1956 near the end of construction on the Ambassador project. The project was put together by my father and a couple of his associates along with their builder, a great guy named Harold Y. Ishii.
They put the ladder in place not only for the benefit of the residents of the new building, but for the entire surrounding neighborhood. The first stair-ladder was built out of steel and coated with heavy rust-resistant paint. It eventually rusted out and was replaced at least once or twice before the present stainless-steel version was installed.
Now I find it very unfortunate that a contribution that was intended to be enjoyed by many, as it certainly has been over the past 46 or 47 years, is now embroiled in the contemporary legal issues of liability and vandalism.
Hopefully the state can help find a way to preserve and maintain something as simple as a stairway down to the ocean without the adjoining residents feeling the threat of possible lawsuits or having to deal with other perceived problems. If the "Silver Stairs" ladder were removed, it would be greatly missed by many people.
Robert M. Estes
Access to Midway must be retained
As a former military resident on Midway Island, I would like to urge everyone to become aware of the situation there.
The recent decision of Midway Phoenix Corp. to discontinue caretaker status of the island due to conflicts with the Fish and Wildlife Service is of utmost importance. Unless a new caretaker can be found or Midway Phoenix reconsiders its pullout, the Battle of Midway could be lost this time instead of being won as it was during World War II.
Midway, in addition to being a national historical landmark, is a vital asset to many people. Its location provides for emergency aircraft landings, emergency ship dockings and emergency medical facilities. In addition, it is a beautiful place for a vacation after we Mainlanders stop in your wonderful Hawaiian Islands.
You have no doubt read many articles by now about the situation on Midway, so I will close with a plea to help us former residents of Midway keep the island open to the public.
Eugene A. Meyer
USNR (retired), Shell Rock, Iowa
'Sunset on the Beach' a smashing success
Hats off and a rousing round of applause to the city for sponsoring the smashing success of Kailua's "Sunset on the Beach" community extravaganza.
I was fortunate to be a vendor, and saw firsthand the hard-working effort of city parks personnel and volunteers performing tirelessly to ensure a beautiful setting for this event. They valiantly overcame weather obstacles and heavy maintenance responsibilities.
The readily visible presence and professionalism of the Honolulu Police Department provided top-notch safety assurances and crowd and traffic control.
The many entertainers, restaurants, promoters, volunteers, businesses and community organizations that donated their time and talents exemplified the pride of this Windward community.
The biggest shaka of all goes to Pohai Ryan and the Kailua Chamber of Commerce for their unselfish and tireless efforts in pulling off this event in such a short and hurried time frame and in promoting the town of Kailua, its people and businesses.
Let's do it again soon.
John Sedillo
Kailua
All this talk amounts to casino in Waikiki
For months, phrases like "Mayor Harris' questionable campaign contributions," "City Council land condemnation," "Kelley family's Outrigger Hotels," "good of the people," "hundreds of jobs," "free trips to the Bahamas" — all appeared in the papers.
Add two words, "Waikiki casino," and they all make perfect sense.
It appears we have been had. Anyone willing to give odds that Hawai'i's first or second casino will be on Lewers Street?
Arnold Van Fossen
Base camera debate on facts, not legend
Regarding the Feb. 6 story by Mark Sprague, ACS operations manager: The issue of traffic cameras used to enforce speed limits deserves an adult conversation based on "law and fact" rather than "legend and fable."
To address the people of Hawai'i in such a manner seems condescending.
Andrew Lee
Traffic cameras don't isolate bad driving
Accidents produce insurance claims, not speeding tickets. Tickets are supposed to indicate dangerous drivers to the insurance company.
In the days of officer discretion, dangerous drivers could be distinguished from drivers moving with the traffic flow. Now they cannot.
Insurance companies in Hawai'i are using an obsolete indicator. They should be forced to stop. Forcing this should be part of the traffic cam sales pitch and part of the controlling legislation.
Rusty Wright
Nothing would change
The real moral of Mark Sprague's story (Letters, Feb. 6) is that if the camera van took a picture of Johnny and Calvin Talivan's license plate, the ACS would get its fee, there would still be five people dead, and the two punks would walk away.
Bill Miller
Chinese theater role a rare opportunity
I am a senior at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in the department of theatre and dance and will be performing the role of Qin Xianglian in Kennedy Theatre's upcoming Jingju (Beijing/Peking Opera) production.
We are currently in the final week of rehearsals for the English-language world premiere of "Judge Bao and the Case of Qin Xianglian."
Over a period of six months, our cast of about 60 students has truly become a company, and I have greatly enjoyed this process, training with students from around the world.
Through this program, I have had the rare opportunity to study and work closely with professional Jingju performers from China's Jiangsu Province Beijing Opera Co. Performing in Asian theater productions has had a profound influence on me as an artist. My involvement with "Judge Bao and the Case of Qin Xianglian" has been a highlight in my education and an experience that will live with me forever.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of studying Asian theater is that the education we receive extends far beyond the stage. Through my study of this art form, I have gained greater understanding and appreciation for Chinese culture.
I hope the University of Hawai'i will place this program among its top priorities. I am proud to have been a part of a program that honors Hawai'i's cultural heritage in this way, and I urge the community not to miss this unique and beautiful production.
Cassandra Wormser
Bus drivers patient with Canadian visitors
As yearly visitors to your great city, and now wheelchair riders, we really appreciate your kind and patient bus drivers. Nothing is too much trouble.
I hope we can come for many years. Thank you. We love the circle-island ride.
Jim & June Waller
British Columbia, Canada
