Letters to the Editor
Democratic excuses are not acceptable
House Speaker Calvin Say says the reason for not convening a special session to override the governor's vetoes is that members of the majority caucus are busy with their campaigns. This is ridiculous.
It seems the Democrats have better things to do than listen to their constituents, such as focusing on their re-election campaigns. Ironically, the Democrats, who have faithfully boasted a "for the little guy" platform, are willing to let legislation die that would help some of the most economically distressed places in this state.
These vetoed bills championed throughout last session are now at the mercy of the very lawmakers who drafted and passed them. Instead of taking a stand on these bills, certain legislators feel it's better to go home and wave a sign than continue fighting for what their constituents want.
It was the GOP caucus that called for a special session to reverse the vetoes on the bills that were essential to the betterment of the Hawai'i people and the economy. If GOP members are willing to step out of their campaigns to help our voices be heard, then kudos to them.
Justin Bagnall
Kailua
Democratic Party has much to answer for
Not too long ago, Hawai'i Democratic Party Chairwoman Lorraine Akiba kicked off the 2002 Democratic Convention with the following remarks: "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the most dynamic, energized and visionary party in Hawai'i!"
Was she implying that her party's elected officials are "dynamic" as in "self-motivated" to get indicted? "Energized" as in most "eager" to obtain a good defense lawyer"? And "visionary" as in "prophetic" that with former state senator Marshall Ige's conviction on May 29 (two days before the convention), former councilwoman Rene Mansho's sentencing and current state representative Nathan Suzuki's indictment that her party is now averaging an indictment or sentencing of a public servant every 10 days?
And what is with the party leadership? Rep. Suzuki has been under intense investigation since mid-2001 and yet Democratic leaders held him in such high esteem that they made him chairman of the Committee of Legislative Management and vice chairman of tourism and agriculture. It's good to see the merit system at work in our government.
Is this the example of "building on a legacy of aloha and our core values" that she and her party espouse? Does everyone get an orange jumpsuit?
Not too long ago, Akiba called on Republicans for " ... no more smear campaigns or dirty races. ... I have the full support of Hawai'i's Democrats for clean elections." Can she offer the same thing?
Can Akiba offer to clean her own house and offer up any candidates without wrist restraints?
James P. Hardway
Imagine how it feels to not be included
I found the June 28 commentaries on the Pledge of Allegiance to be very interesting. I was surprised that they all supported the appeal of the recent decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Although I am nonreligious but a spiritualist, I do not have strong feelings either way about my child having to recite the pledge at school. I will teach her to choose her own path and faith. What I do care about are the feelings and rights of my fellow Americans, those who do not have faith in the Judeo-Christian belief of an omnipotent God.
Every religion is represented in the United States. Our citizens believe in religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam as well as Native American spiritualists, atheists and many others. Do the beliefs of these citizens matter? Has there been any consideration for their faiths and the importance of their feeling part of this nation?
Growing up in a Baptist community, I know firsthand that conventional Christians, Catholics and the sort believe that everyone who does not believe in God is wrong or misguided and that it is their job to convert all nonbelievers. This is probably why it is hard for the majority to understand or see the perception of this constitutional violation from the eyes of those of other beliefs. Yes, we see the beauty in sunrises and sunsets, but not everyone believes in their origin or their purpose.
I do not believe that the pledge should be done away with entirely, but I can understand the importance of eliminating the words "under God" to represent all of our society.
For a moment, try to imagine how if feels to be a Hindu child in school. When her classmates stand to take part in a unifying and patriotic ritual, of a country she too loves, she senses a feeling of not belonging because her "nation" is not under a "God" she or her family acknowledges or believes in.
Jacinta Brown
Stadium's AstroTurf will find new home
A June 26 letter to the editor asked the Aloha Stadium Authority: "What will be done with the almost-new AstroTurf when it is removed from the stadium?"
Engineers from R.M. Towill, a Hawai'i surveying and engineering firm hired by FieldTurf, recently conducted a geotechnical study to determine the amount of work required on the stadium subsurface in preparation for the installation of FieldTurf. FieldTurf is still awaiting the results of that study, which will determine if there is enough time to install the FieldTurf before the start of the high school football season.
In the meantime, we have started looking at ways to best use the three-year-old AstroTurf. When informed of our situation, Southwest Recreational Industries, the company that manufactures AstroTurf, notified us that it will honor a limited warranty on the AstroTurf as long as its technicians removed the turf from Aloha Stadium and installed it at a new facility.
There is a significant market for secondhand AstroTurf, but, because the turf was paid for with public monies, the turf is state property and there are laws prohibiting the sale of state property.
The most likely outcome is that the turf, once removed, will be reallocated to other state agencies. We are particularly looking at the athletic departments of our public schools, which would have no problems finding other uses for the patches of turf that would be allocated to them.
Rest assured, the turf will not be thrown into a corner to gather dust. We will continue to look for a solution that benefits the public in the end.
Eddie Hayashi
Aloha Stadium manager
School vouchers offer a better way
The Legislature will not fix the Department of Education. What can voters and parents do?
School vouchers are legal. The Supreme Court ruled that state-funded tuition vouchers do not violate the Constitution's "establishment of religion" clause. Tuition vouchers for nonreligious K-12 schools are already legal. Any policy that excludes religious K-12 schools from voucher programs would discriminate against religion relative to the materialist world view.
Vouchers are a good policy. Parents know their children better than do "experts." Professors of education, DOE education officers and other expensive experts gave us "Whole Language," "Whole Math" and other lunatic fads. Vouchers enhance parent power and reduce the power of ignorant, arrogant, greedy "experts."
Students, parents, real classroom teachers and taxpayers would gain from a policy that gives to parents the power to determine which schools, if any, shall receive the state's K-12 education subsidy. The only losers would be the nonteaching parasites who tap the DOE revenue stream and their pet politicians.
Home-school, and vote for school choice in September.
Malcolm Kirkpatrick
Postal food drive was a tremendous success
The National Association of Letter Carriers would like to express its heartfelt thanks to the people of Hawai'i once again for the tremendous support of our annual food drive on May 11.
Another state record was recorded, with a total of 319,041 pounds of food collected on the routes, surpassing last year's total by 42,791 pounds.
A grand effort was put forth by so many labor unions, postal unions and community volunteers. Even in our unstable economy since the tragic events of Sept. 11, the aloha spirit shined through again. Local folks took the time to put food donations by their mailbox in order to help those in need in their communities.
Rudy R. Salazar
Bruce McDowell
Hawaii state co-chairmen, NALC Food Drive 2002
Street construction damaging our cars
I'd like to know if whoever is tearing up all the streets surrounding Wai'alae in Kaimuki is going to replace the shocks on my car — especially coming down two-plus blocks of Sierra Drive to the 7/11 store.
The groove, cut and repaired in the pavement, winds throughout the lane so one can't straddle the rough part — and it is rough. That's just one example.
The city is damaging our cars. Where's our break?
Margo Johnson
Better media coverage of baseball needed
It seems the local sports media, especially TV, give a lot of coverage to the local summer basketball league, but completely and inexplicitly ignore the Hawai'i Summer Baseball League. Why?
I see many local boys making it big in pro baseball: Benny Agbayani, Chris Truby, Mike Fetters and Sid Fernandez, to name a few.
How many local boys make it to the NBA?
The Hawai'i Summer Baseball League showcases many of our local college and professional stars. Players like Kenny Harrison, Corey Ishigo, Robert Medieros, Freddy Kahaulua and many more have played or are still playing there, along with many future stars with possible pro careers.
Hawai'i is much more a baseball state than a basketball state. It is unimaginably ridiculous why you media folks ignore the sport that is much more successful for us here in Hawai'i. With all due respect to basketball, our Hawai'i sports stars are baseball players.
So please, cover the Hawai'i Summer Baseball League as much or more than the basketball league. It's logical.
Chuck King
