Posted on: Friday, October 11, 2002

Letters to the Editor

Hirono, Lingle should accentuate the positive

The theme of the gubernatorial race this year has been "a change in government." I think Mazie Hirono and Linda Lingle need to change. The commercials they have been running are only tearing each other down.

They state that the other has done nothing, when in fact, both candidates have notable amounts of government experience.

I think they should focus on the positive aspects of the race. Things such as: what they will do about restoring trust in government and addressing crime in our state, just to name two. The negative aspect that their campaigns are implying is not necessary.

Rachael Duncan
9th grade, Kailua homeschool student

We should facilitate transition to English

In reference to your Oct. 7 story about Hawai'i's foot-dragging on complying with a federal executive order to cater to residents who speak foreign languages: Rather than accommodate the languages of immigrants, let's accommodate immigrants who want to learn our language. Spend the money instead on English teachers and assist immigrants in becoming assimilated.

Our tradition is not to serve as a holding pen for competing cultures in a "Tower of Babel" where people can't even understand each other. It's to facilitate the road to citizenship for those who come here with an honest and eager desire to become Americans.

If they are not willing to embrace our culture and our language, then we welcome their tourism but wish them well as they leave us and go home to their own lands where they will have no problem speaking their own languages.

For the life of me, I can't understand why our government officials can't come to grips with a very critical concept: This is America. We speak English here.

L.E. Harris

Natatorium beach park makes eminent sense

Having testified many times over the past few years concerning the health hazards of the city's proposed Natatorium restoration, I read with interest Rick Bernstein's proposal in the Oct. 6 Advertiser for reconstructing the Natatorium site.

Bernstein's proposal for a Natatorium beach park, which includes a 500-meter swimming course and volleyball courts, is creative, practical and long overdue.

I hope the mayor and City Council will move quickly to implement this kind of solution so we can remove a Waikiki eyesore of long standing and a problem that has vexed the community for years.

Bernstein's proposal serves to honor the original purpose of the site as well as provide local residents and visitors with a new beach and swimming venue.

I look forward to watching the first international beach volleyball competition in the near future.

Gordon Edlin
Kane'ohe

TV commentator put foot into mouth

I was watching on television the Senior PGA Turtle Bay Championship at Turtle Bay's Palmer Course, and was disappointed in a remark made by commentator Mark Rohlfing, who referred to that golf course as being the best on this island. My personal preference is Ko'olau Golf Club, but that is beside the point.

Why would a member of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, who is representative of all golf courses in Hawai'i, place one golf course above another on a national telecast? What is his agenda? Why would he make such an uncalled for remark?

Carlino Giampolo

Parents responsible for teen song oversight

This is in response to Stephen Alcoran's Sept. 24 letter about TV shows and rap songs harming children.

I find that some of today's music may have some obscenity in it, but you cannot entirely blame the media for the actions of young people in today's society.

Parents are ultimately responsible for what their children watch on television and listen to on the radio. Parents should set an example for their young because children usually emulate what they see.

Many parents often use the media as a "babysitter" for their children because it is the easy way out. For every hour of cartoons viewed, 32 acts of violence occur. You cannot entirely blame the media for a child's behavior, but rather the parents who are allowing their children to view such violence.

The actions teenagers may take according to the media they view and listen to are their choice. But not all teens will emulate what media portray. My friends and I listen to artists like Eminem; however, we do not lack morals, discipline and a conscience; we are able to separate reality from entertainment.

Let's put the blame where it truly belongs and not take the easy way out by blaming the corporate media. It is always easier to blame someone or something other than yourself.

Jenny Yamasaki
Roosevelt High School

Reuse the expensive bronze nameplate

The matter will not stay at rest.

Oh, Gov. Cayetano, what did you do with the expensive bronze Harano nameplate that you pulled down from the H-3 tunnels? Does the honorable Harano name languish in exile in a dark storeroom, or did it go to the crusher?

Governor, do the right thing. At least bestow the Harano name to another public works project.

Victor Weisberger

Why so many shots?

Am I the only one wondering why HPD officers found it necessary to fire 130 shots at a truck? Don't they get any target practice or training on how to handle their weapons? Who are we to be more afraid of — criminals or trigger-happy police officers?

Cecilia A. Wahlquist

There's a better way to honor Patsy Mink

There seem to be two clearly different ways to honor the memory of Patsy Mink.

Still-living Democrats want to convince the voting public that the proper way is to vote for a person who no longer can serve.

The Mink family has given the public another option. According to The Advertiser (Oct. 2, page A7):

"Mink's family asks that donations be made to the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation for Low Income Women and Children, P.O. Box 479, Honolulu, HI 96809."

So the public has a choice: follow the self-serving advice of those whose power and control would benefit — or do something that would directly benefit those who represent Mink's core interests. Which do you believe Mink would regard as the lasting honor?

The Mink family's request deserves more attention than it has been receiving.

John C. Burgess
Kailua

Democratic leaders knew of her condition

I am embarrassed for Jerry Burris for his "Speculation dishonors Patsy Mink" Focus column of Oct. 6.

If Rep. Mink withdrew and the Democratic Party put up, say, John Waihee, there really would have been an uproar.

The existing scenario assured the seat remaining in the Democratic Party.

I believe Rep. Mink's condition was known by a select few before the primary election, notwithstanding statements to the contrary.

There was a Democrat whose hat was in the ring, Steve Tataii. He's the one hurt by the power mongers. And Burris helped them.

I'm a card-carrying Democrat of 35 years. I don't approve of the way the matter was handled by the Democrats. I will vote for Ed Case.

Lawrence Chun

Mink was a strongly left-wing politician

I knew Patsy Mink when she was first running for office. She was an exceptionally bright, charming, knowledgeable and highly ethical woman. On a personal level, she was, therefore, a wonderful person to know.

She was also a strongly left-wing politician. She never saw a product or service she did not want to tax; she never saw a tax she did not want to raise; she never saw an economic regulation she did not want to expand; she never thought of the Second Amendment without wanting to change the Supreme Court; her Title IX effort emasculated many men's collegiate sports programs only to result in an expansion of meaningless, fringe women's programs; she consistently voted against larger military appropriations; she favored boundless foreign immigration; she thought the CIA and FBI were more civil rights nuisances than integral parts of the country's security.

W.G. Corley
Lahaina, Maui

Mink represented those left behind

I first met Patsy Mink over 40 years ago as a young boy growing up in Waipahu. At that time, she lived there and represented the area in the Legislature.

One of the first things she impressed upon me was the importance of representing those in our society who have been left behind and are voiceless in the political system. She was someone who had overcome the barriers imposed on one who had grown up in a plantation community. And she was committed to helping others less fortunate.

Over the years, I have spent time listening to her and helping in her many political campaigns. She was always a champion of the poor and dispossessed. She cared deeply about issues affecting women, children and the poor. One cannot imagine a society without some of the laws she was instrumental in enacting: decent medical care for the elderly, projects to help people overcome poverty and equal access for women's participation in sports.

Patsy Mink's death should be a time to remember her for the many accomplishments and good things she did for the people of Hawai'i and the nation.

Gary Doi

Democratic Party didn't do well by public

I am appalled at the Democratic Party lately. I know that our thoughts and prayers are with Pasty Mink's family as she passed away. When it first heard that she was in the hospital, the party should have said something, even as little as "Pray for Patsy Mink." But instead it kept everything a secret by not telling the public about her health.

Second, the party should have insisted on taking her name off the ballot, even if she did recover. And only the day after the deadline to take her name off the ballot, it releases information about her health.

Finally, Sen. Daniel Inouye had the nerve to tell everyone to vote for her as a gesture of thanks for her years of service, when the right way to honor her would be a statue or a monument.

I think that the Democratic Party is showing its true colors, that it didn't care for the people. It only cared about one thing: keeping political power in Hawai'i. The Democratic Party is showing the people of Hawai'i that it will say and do anything to keep political power.

Alan Kim

U.S. rowing team paid tribute to Mink

Jamie Conway