Letters to the Editor

Don't base your vote on union endorsement

I would like to know why people make such a big deal out of a union endorsement.

As a union member, not once have I heard any of my union leaders base their endorsements on the "good of the state." All I hear from them is it's "good for labor" or "good for the unions."

So I know that the "good of the state" doesn't matter to them; it's what is "good for the unions" that matters most.

So people, before you vote, inform yourselves and don't base your vote on union endorsements. Vote wisely.

Christian Ogawa
Lihu'e, Kaua'i

Hirono's work shows she is a good choice

For most of my career as an attorney, I and my entire law office represented homeowners associations (condominiums, co-ops and community associations) throughout the state of Hawai'i. While doing so, I had the opportunity to testify in the Hawai'i Legislature for a number of years about the passage of such laws.

Mazie Hirono and Neil Abercrombie were in the legislative committees that handled those particular laws. Those two representatives were the very best of all of the committee members before whom I testified.

Hirono is now running for governor, and I can't imagine a better elected official. For example, many of the condominium associations were having a very hard time passing badly needed by-law amendments to help the homeowners and residents, as the vote needed to do so was 75 percent of all members and a lot of times a sufficient number of votes was not returned. Hirono was instrumental in having the needed vote reduced to 65 percent.

She was also instrumental in the passage of a large number of other critically needed laws that significantly benefitted the citizens of Hawai'i, and her election as governor would be a good choice.

Bruce C. Dinman
Kailua

Mazie Hirono's mantra of 'change' is hollow

In the primary election, Ed Case and Andy Anderson received approximately 107,000 Democratic votes because they represented "change." Mazie Hirono received approximately 30,00 fewer votes because she represented "business as usual."

On election night, in her victory speech, Mazie emphatically embraced the "change" mantra. She vowed that her administration would be known for "change." The word was used so often, I wish I had counted or recorded her speech.

Now, nearly a month after her victory speech, I have not seen or heard of any change of plans in the issues that affect us the most this election — the economy and education. I guess we have to chalk it up as more political rhetoric.

Art Fukumoto

Change isn't easy, but we have to do it

I could write a song about the problems that face the state public education system, teach it to my students and have it published by 2014 (set the date, students will hopefully achieve proficiency in reading and math skills).

Nevertheless, our problems will still exist.

What are the problems? High-poverty campuses, low standardized test scores, bureaucratic extravagance and educational expenditures, etc., with the exception of several schools.

How are we going to fix all the problems? We cannot sit back and raise our voices in a song and dance. It is time for a change at all levels.

Calling all stakeholders: Department of Education, district offices, administration, politicians, teachers, parents and the community: Let's put our heads together and join in on saving the educational system for the sake of our students before it is too late.

However, let's admit it, "change" is a hard concept to nurture.

Joyce Choy

Mink helped to save Kalaupapa settlement

The Oct. 9 letter from Gloria Marks extolling Patsy Mink was right on. Gloria was quite thorough in describing the many contributions Patsy made to the patients of Kalaupapa. Patsy also left Kalaupapa with a legacy that will be even more appreciated in years to come.

The day is not too distant when there will be no more Hansen's disease patients in the settlement. A small group of what might be called "The Friends of Kalaupapa" foresaw the day when developers would move into that beautiful peninsula with their resort hotels and God knows what else. "Action Now" was our watchword. We had to act soon to prevent entrepreneurs from getting a foothold. ("We" meaning Gavan Daws, Bud Smyser and me, along with a couple of others.) We took our worries and concerns to Patsy Mink, who immediately set her own wheels in motion.

Patsy saw the dangers of private developers bringing an end to that gorgeous and historic landmark. It was due to her introducing appropriate legislation that Kalaupapa peninsula was designated a Historic National Park. One of the last things President Carter signed in 1980 was legislation that would forever protect that hallowed ground for the public to enjoy and appreciate.

Mahalo, Patsy, for your very significant action.

Emmett Cahill
Volcano, Big Island

Dissent must not be curbed on campus

One of our missions as educators in Hawai'i is to foster learning and open debate that engage students in critical thinking about their own lives and the world around them. Regrettably, such openness to knowledge is coming under increasing attack after Sept. 11.

There is a move toward binary and closed-minded thinking. Either you are with us or against us; you love us or leave us. A critique of our government's ever-expanding "war on terrorism" policies and its readiness to declare war on Iraq makes one anti-patriotic. A critique of Israel's policies toward the Palestinian people makes one an anti- Semite.

UH President Evan Dobelle, along with some 300 current and former university and college presidents, has recently signed an advertisement in The New York Times (Sept. 7, 2002) decrying anti-Semitic intimidation on U.S. campuses in the wake of a series of incidents. While it is commendable to decry any threats to academic integrity, I wonder why the same educators have not been equally quick to condemn the more widespread threats and attacks against Muslim and Arab students on and off campuses.

This is clearly the time for multi-sided and open debates on critical issues confronting our nation and its place in the world.

Name-calling and pigeon-holing will not further understanding or the cause of peace and justice.

Miriam Sharma
Professor, Asian Studies Program, UH-Manoa

We must protect grand jury system

Ballot Question No. 3 would change our current grand jury and preliminary hearing system. Both proceedings are well-established and invaluable protections for citizens in the Hawai'i justice system. They allow citizen participation in the formal charging of felony crimes against another citizen.

Essentially, our citizens stand between the prosecutor and police and another citizen who is accused of a crime. The grand jury and preliminary hearing embody the basic tenet of a democracy: government of the people, by the people and for the people.

The system works. As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I'm voting "no" on Ballot Question No. 3 because I want to keep the people in the process.

Verdine M. Kong
Wailuku, Maui