Letters to the Editor

Chaplin treated readers with respect and dignity

I was saddened to hear of George Chaplin's passing. At moments like this, one can't help but remember how he touched each of us in so many ways.

I first met Mr. Chaplin almost 20 years ago when I worked for the American Friends Service Committee, the Quaker-based peace and justice organization.

It was a bit intimidating to be meeting with the editor of the town's largest newspaper. However, he treated me with respect and dignity as if I were some "big shot" from downtown.

He truly believed that the media have a responsibility and obligation to present as many points of view as possible with fairness and balance. This is a timeless lesson that today's corporate-driven, profit-oriented media can surely learn from.

Rep. Roy Takumi
D-36th Dist. (Pearl City, Palisades)

Legislature must OK unannounced visits

Thank you for carrying the excellent series of articles on elder abuse. This problem needs to be brought out into the open.

My position as a concerned senior citizen is that open, unannounced inspections and better standards for caregivers would go a long way in alleviating this problem.

We need the Legislature to act on behalf of these seniors and pass the bills for unannounced inspections and better standards for caregivers.

Eugenia Woodward
Mililani

We aid, abet terrorists by curbing our rights

James Roller's Feb. 14 letter defending the "Patriot" Act got it completely wrong when he said, "The only ones who should be afraid of losing freedoms and liberties are those who intend harm against the U.S."

Ummm, no, the terrorists hate us because we enjoy those freedoms and liberties. If we abrogate the Bill of Rights, we're aiding and abetting the terrorists.

Jim Henshaw
Kailua

Moral clarity needed in deciding on Iraq

With apologies to the learned and distinguished writers on The Advertiser's Community Editorial Board who expressed their views on the threat of war in Sunday's Focus section, I was left in confusion after reading their essays.

Although it may seem simplistic, let me suggest that the debate begin by centering on the following questions: (1) What is evil? We can all agree, for example, that Hitler and slavery were evil. (2) How should or must society deal with evil, and what are the consequences in the way we respond? (3) Are Saddam and his regime evil?

I believe that without first coming together to establish some moral clarity to the great issue of the day, we will be left in confusion. Only then can we come together to understand the course of action that must be taken.

Ultimately, this is not an issue about how many tourists might be dissuaded from coming to Hawai'i in the event of war.

Tak Yoshihara
'Aiea

Widener's photograph of runner impressive

Aloha, Jeff Widener, Advertiser photographer. This is a typical case of "better late than never." I wanted you to know how impressed I was with your photograph of Eiji Kawamura of Japan getting sprayed with water during the Honolulu Marathon (Dec. 9).

That picture says it all. No need for any caption. The sheer ecstasy on his face receiving the sprays of water. What a great shot! Anyone who has ever run a marathon can especially empathize. Congratulations on a shot well done, Jeff.

Dave Thorne
Kailua

The Akaka Bill is just a seditious conspiracy

I am writing to protest Gov. Lingle's trip to Washington, D.C., to support passage of the Akaka Bill. I also want to protest the Hawai'i congressional delegation for its support of the same bill. All those who support passage of the Akaka Bill are engaged in a seditious conspiracy against the inherent sovereignty of the kanaka maoli people and the lawfully reinstated Hawaiian government of March 13, 1999.

U.S. Public Law 103-150 was passed by both houses of Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1993, to acknowledge the 100th anniversary of the Jan. 17, 1893, overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i, and to offer an apology to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the United States for the overthrow. Congress was told by Sen. Slade Gorton that "the logical consequences of this resolution would be independence."

The Akaka Bill is proof of an ongoing criminal enterprise relative to the continued misuse, abuse and disposal of the stolen government lands by elected and appointed agents of the de facto state of Hawai'i and U.S. government.

The Akaka bill is an offense against the law of nations and a seditious conspiracy against the inherent sovereignty of the lawful Hawaiian government.

James D. Kimmel
Wailuku, Maui