Posted on: Friday, January 24, 2003
Letters to the Editor
Our society must protect the unborn
On the 30th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, I reflected on the overwhelming fact that over 43 million unborn babies have now lost their lives to abortion.
It saddens and sickens me to think that our country, where every individual is guaranteed the right to life by our Constitution, allows this to continue.
We all need to do our part to create a society that upholds this fundamental right, especially for those without voices. Otherwise, what kind of nation are we becoming?
Mary Klipp
The voters of Hawai'i support Hawaiians
Earl Arakaki, in his Jan. 22 letter, quotes various government officials as well as a professor of anthropology in his efforts to defuse any thought of federal recognition of Hawaiians. However, he has forgotten the principle of "government by the people, for the people."
It is surprising that one government official he failed to quote was President Cleveland, who in his speech to Congress in December 1893 decried the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom by the Committee of Safety, saying "The provisional government has not assumed a republican or other constitutional form, but has remained a mere executive council or oligarchy, set up without the assent of the people. ... Indeed, the representatives of that government assert that the people of Hawai'i are unfit for popular government and frankly avow that they can be best ruled by arbitrary or despotic power."
Do the people of Hawai'i today support Hawaiians and their right to govern themselves? One need only look at the racial make-up of OHA trustees, who are voted in by the multi-ethnic people of Hawai'i, to find an answer.
Damon Senaha
State should just say no to drug testing
Regarding the Jan. 17 story by Catherine Toth, "Student drug tests debated": The state Legislature should disregard any proposal to institute drug testing in Hawai'i's public schools.
Drug testing is counterproductive, costly and ineffective. It acts as a deterrent to participation in extracurricular activities and sports, the very activities that have been shown to prevent young people from using drugs. Young people are most likely to use drugs between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., the hours of the day when extracurricular activities and athletics take place. Drug testing also costs money. Hawai'i is facing a severe budget crisis, so it is important that the state avoid implementing drug testing programs that are expensive and ineffective. Instead, the state should encourage schools and teachers to cultivate open and trusting relationships with young people so that those young people feel comfortable talking about their concerns, including drug use.
There is a growing movement around the country of parents, caregivers and educators to stop drug testing in schools and to promote safer and more effective alternative drug education and prevention programs. To learn more about this campaign, visit http://www.drugtestingfails.org/
Alexandra Cox
Nurses' strike losers will include patients
The big winner in the nurses' strike is The Queen's Medical Center. It saved millions of dollars in wages and benefits over the eight weeks of the strike, the cost of replacement nurses being covered by strike insurance.
The losers? Certainly the nurses, but they can and will move on. Already a good number have moved, many to the Mainland, to more lucrative employment and to hospitals that realize that you can't give the best of care when the largest part of your workforce, the part that gives the direct patient care, is demoralized.
The other big losers, however, are the people of Hawai'i. We lost our fight for competitive wages and benefits. So when there aren't enough nurses to care for you when you're hospitalized — it will happen, maybe not right away, but soon — you can thank the hospital administration.
John Lundholm, R.N.
World history is critical in appreciating conflicts
Math and science were two of the most prestigious courses to take during academic years in the past, and many still favor those courses as a prerequisite toward a successful career. However, I believe the current global conflicts now make it mandatory for all adults to have a basic knowledge of world history.
People should be able to appreciate and comprehend the multi-differences in culture, language, religion, philosophy and geographical boundaries of the countries that are mixed in irreversible and perennial disputes.
Not much makes sense to peace lovers without knowledge of each country's historical background. Reading our daily newspapers and weekly national magazines would become much more comprehensible and enjoyable with such a background.
Toshio Chinen
'Minority' against war actually in the majority
Regarding John Turner's Jan. 21 letter in which he states that the 500,000 protesters represent only a small minority of people who are opposed to war with Iraq: If Turner had bothered to substantiate that claim, he would have found a current poll found that 54 percent of Americans oppose war and only 43 percent favor it.
Also, within that group in favor, about half say more proof and the support of the United Nations are necessary.
The rallies also coincided with numerous rallies around the world where the antiwar sentiment is even stronger. Nice try, though.
Jeryl Lujan
Find peaceful solution
With all the brilliant minds in this world, can't they find a peaceful solution to disarm those people (Iraq and North Korea) without having to kill and maim perhaps a million people on both sides, especially where there has been no evidence so far of the other sides' having weapons of mass destruction, although we have it?
God and Allah, bless the world.
Richard Lee
Councilman Djou is on the right budget path
When it comes to the city deficit, Councilmen Gary Okino and Charles Djou clearly come at the problem from different directions.
It is apparent that Okino is attempting to preserve the high cost of government by raising taxes and user fees to cover the cost of business as usual, which is the classic Democratic approach.
Djou has a fresh business perspective that simply says conform your budget to your ability to pay.
Gov. Lingle was propelled into office on a platform of change, and I believe that Djou is calling for change in this same way. It is clear that the city must become leaner and more efficient. City core priorities need to be analyzed and possibly realigned within budget constraints, and the city must privatize to reduce costs where it can.
I personally have great confidence in this new City Council, especially with the likes of the outspoken and adroit Charles Djou on board. As the old saying goes; "It is time for good men to come to the aid of their city."
Bob Hampton
Solve traffic problem with old sugar train
Here is a suggestion regarding the traffic problem: Bring back the old sugar train. The train could follow H1 from Wai'anae to downtown and beyond. It could run every hour on the hour.
This would be a charming way to decrease traffic and also be a tourist attraction that would not destroy the beauty of our environment. Just a thought.
Michael Donahue
No help from police on biker disturbances
My wife and I moved into the Kemoo by the Lake Apartments not realizing what we had in store.
The Kemoo Farms bar next door to the apartments has turned out to be nothing but trouble. The Harley Davidson bikers, with their loud mufflers, like to sit outside our apartment complex at 2 a.m. and rev their motors so loud we think we have front-row seats to NASCAR opening day. Drunks peeling out, fighting in the parking lot and loud music are all we hear on weekends.
We have tried many times to get something done by calling the police, but all we seem to get are excuses: why it's not their problem or why they can't help. One police officer even said, "It's your own fault for moving next to a bar."
I filed a noise-violation report and gave license plate numbers of the offenders to the police officer only to find out that it probably won't make it to court.
I have lost all faith in justice. Can someone tell me what can be done about this problem?
Garrett Murray
Forget the negatives of Ala Wai dredging
Remember all the negative publicity regarding the possible noise, smell and pollution of the makai end of the Ala Wai during its dredging? I have been observing the work almost daily, and they are doing a great job.
The double scows that bring the sludge down the Ala Wai are very quiet and move slow enough that the junior sailors at both yacht clubs are in no danger. The scows stop to allow vessels coming in and out of their respective channels and are maneuverable enough to go around the Friday night racers.
The area alongside Magic Island is clean where the outrigger canoe clubs congregate, and watching the tug returning from the sea with the empty scows is almost entertaining. The operator of the tug swings the scow back and forth, then slides up alongside it, running the tug from the stern, and then deftly slips it into place alongside their temporary dock.
All in all, they are doing a great job, not only dredging a much-needed Ala Wai but doing it in such a way as to not interfere with the everyday activities that go on there.
Jim Ferris
Use your turn signal
It will not kill you to use your turn signal. It might kill you if you do not.
Think about it.
Mal Gillin
'Ruby's Law' targets quarantine
Since the issue of quarantine has been brought up at the state Legislature, various concerns have been raised regarding rabies vaccination, public safety and scientific evidence. But there is a deeper issue at hand: compassion.
When Susan Tartaglia brought her dog Ruby to Hawai'i, she was to be in quarantine for 30 days at a cost of over $600. Like most pet owners, Susan thought of Ruby as part of her family. Trained as a therapy dog, Ruby brought a seeming smile, wagging tail and so much joy to the sick and incapacitated people she visited in the hospital. That could have continued if quarantine had not killed her.
After just two weeks in the state facility, Susan noticed that Ruby had become sick. The veterinarians suspected some kind of poisoning but were unable to help her. Ruby perished. At the quarantine station, Susan was handed a tin can filled with Ruby's ashes.
Though this tragedy was avoidable, Susan had lost a dear friend. This prompted Sen. Fred Hemmings, Rep. David Pendleton and me to introduce "Ruby's Law," a bill to repeal quarantine.
The risk of rabies is virtually nonexistent. Since 1912, when Hawai'i began to run its quarantine program, it has not screened out a single case of rabies — not one case in 91 years. This is because modern science, through vaccinations developed in the 1940s, has essentially removed any rabies threat in domesticated animals.
Sweden abolished quarantine in 1994. France has none.
Once vaccinated, a pet can be cleared in the time it takes to do the paperwork. That is how it works in island nations like Japan and the United Kingdom. Both countries have updated their laws allowing pets entrance once vaccination is verified. Even Hawai'i allows immediate entrance in cases of guide dogs and service dogs. Once vaccination is verified, the animal assistant is free to go to work. Why not other pets?
Why is Hawai'i's law so antiquated? Money. Every year, 4,000 families are forced to pay up to $1,000 for quarantine. Though unnecessary, quarantine generates millions of dollars for the state. When confronted about its archaic system, the state admitted the 30-day quarantine was not needed, but still wanted to collect the money.
Any person of logic and compassion will agree that quarantine is neither fair nor needed.
It is time for Hawai'i's leaders to choose compassion instead of compulsion.
Rep. William Stonebraker
San Diego, Calif.
Drug Policy Alliance
Oakland, Calif.
Pearl City
'Ewa Beach
Hawaii Yacht Club
Kailua
R-17th Dist. (Hawai'i Kai, Kalama Valley)
