Letters to the Editor
Barbers Point wrong place for homeless
Daniel Hoover wants to turn Barbers Point into a homeless shelter (Letters, March 18). Great, just what 'Ewa needs — a homeless problem.
Ala Moana Beach Park is slowly turning into a ghetto, thanks to the homeless, and families are scared to take their kids there.
Unfortunately, the state doesn't differentiate between those truly in need and bums. From what I see, there are too many bums. People will call me heartless, but the safety of my family and my property value are my first concerns.
Jim Shyer
'Ewa Beach
Nine years to correct problem not the answer
The March 15 story on the H-1 gridlock study and corrective action shows the problem is not just on the highway. Under a five-year study, the University of Hawai'i reviews the problems and comes up with needed corrective actions — corrective actions many of the drivers already knew were needed without spending five years and big bucks for the study.
Next, the Transportation Department says the changes "could" be in place within four years. Am I the only one who can see the other "gridlock"? Nine years to fix a problem is not the answer. How much will traffic increase during the years it takes to implement the changes and new traffic problems appear? Hmmm, we need another nine years to study the new problems.
One final issue: When will anyone take responsibility for fixing the H-1/H-2 merge fiasco? Obviously you cannot merge a fast and slow lane together and expect traffic to flow. No freeway merges in California are designed like this one. I think it is scheduled for correction in 2012, but I'm not holding my breath.
Al Aliment
House must also pass conflict-of-interest law
The Senate seems to be willing to clean up its act and practice some legislative ethics with the passage of SB 1606. The question is whether the House is up to the task.
SB 1606 creates a much-needed conflict-of-interest law that would require lawmakers to recuse themselves from voting on a measure that would affect them financially. The bill also asks legislators to disclose those clients from whom they receive income in excess of $25,000.
Such provisions would avoid conflict-of-interest situations as the one involving a former legislator and Bishop Estate a few years back. In this case, the legislator was receiving big bucks from Bishop Estate but was not required to say so. This bill would change that and more.
To make sure the provisions are observed, the bill proposes setting up a legislative ethics committee in both houses to act as a watchdog.
To quote Sen. Gary Hooser, the Senate has already "proven cynics wrong" by supporting the bill. Let's hope the House does the same.
Jacqueline Parnell
Fong feud with son not worth publishing
It was sorry journalism for you to print front-page stories on consecutive Sundays about the family and bankruptcy problems of Sen. Hiram Fong.
While the bankruptcy was noteworthy because of Sen. Fong's prominence, the story about his feud with his son was in very poor taste and obviously written only for titillation purposes and to sell newspapers.
I feel very bad for the senator and his family, and I wish you would print an apology to him. He deserves our sympathy and respect for his many years of service.
Steve Okano
The answer is simple: Build more prisons
Recently our friend's home was burglarized. She lost her husband to drugs, and struggles to provide for her three children on a very small welfare allowance.
They have a little one-bedroom apartment. She had nothing of much value. A broken VCR, a portable radio and various personal documents were taken. Police were called and they were surprised this apartment was broken into, saying they have never been called to this area before. I asked the police, "Why would this happen now?"
"Drugs" was the short, confident answer.
I asked, "What do you think of the 'three-strikes law'?"
The officer said, "That will be great for us and our community."
I totally agree.
We know a knife was used to rip through the door jamb of our friend's home. What if she had been home? Why must she live in fear?
A thief stealing a pizza without paying (no gun, no knife, no physical violence) is one thing.
A parole violator with a mile-long rap sheet, packing a gun in our ice-cream parlors, is potential death to us all. And so are knife-packing thieves.
Full prisons are the answer of clueless leadership. You're not listening to your employers, the people. Build more. Privatization works. Operate our city and state like a business. Don't cry "no money."
Out here in the lives of non-government employees, we get laid off, suffer pay cuts and benefit cuts, sacrifice vacation time and cancel travel plans, etc., just so our employers can stay in business. And we are held accountable for our performance versus pay.
Please do the right thing.
Melvin Matsushima
A.D. Frazier's term has been mediocre
UH athletic director Herman Frazier has been a disappointment so far.
He has been a hard man to reach because he is rarely in his office. He has allowed June Jones' contract to remain unsettled. He personally received bonuses for teams making bowl games and NCAA tournament appearances, but from what I've gathered, the coaches who are really responsible for making those things happen have not received a single dime. The scheduling of Appalachian State was laughable.
His whole term has been mediocre. The only thing he has done since he's been here is work on his Olympic duties.
Landon Olson
Two aquariums is a dumb idea
Who passes out the stupid pills at the Hawai'i state House of Representatives? Two "world-class" aquariums on O'ahu? Hey — how about another Convention Center?
Barbara Downs
Readers react to war against Saddam
9/11 terrorists were real 'brutal madmen'
In your coverage of the Hawai'i peace rally, professor James Dator, director of the UH Center for Future Studies, said: "America was indeed the vision of the future most of the world had in mind. No more. Now and forever we are seen as an arrogant, ignorant, self-righteous and utterly brutal madman intent on having his own way, through killing, regardless of the desires of anyone else."
That's odd. I could use those same words to describe the terrorists who crashed the planes into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
Those terrorists were arrogant, ignorant, self-righteous and utterly brutal madmen intent on having their own way, through killing, regardless of the desires of anyone else.
Which side is professor James Dator really on?
Paul E. Staples
Kailua
Paper should support war against dictator
Your March 24 front page looked like the Baghdad Daily News. What kind of message do you want to send? Should we retreat?
Yes, war is terrible and it demands sacrifices. But dictators have to be removed, if they are Saddam or Hitler. America needs to defend its freedom and secure our way of life, and your paper should support such action.
Dr. Klaus Wyrtki
Killing people isn't answer to terrorism
There are many of us who love our country dearly and want the United States to continue to stand for what is right and good, rather than to become a power-wielding giant.
It is sickening to see people, perhaps the same ones who would cheer at an execution, cheering as if they were watching a football game, as human lives and a beautiful country are destroyed by our weapons.
And we worry about whether or not this war will upset our plans, or interrupt our television shows, or cause us to miss a vacation flight.
I heard Garrison Keilor quote Sir Richard Burton (the explorer, not the actor), after escaping from an attack on his life in Damascus: "I find it rather flattering that they sent 300 men to try to kill me." Can you imagine how Saddam must feel that we are sending 250,000 soldiers to try to kill him? And if we "succeed" and he becomes a martyr, the terrorism will not end.
There must be a more intelligent and humane way for civilized people to resolve their differences, even when the differences are this extreme. I cannot see how destroying a country and killing innocent people is an answer to terrorism.
Barbara Grace Ripple
Protesters providing comfort to the enemy
Recent events leading to our actions in Iraq now send us a clear message that we should take a hard look at our relations with the United Nations. The divisive posture taken by France, Germany, Russia and China demonstrates the United Nation's inability to cope with a rogue nation posing a danger to us all.
President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair showed remarkable courage in jeopardizing their political careers in taking military action against the current leaders of Iraq who, by their words and actions, pose a danger to the world.
To those who are now participating in demonstrations against us in this war in Iraq, I say to you: Prior to our entry into military action, although I disagree with you, I defended your right to express your beliefs. Now that we are in a war, such actions are un-American, disloyal and provide aid and comfort to the enemy.
Francis R. Heath
Kane'ohe
'Support the troops' by protesting this war
What does "support the troops" really mean? Does it mean building and supporting international alliances with powerful and experienced countries willing to share war costs and cover our backs while at risk in a foreign land far, far away?
Does it mean working hard and compromising when necessary to build consensus with the U.N. Security Council?
Does it mean selling the war convincingly to the American people until the soldiers know their families and friends are behind them?
Or does it mean stomping out of the U.N. in a huff if we can't have our own way?
Does it mean ignoring the hundreds of thousands of demonstrators for peace at home, arresting them if they become too insistent?
Does it mean using the fact we are now suddenly at war to push Congress into passing a "spend and borrow" budget that gives more huge tax cuts to the rich, while cutting social programs?
Daniel Grantham
Ha'iku, Maui
When war starts, it's time to stop protest
When I see, read and hear about protests against our war on terrorism, I feel sorry for these people.
I feel sorry for them because they do so out of shame, not conscience. Because once the fighting starts, the time for protesting stops, and the time for supporting the troops begins.
Anyone who has served in combat knows that sinking feeling every time the news media focuses on protests back home. They know that sinking feeling because the combatant in the field is the guarantor of those very freedoms being exercised back home.
To those of you who feel the need to protest against our war on terrorism, let me ask a simple question: What have you done to stop the spread of terrorism in your neighborhood, your town or city, your state or your country? If you haven't done anything, why not do something constructive with your energy and do something about terrorism? Is protest your only means of camaraderie?
This is why I feel sorry for you. I had the honor and privilege of serving our country in the most hated of wars, the one in Vietnam. But, I've had to depend on my fellow soldiers to watch my back, as I watched theirs. That bond can never be duplicated in an anti-war protest.
The war on terrorism has begun, folks. Your demonstrations strain the already-weakened security forces we have on the homefront.
God bless America, Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
Gary Suzukawa
Master sergeant (retired)
