Letters to the Editor

Letters critical of Bush on Iraq war off base

I would like to comment on Joanne Scribner's and Rick Lloyd's letters on March 20 and March 25, respectively. Ms. Scribner states that the American people were told of "imminent danger" by the president. I don't believe that Ms. Scribner can show in any publication, or on TV, where the president ever used these words.

As for not having stockpiles of chemical weapons, remember, Ms. Scribner, Saddam buried a whole fighter jet in the desert that was recently found. As for her "rush to war" statement, she and Mr. Lloyd need to remember the 17 resolutions that Saddam agreed to with the coalition in 1992. Twelve years later cannot possibly be labeled "rush."

Mr. Lloyd mentions that Saddam was "fundamentally in compliance." Perhaps Mr. Lloyd can point out just one of the resolutions that Saddam complied with.

Both Ms. Scribner and Mr. Lloyd would do well to review the Advertiser front-page article of March 18 as the Kurds marked the 1988 attack by Saddam using chemical weapons that killed 5,000 and injured 10,000 more in Halabja. Also, Mr. Lloyd, if having scud missiles capable of striking Israel, Saudi Arabia or Kuwait is not an imminent threat to Saddam's neighbors, I don't know what would be.

Honolulu is a natural for mass-transit system

As one who has researched and published in the field of urban transportation for some 25 years, in particular in the area of international comparisons of transportation systems in cities around the world, I was very impressed by Marilyn Lee's April 15 commentary explaining the importance of rail transit to Honolulu.

Honolulu is a natural transit city. The linear form of the city, with strong centers such as downtown and Waikiki, will ensure high patronage of rail throughout the day. Being constrained on one side by the ocean and on the other side by sensitive water-catchment areas means that it is limited in its urban land availability. The resulting fairly high density of development, along a well-defined and relatively narrow corridor, makes Honolulu well suited to a high-capacity, low-land requirement transit system, and not at all well suited to road expansion.

The stations along a rail system providing high-quality, high-speed and reliable travel also become the natural focal points for compact, mixed-use development, which requires less car use.

Having been to Honolulu a few times, I have always been struck by the vibrancy and wonderful public culture of the city. Linking the city together with high-quality transit in the way Vancouver, Canada, has done through its Skytrain system will be an investment not only in urban transportation, but in the kind of land-use development that ensures that the public realm is protected and enhanced and the city increases in its public vitality, livability and economic competitiveness.

State is falling down on education responsibility

I greatly admire the parents of Moanalua and La'ie elementary schools for doing what the state government should be doing, providing textbooks for our children.

I am greatly disappointed in Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen's comment that "We hope they don't feel that it's not the state not fulfilling their obligation, but a way that they can contribute to and support their children's education."

That's absolutely ridiculous.

Of course the state is not fulfilling its obligation. The basic foundation for our education system is to provide the proper facilities, current textbooks and well-trained and motivated teachers. While the DOE may not have control over these basic items, the state government certainly does.

I am embarrassed that our state will not provide these services while our children, who are our future, suffer.

I hope the article on the lack of current textbooks gets wide dissemination throughout the nation, since that should serve as a notice to anyone who has children and is considering moving here to reconsider or to look into private schools.

Getting re-elected is Democrats' priority

Well, the Democrats who control the Legislature rushed through education reform bills so in case of a veto they wouldn't have to go into special session, which would interrupt their campaigning. That tells me that their getting re-elected is much more important than my daughter's education.

I quote from the April 16 Honolulu Advertiser: "The decision both houses made was that they didn't want to come back in July (in a special session to override the vetoes)," House Speaker Calvin Say said. Senate President Robert Bunda also said lawmakers want to avoid a special session: "They wanted to go out there and really start the campaign (for re-election)."

So, there we have it in their own words. Getting re-elected is more important than careful debate on education reform.

Legislators are biggest threat to special funds

Be wary of elected officials proposing new "special funds" as ways of protecting and safeguarding monies for specific uses. The biggest threat to these funds is from the legislators themselves.

Last year, several Honolulu City Council members were eager to raid the Hanauma Bay Special Fund for general purposes.

From The Honolulu Advertiser ("25 special funds may lose $55M under bill," April 6): "The House yesterday approved a bill that would take $55 million from 25 special funds to help balance the state's general fund," which refers to Bill 1491. Last week, Senate Bill 2525 received preliminary approval to transfer millions from the Compliance Resolution Special Fund to the general fund.

Don't be fooled in thinking special funds are like "lock boxes." Our local and state legislators have learned well from their federal counterparts. One way is to just say no to future "special funds" unless a law can be drafted that protects the monies from our legislators.

Dobelle's evaluation by regents ridiculous

The tough-talking evaluation of University of Hawai'i President Evan Dobelle by the UH Board of Regents reported by Beverly Creamer on April 3 was ridiculous in its nameless, faceless nature. President Dobelle's response was well put; the evaluation was more like intermediate-school gossip than a professional appraisal of Dobelle's performance.

The board's use of anecdotal information provided by about 20 anonymous persons to portray Dobelle's leadership is an inexplicable approach. This methodology diverges from common sense. The president's leadership capacity should be judged by people who have actually worked with him. Such words as "arrogance," "disrespect," "cronyism" and "condescending" are empty accusations when the speakers don't have the backbone to identify themselves.

I am a UH graduate who believes the school must break free from a stagnant status quo, and I believe that Evan Dobelle is the maverick administrator who is accomplishing this. A while back, I left a message at his office expressing a suggestion I had to improve the school, and he actually took the time to return my call. Such is not the action of an arrogant leader; I am not a big-shot, but the man responded to my ideas as an equal.

I do not always agree with President Dobelle, but I rest assured that my alma mater has a bright future in his hands.

Several differences in euthanasia reports

Regarding Dr. Max Botticelli's March 24 letter: There are some differences between the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law and Hawai'i's Blue Ribbon Panel. One worked for eight years vs. Hawai'i's 18 months; one voted 25-0 against physician-assisted suicide vs. 11-7 in favor of it and voluntary euthanasia; New York published "When Death Is Sought" on the Internet and in book form vs. Hawai'i's report, which is hard to find; and at least in Hawai'i the governor knew where he stood on the issue before his panel was selected.

Physician-assisted suicide stands on two supports. The first is our complete autonomy, which would preclude any sovereign God, by the way. Autonomy is not really the issue, but whether or not we have moral autonomy. The problem is that that would allow us to kill ourselves at any time for any reason we choose, and few of us believe each person is an island. We have responsibility to others and God (for the theist).

The second support is based on the relief of suffering, which is a good goal. However, in Oregon's law, there is no requirement that one be suffering to receive an assisted suicide. Who is it who is promising us that death always ends suffering?

There are many reasons we can't get enough information to evaluate Oregon's system; I'll just touch on two. In Oregon, it is common to go to one doctor after another until you find one who agrees to assist in your suicide, and the only doctor who fills out a terse report to the state is the last doctor. We don't hear from the other doctors, the patient or family members, and there is no penalty for doctors who don't report at all.

When anyone wants to end his life, he should, at the very least, be seen by a psychiatrist, but this is not a requirement, and when it is done, 5 percent of the time in 2003, the referring doctor says he is just "covering his butt." Oregon's secrecy protects doctors, not the patients who can't be interviewed after their death.

Stop complaining, start doing

All this political hubbub about education of late. It's so embroiled, so impassioned, so very American. How sad for America and for our state.

This is the land of choices. When the family car needs an oil change, we choose to service the car. When the children are hungry, we choose to make them a nutritious meal. And when our students don't measure up, we choose to do nothing except listen to the quick-fix politic-speak of candidates who would say anything in order to get or stay elected.

Why? Because it's a lot easier to vote every four years than it is to persuade our children to turn off the TV or X-Box and read a book or practice their math.

As an English teacher who's been in the profession for more than 20 years, I can testify to this fact: Not all of Hawai'i's children are "poor students." It's easy to single out the high achievers. They're the ones whose parents take them to the library regularly, discuss current events with them, and teach them how the family finances work. They are the students whose parents show up for every parent-teacher conference.

And we have outstanding teachers as well. These dedicated individuals don't look at standards and accountability as inconveniences. They welcome the challenge and the focus that No Child Left Behind and the Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards bring to their classrooms. These teachers are concerned with ensuring that all their students are learning and developing. It's not just a job to these educators, it's a calling.

Yes, we can pass the buck once again. We can vote to decentralize the Department of Education. We can elect seven school boards, or 15, or 30. But does this guarantee better schools?

In many places on the Mainland, every town has its own school board. I think you'll discover the plight of education is just as dire in many Mainland districts as it is here. Electing more school boards only further politicizes education. That means more quick fixes proposed by candidates who are desperate for your vote but who are unwilling to do anything decisive once they get into office.

We can blithely buy into more political pipe dreams. Or we can take the education of our kids personally enough to stop looking at our schools as baby-sitting services. We can spend more time with our children and grandchildren, away from the TV, with a good book or a newspaper. We can get involved enough to ensure students aren't merely attending school, but are drawn into the thrill of learning and achieving the standards.

It's time to stop looking around at who to blame for the state of education in Hawai'i. If we want better schools, we simply have to do more. Not just Linda Lingle, not just the Board of Education. Every single one of us.