Posted on: Tuesday, February 17, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Editorial condemning Lingle for trip off base

Once again, The Advertiser has shown its true Democratic roots, this time in its editorial of Feb. 14 on Gov. Lingle's trip to Iraq.

You condemn her because she "consciously misled the public" about her whereabouts and schedule when she suggested she was in Hawai'i when in fact she was en route to Iraq. You claim that now she has to "rebuild a sense of trust" with the public. Yet your editorial suggests that she should have told the public that she had no public schedule for those days or that she was off island for undisclosed reasons.

Well, what is the difference between the two approaches? Hers and yours are both deceptions. Both are designed to keep a tight security lid on the plans in progress. You just need a reason to once again put out the Democratic talking points that Republicans, i.e. Bush, Lingle, et al., always mislead the public and can't be trusted.

It is just another example of media bias from a newspaper long known for its bias against Republicans. I just wonder what would have leaked had the media known of the trip in advance? Would they have been able to keep a lid on the information? I doubt it.

We need to bring back the van cams

I just read the letter regarding California's drivers and how they obey the laws for their roadways. It is too bad the van cam program was stopped. It did what it was supposed to do: It slowed down the traffic to where it needs to be — the speed limit.

When the van cams were working, I noticed right away that people were driving the speed limit. It was so nice and less stressful and much safer.

We do live in paradise, but why the fast pace? We all need to slow down and enjoy what God has given us. When an accident happens, it's too late to be sorry.

It is very stressful knowing that when you drive onto the freeway, you have to deal with all the speeders and put yourself and your family's lives in danger. The HPD is shorthanded and can't be everywhere at the same time.

The state needs to have consequences that will show people they can't continue to speed. The longer they are delayed, the more accidents and deaths will happen. The best thing for all of us is to follow the laws and the speed limits and bring back the van cams.

Confiscate the cars from street racers

As a relative newcomer to O'ahu, I am absolutely taken aback by the number of cars I see here with racing modifications on them.

Coming from California, my wife and I have certainly seen our share of bad driving, but what is the deal with everyone racing here? It's stupid, illegal and extraordinarily dangerous. I cringe every time I have to drive on the freeways here because of the 100 percent certainty of seeing somebody driving well in excess of the speed limit, and in many cases, racing.

Furthermore, I can't believe for one second that the law here doesn't prosecute street racers by taking their vehicles and throwing them in prison with a felony charge. A speeding ticket clearly doesn't work, and stiff fines do no good, as any money they make goes right into their cars. A car is the one precious possession these low-lifes (yes, anybody who puts innocent lives in jeopardy for no apparent reason is a low-life) have, and taking them away would solve this dilemma.

Please don't misunderstand me. After only a month we can't even imagine living anywhere else — it truly is paradise. It's just hard to see such a special place be tainted by something so easily fixable.

If these racers want to pave their own private race track and take the corresponding risks, that's their issue; when they bring it onto public streets and highways, it becomes ours.

If we need to sign a petition getting these cars yanked as punishment, so be it. I'll be the first to sign.

When will we get fed up with racing?

This is insane! Four more people dead because some idiot(s) wanted to show off.

When are the people of Hawai'i going to get mad about letting a few young punks kill innocent people? How many more have to lose their lives before we can drive safely on our roads? When are the members of the Legislature going to get enough backbone to pass laws strong enough to put a stop to this carnage?

For God's sake, do something meaningful to protect law-abiding citizens.

How much more grief over racing deaths?

It happened again. I see the latest horrific racing crash on H-1 and my heart fills with sadness. This time there are four people who are gone; the pain from this one is real.

The sadness deepens even further because you and I know it's not just four lives who are gone. There are countless other victims — the families, the friends, the co-workers and the rest of us who are left to deal with this tragedy.

As I am shaken to the core thinking about the thought of burning to death, I ask myself, how much more sadness can I take?

City must represent public in its decisions

The City Council must make decisions as part of its fiduciary responsibility to its constituents in regard to the sale of Block J and proposed spending by Mayor Jeremy Harris.

Some say Block J needs to be sold because the city needs the money. But what happens after you sell off that property and find you still need money? Do you keep selling off property to fix the budget? Isn't that a Band-Aid fix? More review is needed.

As for proposals for beautification by Mayor Harris, the council members need to say stop. They should not be put in a position forcing them to accept it like the way the Harris administration shoved the city vehicle fee increase down everyone's throat on Christmas Eve (which should be rescinded and reviewed).

City dollars need to be spent on public needs that may affect health and welfare. Council members need to vote on behalf of the people, even if it means their vote against certain projects may negatively impact their campaigns. Residents need to call on their respective council representative to do the right thing.

Kamehameha trustees should focus on people

Auwe! Once again our trustees are trying to do good, but kinda missing some of the kuleana of taking care of the people.

It is wonderful that they are using the resources to build a community that can offer such high-end homes to the rich and famous. And it seems that the rich and famous flock to our verdant forests and pristine beaches and are willing to pay the very pipi'i real estate cost. It helps to build the educational coffers that have been poorly used and depleted.

But wouldn't it be nice if, along with that high-maka-maka community, our trustees also developed an affordable middle-income community where our people could not only live, but be closer to work, play and social activities as well as school? Think how wonderful it would be to leave a legacy that also rebuilt communities that functioned as originally intended — to be an extension of our families and foster civic care, concern and duty.

Motorcyclist passing on side eases traffic

Fort Weaver Road is a traffic nightmare. I sit here knowing that it will never get better. A motorcycle traveling down the side. Going slow, not on the phone, not putting on make-up, not causing a slowdown.

That can't be right, it has to stop. Yes, I was one who was stopped. It's OK, I'll get over it. I was informed by Officer Oshiro that the HPD had received a complaint that "it's not fair that some have to sit in traffic and others don't."

I guess it makes sense. It would have been better if he had told me that I was causing a slowdown, even though I wasn't.

For those of you who complained, you did what no one else could: You got the HPD on the job before the sun came up; good for you. You have stopped a lot of people from using the right side and put them back into your lane of traffic.

If you thought your drive was slow today, wait until tomorrow.

School commentary remote from reality

Whenever I attend conferences for professional improvement, I avoid sessions presented by consultants because most have proven to be remote from reality. I found Dr. Drake Beil's Feb. 8 commentary exactly that: arguments passed off as reality without deeper information.

As the Standards Implementation Design coordinator at my school this year, I am impressed by the current DOE state leadership for pressing hard for schools to make systemic changes regarding reading improvement and smaller schools based on researched practices. The goals, direction and tools are clear and define my work here at school level.

Unless change is owned by the practitioners, no amount of external change is going to improve the delivery of services. What will local school boards accomplish? That issue is a matter of governance, not instructional improvement. It's politics, not true concern for the quality of education in our public schools.

Imagine if all the money spent on CARE went to staff development for teachers.

Anti-gay marriage forces are growing

Just as Hawai'i was able to accomplish, let's hope pro-family leaders in Massachusetts can find a way to delay the implementation of same-sex marriage until an amendment is passed protecting traditional marriage. That state's Supreme Judicial Court's adamant insistence that homosexual couples must be allowed to "marry" has set up a clear-cut showdown between the public and an unelected judiciary that decides for the public.

That being said, as everyone knows, marriage is in crisis. High rates of divorce and illegitimacy have eroded marriage norms and created millions of fatherless children, driving up poverty, crime, teen pregnancy, welfare dependency, drug abuse, and mental and physical health problems. Reality shows like "Joe Millionaire" weaken the institution of marriage even more.

To take the already-troubled institution most responsible for the protection of children and throw out its most basic presumption in order to further adult interests in sexual freedom would not be high-minded. It would be morally callous and socially irresponsible.

In December, a New York Times/CBS poll reported that 55 percent of Americans support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. The poll also showed that anti-gay marriage backers are not confined to the so-called Bible Belt, and that their numbers are growing.

Like it or not, the writing is on the wall. A new marriage movement — a distinctively American phenomenon — has been born.

Antidote to cheating may lie with teachers

I read your Feb. 11 article entitled "Classroom cheats" in the Island Life section on Feb. 11 and had to comment since I am a student at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.

Cheating is something that will never disappear when it is associated with higher learning. Too often do I see teachers and professors trying to combat the problem with moral codes and disciplinary actions.

With essay papers and analyses of literature available online, most students opt for what is easy versus what is morally right, and no visit to church is going to stop that. I can honestly admit that I too looked up summaries online.

Internet shortcuts are not the only form of cheating that currently exists. Passé are the days of writing answers on your arm. Today students are brighter and sneakier. There are schemes elaborate as having test answers printed on the back of a T-shirt to answer sheets being placed in clear tote bags.

If there is a solution to cutting back on cheating, it should begin with teachers. My suggestion is not for teachers to don spy glasses or take strict disciplinary actions; teachers need to listen to students. Most students would prefer honestly taking a test verses cheating. Teachers should ask questions such as: Am I teaching lessons too fast? Is there a subject matter we need to review before a test?

By attempting to help students, teachers are no longer the enemy and students do not see them as blood-sucking grade givers. By illustrating the want for students to succeed, hopefully students will reciprocate.