Letters to the Editor

Productivity just fine at 'government college'

Richard Rowland (Letters, May 12) complains about the lack of productivity of "government college professors" and deplores the lack of competition. To whom is he referring?

During recent years, in a national environment in which the total level of available research funds has been flat, and in a local environment in which support for research has declined, external funds awarded to the UH faculty have increased dramatically. These funds are won because the UH faculty has managed to out-produce and out-compete their better-supported (and better-paid) colleagues at prestigious Mainland universities.

At the same time, the number of students being educated in the UH system is steadily increasing.

Other parts of the Hawai'i economy should be as productive and competitive asÊHawai'i's government college professors.

Second ambulance in governor's hands

The legislative session is over, and the hard work of many concerned citizens is waiting for the one moment it takes for the governor's signature. Hours upon hours of waiting in the hallways, tracking bills, making calls and finally the success of getting a bill passed all hangs in the balance now.

In SB 2690, Emergency Medical Services will finally provide a second ambulance for the Wai'anae Coast as well as services to urban Honolulu, Kahalu'u-Ka'a'awa and training and professional development for paramedics.

Wai'anae Coast residents have endured the horror of waiting for help during fatal car crashes, medical emergencies and pedestrian accidents for too long. Waiting and praying that the one ambulance serving the entire coast will make it in time for their loved ones, children and kupuna who have been injured or are sick.

We know that one ambulance is not enough to serve the long and treacherous roads of Farrington Highway and over 40,000 residents of the Leeward Coast. Why haven't we had a second ambulance before?

Some of the previous excuses have been lack of money for services. SB 2690 proposes that the annual vehicle registration fee be increased by only $5 (from $20 to $25) and placed in a special Emergency Medical Services fund. This resourceful way of generating funds to save lives must be supported.

Our children and community members cannot be neglected any longer. We need a second ambulance now. Let us join together and encourage Gov. Lingle to sign SB 2690 into law. We have waited long enough. Our communities deserve to be cared for and our children protected.

War makes people commit sordid acts

The majority of our servicemen and women are decent, hard-working, moral beings. The media do not reflect the average person in service.

I worked as a college instructor on all the military bases in Hawai'i for almost 12 years and met loving, compassionate, family-oriented individuals who serve our country with pride and do the hardest job in all of America.

Those who cannot volunteer to risk their lives to be at the war front or conflict cannot criticize those who do. No one wishes to kill, torment or degrade other human beings; war makes people do such sordid acts.

The solution is to bring the soldiers home from Iraq.

My heart aches for those who died and only feels misery that our country has sent our soldiers to live under conditions that can only be compared to the depths of hell.

I pray our men and women will return safely to their families and hope that they will not suffer the psychological damage that our Vietnam veterans experienced. We must continue to commend those who return home alive and honor those who died.

God bless our servicemen and women.

We must pay attention to anti-Americanism

As someone who regularly travels to Asia and the Middle East, I find the wave of anti-Americanism shocking and a concern. The rest of the world sees Americans as hypocrites who promote democracy and human rights when it suits America's concerns and geopolitical strategies. The recent abuse of Iraqi prisoners only reinforces this notion.

For those who are in the "isolationist" camp, think again. The world is becoming more and more globalized through tools such as the Internet and foreign trade organizations such as the WTO. The United States will become increasingly dependent on foreign countries for energy, trade, technology and a host of other issues.

It is time we viewed these countries as equal partners if we are to prosper in the 21st century.

Let's finish the current road-repair projects

I see that the state is going to start yet another road-repair project, this time tearing up the Sand Island Parkway bridge. I have a novel idea. Why doesn't it finish some of the dozens of projects that it has already started first, or does that just make too much sense?

Everywhere you go, there are projects under way. The maddening part is that once started, they are then abandoned for weeks on end or work is done with minimal effort. Projects that should have taken weeks take months, if they are ever completed at all. The Nimitz Highway just 'ewa of town has been torn up for 10 years.

When projects don't get finished on time, they run over budget. When they run over budget, the contractor makes more money. Can you say kickback? The contractor is not held accountable by the government, and the government officials are not held accountable by the administration.

Business as usual.

'American Idol' voting should be carried over

At first I was totally dismayed to read all the coverage on "American Idol" and to hear of how many millions of phone calls had been made to "vote" for Jasmine Trias and others.

But now I have an idea for Hawai'i: Turn that voting habit into something really positive. Instead of being on the bottom of the list in terms of voter turnout at the polls, keep that habit and remember to vote in all our upcoming elections.

Remember, if you don't vote, you cannot criticize. Voting is one of the democratic rights we hold dear — and it's part of what we have sent our troops to Iraq to fight for, so don't throw away the privilege just because it isn't the subject of daily features in the newspaper or entertainment on TV.

Jasmine deserves her spot in Top 3

Contrary to what a large portion of the American population believes, I feel that young Jasmine Trias deserves her spot in the Top 3.

Whether America voted for Jasmine based on her talent or her heart-wrenching breakdown, there's no question that she has earned her position after weeks and weeks of top-notch performances.

Only time can tell who will win the title, but with the support of her millions of fans, she'll get closer and closer to the crown.