Religious views are being forced on us

My understanding has always been that our pilgrim fathers faced a perilous journey into an unknown land to escape religious persecution. For this reason our nation was based on the right of each individual to worship as his conscience dictates.

Yet, here we are, a people who have turned our backs on that principle by electing an administration that tramples on religious liberty. Have we really examined the abortion controversy? Are we really in favor of sending women to prison because they do not believe a fetus is a person from the moment of conception, a Catholic teaching? The biblical view many others believe is that the fetus becomes a person when it receives the breath of life at birth, just as Adam became a living soul when God breathed into his nostrils; this godly spark of life returns to God at death. There must be many other beliefs concerning when personhood begins.

Roe v. Wade is already being chipped away little by little. Its repeal is inevitable.

Should citizens be forced to accept the Catholic and Evangelical view? What will be the next dictum forced upon us? Hasn't history taught us what happens when a government joins hands with religion? Are we ready to be told whom we can worship, as well as where and when? Do we still have free choice? Is it too late?

Malls' rejection of charities is enraging

While reading the Nov. 23 paper, I came across an article, "Salvation Army rings its bells on shrinking turf." I became enraged at the fact that the largest retail center in the state, Ala Moana Shopping Center, has joined the "bah, humbug" of corporate morality in its ever-growing need for higher profits.

General Growth Management's (Ala Moana's parent company) decision to discontinue the presence of fundamental charitable organizations such as the Salvation Army in Ala Moana Center is appalling and disgusts me. Strangely convoluted, the mindset that customers are either not spending enough in your mall or are bothered by the presence of charitable groups is simply dumbfounding. (True, this is an assumption on my part; please, prove me wrong!)

There should be an exception to the rule, especially when it involves tradition. Those brightly painted red pots and the jingle-jangle from nondescript men and women, and many a time school groups and carolers who stand tirelessly to help support the efforts of the Salvation Army, have always been instrumental in reminding the tired and forlorn of the spirit of the holidays. And, however subtle these reminders may be, they are nonetheless a vital part of our culture — to see and to experience, and most essential, to remember, who we are and what it is that we truly value as a society.

Rainbow Wahine are making us proud

Many, many kudos to the Rainbow Wahine. Their play in the WAC Championship was awesome.

We here in Hawai'i have been treated to the best games and matches in the country. All of Hawai'i should be proud of their efforts.

After watching the recent matches, I realize that we also have the best announcer and camera crew available anywhere. We are really lucky to live Hawai'i!

There's a difference between dump, landfill

Regarding the Nov. 23 story "City dump plan trashed by many": All parties quoted in the article used the term "landfill," but the writer himself liberally used the term "dump." "Dump" implies that rubbish will simply be dumped on the ground. "Landfill," on the other hand, implies meeting federal regulations, which include constructing a lining, monitoring methane production, testing nearby groundwater, providing soil cover or other means to control vectors and odors, preventing rainwater run-on and liquid run-off, and after closing the landfill, maintaining the site for 30 years.

No matter which location is finally chosen, nobody wants a dump!

A lesson is needed

Why is it that professional sports players (and some local surfers) as well as some multimillion-dollar NBA stars can get away with blatant disregard for the law? If you or I assaulted anybody in public (let alone on national TV), we'd be arrested. And if we did this on the job — well, we wouldn't have a job, would we?

I think these boys (and they act like children) need a lesson in how to act on the job.