Military should not provide abortions

Taxpayers who oppose killing unborn babies should not foot the bill for elective abortions, especially in military hospitals.

Many citizens and service members are morally opposed to facilitating abortions in any respect. Government must not force their participation in any way.

The military medical system is already backlogged. Pregnant military women and spouses of military men deserve doctors dedicated to delivering healthy babies who are not distracted by a heavy abortion schedule.

Contrary to the military culture of sacrificing your life for another, elective abortion sacrifices the life of an unborn baby for one's own convenience. Military medical professionals should not be required to work in an environment where taking of life, not protecting life, is expected.

Elective abortion is sold as a quick, worry-free way to get over a problem; however, after 15 years as a pregnancy center counselor, I have met an overwhelming number of women who have suffered emotionally for years because they regretted their abortion.

A popular bumper sticker states: "The cost of abortion: One dead — one wounded."

As a military veteran, I do not support military hospitals providing or funding a procedure that could emotionally cripple fellow service members.

USS Hawaii is a proud moment in statehood

Gov. Lingle's inscribing her initials on a metal plate that will become a permanent part of the keel of the Navy's new submarine, the USS Hawaii, is timely, as Gov. Lingle's participation at the keel-laying ceremony in Rhode Island came within a week of the 45th anniversary of Hawai'i statehood.

Although neither the governor nor any of our elected officials made any proclamations celebrating Hawai'i statehood on Aug. 21, Admissions Day, I consider the news of the construction of the USS Hawaii a proud moment to celebrate Hawai'i's statehood.

The beauty of Hawai'i must not be masked

I must take issue with Justin Tanoue's Sept. 1 letter stating that most people don't think billboards, ads on the outside of buses and political signs are ugly.

Just take a trip to the Mainland and you realize what a gift Hawai'i residents and visitors have been given by The Outdoor Circle. The beauty of Hawai'i is not obscured by massive billboards.

I agree that everyone has the right to display political signs, but some of Hawai'i's candidates have had them up for many months. Hawai'i voters are able to make informed decisions on candidates by going to forums and watching debates on 'Olelo, not by seeing signs everywhere.

Surely, if Mr. Tanoue thinks The Outdoor Circle is destroying Hawai'i's economy, he is not well-informed about the economic challenges of our lovely, clean, green, beautiful, billboard-free state.

Current UH fight song isn't very stimulating

It seems that there has been a mixed reaction to the new music tracks that will be played at the UH football games this season. Maybe it is time for a change.

How many people have you seen getting excited over hearing "Co-Ed," the current UH fight song? Aside from the cheerleaders, the band and maybe a few retirees in the crowd, no one really gets into it.

Being at Warrior football games can be so boring at times. The games lack the electricity in the air that permeates at many Mainland stadiums. Maybe having prerecorded, made-for-TV music tracks isn't the right answer, but at least someone is trying.

Competitiveness among classes helps

In a country like Singapore, the government implements policies where they push the middle class to reach for higher material wealth while the extremely rich have policies placed upon them to seem less wealthy but with healthy livelihoods. The middle class has extreme policies to create a continuum of its competitiveness, especially in the areas of education, housing, property and luxury.

Meanwhile, Singapore has next to an open-door policy on immigration; this immigration sets the lowest class to create even more competitiveness without the comparative advantage of the middle class. The elimination of poverty from Singaporean society would create a collapse in competitiveness.

In Hawai'i or overall America, the immigrants or exogenous groups are the most competitive against those people who claim to be indigenous to America.