LOVED ONES

EVERY SOLDIER SHOULD HAVE A CELL PHONE

I'm writing in response to William Cole's July 1 article "Cell phones cut distance between troops, families."

I think all soldiers deployed to Iraq should be given a cell phone. Our family and friends are out there every day risking their lives. The only way we know they are OK is by talking to them. However, we can only talk with them when they have free time to go to a free computer or free telephone.

If all soldiers were given a cell phone, families would be able to have 24-hour access to their deployed loved ones. The soldiers seem to have plenty of movies at hand; why not a bunch of cell phones to keep in touch?

Mary Schroth | Mililani High School student

PLAME AFFAIR

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE ROVE BROKE ANY LAWS

Your editorial about Karl Rove needing to step down for the good of the country was inconveniently countered by the Wall Street Journal op-ed page on Wednesday.

"For Mr. Rove is turning out to be the real 'whistleblower' in this whole sorry pseudo-scandal. He's the one who warned Time's Matthew Cooper and other reporters to be wary of (U.S. diplomat Joseph) Wilson's credibility. He's the one who told the press the truth that Mr. Wilson had been recommended for the CIA consulting gig by his wife, not by Vice President Dick Cheney as Mr. Wilson was asserting on the airwaves. In short, Mr. Rove provided important background so Americans could understand that Mr. Wilson wasn't a whistleblower but was a partisan trying to discredit the Iraq War in an election campaign. Thank you, Mr. Rove."

Media chants aside, there's no evidence that Mr. Rove broke any laws in telling reporters that Valerie Plame may have played a role in her husband's selection for a 2002 mission to investigate reports that Iraq was seeking uranium ore in Niger. To be prosecuted under the 1982 Intelligence Identities Protection Act, Mr. Rove would have to have deliberately and maliciously exposed Ms. Plame knowing that she was an undercover agent and using information he'd obtained in an official capacity. But it appears Mr. Rove didn't even know Ms. Plame's name and had only heard about her work at Langley from other journalists.

As the late Johnnie Cochran might say, if there was no crime, why resign?

Mark Felman | Kapolei

AKAKA BILL

'BIG MONEY' PROBABLY THE MAIN MOTIVATOR

I believe it would benefit the Native Hawaiians to study and analyze the several-hundred-year relationship that the indigenous tribes of North America have had with the various colonial world governments.

The recent history of U.S. politicians both national and local is one of self-agrandizement. I believe this bill has more to do with "big money" matters than anything else.

I could be wrong but history has proven time and again that money is the main motivator for any legislation.

Roy Dean II | Pahoa, Hawai'i

MISGUIDED

WE NEED REFERENDUM ON THE AKAKA BILL

Surely the interests and desires of all Hawaiians need to be heard before we even think about embarking on this misguided thing called the Akaka bill.

How can we in 2005 even seriously consider setting up something based on race? How can we even begin to think of setting up something that might allow citizens to refuse to pay state taxes? How can we begin to think of setting up some sort of body that would have to be bought off to allow our military to train to protect our nation? How can our governor, senators and representatives seek legislation that even the sponsor cannot give straight answers as to what it means?

We need a referendum, with a free vote of all Hawai'i residents. The Akaka bill needs to be defeated.

John Tisue | Kapolei

OVERTHROW

AKAKA BILL ISN'T ABOUT RACE BUT RIGHTING WRONG

Today, those opposing the Akaka bill ignore the wrong done in 1893 and want to stack the deck against the indigenous people of Hawai'i. They ignore U.S. Public Law 103-150, where Congress declared that the use of U.S. armed forces in the overthrow of a friendly government in 1893 was "illegal."

Virtually the entire population of Hawai'i petitioned the U.S government to restore the queen in 1894. Thurston Twigg-Smith's grandfather, Lorrin Thurston, his fellow traitors and the U.S. government ignored the will of the people in violation of our Declaration of Independence that " ... governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed ... "

Then in 1959, Hawai'i was admitted to the Union. By then, however, the Native Hawaiian population was and still is just 20 percent of the voters. And now Twigg-Smith et al. want to restack the deck by requiring a referendum on the Akaka bill so non-Hawaiians can again dictate decisions against the Native Hawaiian minority.

Twigg-Smith also charged that the Akaka bill is "racist." If that is so, why is he not demanding that same federal recognition be eliminated for the several hundred Native American tribes so they wouldn't be "racist"? Is he only against Hawaiians?

As with all indigenous people, it's not about "race," it's about ho'oponopono — making the wrong right.

Carol J. Holck | Kailua

MORE VIOLENCE

DON'T GIVE FIREARMS TO LIQUOR INSPECTORS

Suggesting that liquor inspectors should be armed is ridiculous. It could only lead to more violence, or make them more efficient and dangerous in extorting bribes and payoffs.

Nightlife can be dangerous, even in Honolulu, but the inspectors could be armed with cell phones and taught how to dial 911 instead of being issued weapons of mass destruction.

Or, if the city feels that arming the inspectors will help reduce crime, then maybe they should also consider giving guns to bartenders, cooks, wait help, bouncers, parking lot attendants, taxi drivers, bus drivers, singers, musicians and hula dancers.

Carmen U'ilani Haugen | Honolulu

INCREASES

LINGLE NOT KEEPING TO HER WORD ON TAXES

With the signing of House Bill 1308 (conveyance tax increase) and possibly letting House Bill 1309 (general excise tax increase) go into law, the governor just lost my vote for her re-election. She claims to say one thing to help us but does something chilling, effectively increasing taxes for those who may be potential first-time homeowners.

In an attempt to downplay the tax increases, the Lingle administration will lobby for tax cuts; but the Democratic majority "played" me just the same with their political rhetoric. My Democratic legislators will receive the same no-vote come election time.

It's just saddening to see that this session did not help the majority of people who are not government/union employees, living paycheck to paycheck.

M. Oh | 'Aiea

LIQUOR AGENTS

LET THEM BE PROS FIRST

I have no problem with allowing the Honolulu Liquor Commission staff to carry firearms. However, as an ex-federal law enforcement officer who believes in professional, competent law enforcement, I'd be totally against issuing them live ammo until there are some substantial improvements in the professionalism shown by the team.

William Georgi | Kalaheo, Kaua'i

SCHOOLS

MILITARY RECRUITING OPT-OUT FORMS STILL TOO CUMBERSOME

Your recent editorial "Defense should scrap teen military database" correctly condemns the recent attempt by the Pentagon to mine the personal data of teenagers for military recruitment purposes.

Many in Hawai'i and across the U.S. have challenged the provision of the No Child Left Behind Act that requires schools to release student personal information to military recruiters.

Locally, we have insisted that consistent with the state constitutional protection on privacy, the Department of Education must get the informed consent of students and their parents before releasing any student personal information to military recruiters.

While the DOE made its opt-out-of notices and forms easier to understand, the process is still too cumbersome and full of holes. For example, the student or parent is only given a notice of his or her right to opt out, but in order to actually do so, the student or parent must request the official form from the teacher or principal.

In some cases, the notices were distributed to students only days before or even after the deadline for returning the signed forms. In other cases, the DOE turned over to military recruiters the personal information of students whose parents did opt out.

Congress should amend No Child Left Behind to remove the section requiring disclosure of student information to military recruiters. Until then, the state Department of Education should distribute the actual opt-out form to every student and parent and require that the forms be completed and returned. This could be done as a part of registration every year. Students 18 and older should be allowed to sign their own forms in their homeroom classes.

This is the only way that the DOE can be certain that they have informed consent to disclose student personal information to military recruiters.

Kyle Kajihiro | Program director, American Friends Service Committee Hawai'i Area Program

MEDICAL SCHOOL

ED CADMAN BROUGHT US GREATNESS

Dr. Ed Cadman recently announced his resignation as dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine. We, the faculty, staff and students of the medical school, are writing to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Cadman for his countless contributions to our lives. Dr. Cadman has played a pivotal role in transforming the environment at JABSOM, and we are honored to welcome him as a member of our faculty.

Dr. Cadman came to UH in November 1999 after 13 years at Yale. He served as dean, chairman and professor of medicine at the medical school, and chief of medicine at Yale Hospital. When he arrived in the Islands, he embraced, in his own words, "the challenge of making a difference." Dr. Cadman has not only made a difference, he has made monumental strides.

Dr. Cadman envisioned broad goals for the medical school, and took specific steps to achieve them. By creating an image of JABSOM as setting the standard for medical schools with an Asian-Pacific focus, he empowered those around him to achieve heights of excellence never previously imagined. He sought creative solutions for complex problems and consistently drew upon the experience and skill of his colleagues to enhance his approach.

Building upon the foundation of strength offered by faculty, staff, students and the broader community, Dr. Cadman fostered tremendous growth at the medical school during his five-year tenure. The new Biosciences Complex and medical school campus at Kaka'ako, with its laboratories, offices and space for biotechnology companies, are merely two of Dr. Cadman's tangible accomplishments that will leave a positive mark on our community.

Under his direction, JABSOM has obtained more than $70 million in research funds from the National Institutes of Health and other generous donors. This represents an increase in funding by more than 700 percent. Fifteen renowned scientists have joined JABSOM's faculty, bringing their state-of-the-art research programs, independent funding and stellar expertise, which has, in turn, attracted other distinguished faculty to the university. Several new medical departments have emerged, including the departments of Native Hawaiian Health, Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Geriatrics.

Clearly, Dr. Cadman has an outstanding ability to maintain a global perspective while focusing his attention on fundamental details. Dr. Cadman infused JABSOM with a renewed sense of vigor and enthusiasm, improving faculty and student morale while generating widespread community support for JABSOM efforts.

We are extremely fortunate that Dr. Cadman will remain at JABSOM as a member of our faculty, imparting his many gifts to dedicated students and encouraging them to surpass their own expectations of excellence. We are also profoundly grateful to Dr. Cadman, as dean, teacher, colleague, friend and fellow humanitarian, for having led us to this place.

It is our hope that as we approach new horizons, we will hold true to his vision of a healthy Hawai'i.

Professors Rosanne Harrigan and Dr. David Easa, on behalf of the faculty, staff and students of the John A. Burns School of Medicine