Letters to the Editor
ALTERNATIVE
RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM WOULD BENEFIT ALL
Kainoa Kaumeheiwa-Rego's letter "Mass transit won't benefit everyone" completely misses the point about rail transit, taxes and transportation alternatives.
It would also seem that Kaumeheiwa-Rego is certainly not studying economics while away at college. She should know that we all pay taxes for the betterment of our society, not just ourselves. There is not a separate tax based on regions of this island, such as a Windward-side tax or a Leeward-side tax.
It continually amazes me that the anti-rail advocates and other ill-informed individuals seem to think that a rail system's sole purpose is simply to end traffic congestion. The sad truth is that nothing will ever end traffic congestion on O'ahu, ever. However, a rail system, if built wisely and serviced directly by a standardized fleet of taxis and bus service, would benefit everyone.
So please remember, giving the citizens of this island an alternative to automobile traffic is the point of rail transportation, not the clearing of automobiles from our roadways. Rail transportation works all over the world, every day, and one simply needs to look at Singapore for a perfect transportation role model for our O'ahu.
Michael J. Lauck | Honolulu
SHORTAGE
NEW TEACHER CONTRACT HELPS DOE RECRUITING
It is great news for Hawai'i that the DOE is having more success this year recruiting teachers for our public schools. The ongoing teacher shortage Hawai'i has suffered in recent years makes it difficult for our schoolchildren to improve academically.
The higher salaries and improved working conditions in that contract have been a major tool in building a solid base of qualified teachers.
Our new contract has produced salaries that are more competitive with Mainland and private-school pay, and has helped attract teachers from both Hawai'i and the Mainland to our public schools. The new contract has also encouraged some of our most experienced teachers to extend their time in the classroom. This is good news for Hawai'i's children.
We are taking positive steps toward easing the teacher shortage, but we should not take this as a sign to relax our efforts. To end the teacher shortage, we need to maintain our support for the hard work our dedicated teachers are doing each day.
Hawai'i's public-school teachers are truly some of the best in the nation, and we must remain committed to recognizing their tremendous value to our society. The HSTA will continue to work toward improving our public schools and our students' achievement by putting a highly qualified teacher in every classroom.
Roger K. Takabayashi | President, Hawai'i State Teachers Association
LIQUOR CHIEF
PAY FOR DOING NOTHING NOT A CHANGE AFTER ALL
Liquor Commission administrator Wallace Weatherwax has presided over the most egregious example of institutionalized corruption in the state's history and it appears that the most the city can do is relieve him of his responsibilities.
Essentially, the city is now paying him for doing nothing. But then again, considering his record of failure on the job, who will be able to tell the difference?
Roy Yanagihara | Kane'ohe
MENTAL HEALTH
DON'T TRASH A CREW THAT'S DOING ITS BEST
Your July 22 editorial citing Judge Chang's report trashes the outpatient services of the state Adult Mental Health Division.
I have worked for 35 years as a clinical psychologist with the Adult Mental Health Division — the last 30 of those years as the only psychologist at the outpatient Windward O'ahu Community Mental Health Center.
I and my co-workers strive to do the very best job we can, and I am sick of having our efforts not only not appreciated but actually trashed. Sure, we have some problems, and more state resources would help, but we are trying to resolve them, and our leadership is fostering an enlightened, comprehensive, positive, responsive approach to helping a very difficult population.
We serve the seriously mentally ill, who have a much higher suicide rate than the general population to start with, and it's impossible to foresee and prevent every death. Also, projecting from one brief flurry of deaths without looking at the overall death rate for a longer period, say, one year, and comparing it to an expected rate for our population is statistically bogus.
Only six of those deaths were suicides, so the rest must have been from natural causes despite the implication that all 16 were the result of a dereliction of our duties. Being mentally ill doesn't give you protection from heart disease or cancer.
If you really want to know how well we do our jobs, just ask our customers — the consumers with serious mental illness whom we serve every day. I'll bet that most of them would praise our efforts on their behalf and wonder what all the criticism is about.
Rick Armsby | Kane'ohe
DONATION
RECYCLE WITH A PURPOSE
Recycling doesn't have to be a hassle. Do you know that the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai'i's kidney clothes program now accepts recyclable cans, bottles and plastics and will pick them up at your curb? No refunds for you (they'll leave a tax-deduction form). You're donating to a worthy cause and doing your bit for the ecology. You may call "Kidney Clothes" at 596-7575.
Georgette Nishimi | 'Ewa Beach
HONOLULU'S YOUTH SPEAK OUT
Editor's note: The following letters were written by members of The Honolulu Advertiser Youth Community Editorial Board:
KARL ROVE SHOULD BE FIRED, PUT ON TRIAL
It amazes me that Judith Miller (the New York Times reporter who refused to turn over her notes and reveal her sources) was sent to jail while Karl Rove, who leaked the name and identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame to Miller, remains off the hook. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Rove is President Bush's "right-hand man" and still has his plush spot within the Bush administration.
It's sickening that Rove is allowed to live his life the same as always, even though the president vowed to punish whomever it was who revealed the identity of Ms. Plame to the press. The rules are the rules, and it is a bit pitiful that Mr. Bush makes exceptions.
It can be argued that secret sources have no place within the media anymore, but many high-ranking officials simply wouldn't talk to the media if their anonymity wasn't guaranteed.
The court's ruling that Ms. Miller be imprisoned for refusing to name her sources and turn over her notes signals a bleak future for fair, investigative and hard-hitting journalism. I don't think I'm alone in calling for Rove's firing and trial for blowing an undercover agent's cover.
Joshua Masayoshi Huff | Moanalua High School 2005 graduate, Moanalua
LIVE 8: CONCEPT GOOD, BUT WILL IT HAVE EFFECT?
While the recent Live 8 concert was meant to be a widespread protest to force politicians to focus on poverty in Africa, people are still reminiscing about the reunion of Pink Floyd.
The general idea of the concert was not bad: round up influential musicians to perform while stars appear on stage and give a short segue on the importance of the concert and the need to fight against the politicians and poverty in Africa.
However, at the end of the day when crowd members were heading out and viewers at home were switching channels, it wasn't poverty in Africa they were using as a means of conversation, but rather the great performances by classics such as Bon Jovi and The Who.
Having concerts, no matter how great the performance, is no way to get government attention on an important matter such as poverty in Africa. And while concertgoers and television watchers may have signed on with the protest, the actual concern is whether the pictures of homeless Africans and speeches made by movie stars really had an effect on them.
Jaimie Kim | Mililani High School senior, Mililani
DEDICATED BIKE LANES SHOULD BE A PRIORITY
The city should stop focusing on the rail transit system and look toward improving another form of transportation: biking.
There are few dedicated bike routes on O'ahu. Bicyclists are forced to ride on the road, where accidents are most likely to occur. Streets such as Kapahulu Avenue and South Beretania Street are dangerous because cars are traveling at high speeds and there is little room to maneuver.
Dedicated bike routes:
Bryan Lum | Kalani High School sophomore, Honolulu
PARADISE IS PAINTED OVER WITH GRAFFITI
Take away the scenery, the beaches and the weather conditions and you get a paradise whose buildings and highways are tainted with graffiti.
When you drive by Kahala or the McCully area, graffiti is all you see on most building walls. Also, as you drive toward the Leeward side, it doesn't get any better.
What makes matters worse is that people sometimes paint over the graffiti, and then a few days later there is graffiti right over that paint again.
We should have some sort of art center where those teenagers who deface property could go to find a way to express themselves.
But our paradise will always be tainted because there will always be those who break the law and vandalize public property.
Shari Matsudo | Kaimuki High School senior, 'Ewa Beach
U.S. CANNOT IMPOSE DEMOCRACY ON OTHERS
As we persist in President Bush's "noble crusade," we should look at the big picture.
No doubt we are the wealthiest nation in the world; however, just because capitalism has worked for our particular society, our landscape and resources and our culture does not imply that we ought to forcibly impose it on any other nation with completely different capabilities and circumstances.
Similarly, just because we can boast of our illustrious history that "allowed" all men to be created equal does not mean that our particular system of democracy (or, more realistically, a republic) can be universally applicable and equally as successful. Of course prosperity and human dignity are due to every human; however, the ways to economically and politically achieve such ends must harmonize with the particular realities of each region.
The United States was founded on ideals, and thus we may serve as an inspiration to countries seeking reform; however, we should not militarily or politically force our subjectively successful policies on anyone else. Government is legitimized by the people; if they want change, let them seize it, and in the way that they choose.
Jakara Mato | Iolani School senior, Honolulu
PRICELESS COMMUNITY LIBRARY IS ENDANGERED
With 31 smashed windows, torn-up books and the musty smell of sweat, Makiki Community Library hardly has the facilities that constitute a decent library.
Two years after the Legislature approved $4.5 million for the renovation of the community library, there is still a long way to go.
Makiki Library, with its convenient location, would be worth restoring. Children can read before or after tennis practice at Makiki Park. I urge the city and state to work efficiently together, giving this issue higher priority, to rebuild this community gathering place as soon as possible.
There's no doubt the money would be put to the best of use. After all, libraries are where parents send their kids after school. It is a place where learning, for the sake of learning, is born, a place where individuals of all ages can visit to gain knowledge and relax.
Furthermore, libraries do not discriminate. Whether one is rich or poor, books are available to all.
Yet with no monetary funds, libraries become understaffed and depleted in value, and the perfect image of a priceless community library, sadly, diminishes.
Ke Chen | La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls senior, Makiki
