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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, November 23, 2008

Letters to the Editor

CAST YOUR VOTE

Make your opinion count in our daily online poll and see the results. Today, we ask readers:

Do you agree the Department of Justice should investigate whether the BCS is illegally restraining trade and is rigged against schools that are not members of the six largest conferences?

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A TIME FOR THANKS

On Nov. 27, Americans will pause from their regular routines to share with family and friends in a Thanksgiving holiday meal and to reflect on all that is good in their lives.

Hawai'i, our country and the world face many challenges. The economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the energy crisis weigh us down. But there is still much we can be grateful for, both large and small.

We invite you to share with our readers the things for which you will give thanks on Thanksgiving 2008.

Send your Thanksgiving letters to: Editorial Assistant Stacy Berry via e-mail at sberry@honoluluadvertiser.com, by fax to 535-2415 or by U.S. mail to Stacy Berry, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu HI 96802. Letters must be received by noon Nov. 24 and may be published in print and online.

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

WIND FARM OFFERS GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO LANA'I

With a seemingly grim economic forecast for our state, what a great opportunity for Lana'i to have a wind farm.

It's fortunate that the island will be able to have a stable source of jobs, a great way for students to learn how renewable energy works, increased tax revenue for the county, and help our state be more energy self sufficient.

I know the hard part to swallow is change and development, but I would ask residents to not miss an opportunity to improve their economy that other islands have missed out on.

I would ask the developer to guarantee that a certain percentage of jobs go to Lanaians, ask to put Lana'i on the grid and in so doing also provide discounted electric cars to residents (I'm sure paying $5 a gallon is a pain), ask that the developer work closely with community organizations like the Lana'i Archaeological Committee and the Lana'i Culture & Heritage Center to ensure that the land is treated with respect and cultural sensitivities are met, and request educational involvement on the part of the developer in the form of apprenticeships for high school students.

As a frequent visitor to Lana'i (my wife is from there), I understand that the island is a very special place, and can continue to be so with careful and thoughtful development.

Kevin Ancog
Pearl City

PUBLIC SPACES

GRAFFITI ON WALLS IS JUST A SIGN OF SMALL MINDS

Mahalo to Ron Artis for sprucing up the bus stop at Karsten Drive and California Avenue in Wahiawa. Hopefully this will deter graffiti.

When I see graffiti, I'm reminded of the old saw, paraphrased, "oh what minds so small, they put their thoughts on public walls."

Paul K. Funkhouser
Wahiawa

COQUI

OTHER ANIMALS SHOULD BE OF GREATER CONCERN

It's interesting that most of the anti-coqui frog responses to Soma Grismaijer's Island Voices column (Nov. 17) originate from people who have a direct financial interest in maintaining the pogrom against the tiny frogs with the melodious voices.

Representatives of the various island ISCs (Invasive Species Committees), HISC (the Hawai'i Invasive Species Council) and CGAPS (Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species) — all of whom are underwritten by the taxpayers of Hawai'i who pay their salaries.

The dismal record of the Department of Agriculture at keeping unwanted animals out of Hawai'i should be of greater concern. Just recently a black widow spider was found to have arrived in Hawai'i — but the ISCs care more about the coqui than a venomous arachnid. Go figure!

As for the other complainants, there will always be someone in heaven who will kvetch that the angels are playing their harps too loudly.

Cathy Goeggel
Director, Research and Investigations, Animal Rights Hawai'i

ECONOMY

SEVERAL WAYS TO SAVE ON HEALTHCARE COSTS

With tightening budgets, there are reports of people cutting back on their healthcare for economic survival. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some ways to save:

  • Speak with your doctor about changing to generic prescription drugs to cut some cost.

  • Your pharmacy may also be able to give you a cash discount. If not, don't be afraid to shop around. Some pharmacies have terrific discount programs for patients without drug coverage.

  • If you lose your medical insurance, ask your physician if you can get a cash discount for office visits or even be seen without charge for a period of time.

  • Consider free medical clinics. One of them is the Aloha Medical Mission in the Palama Settlement. They have volunteer community physicians and staff who provide free medications, medical and dental care for adults and children.

  • Check to see if you qualify for any government-based insurance programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid.

  • Finally, look into increasing your weekly activity through regular exercise. You can think of this as a "free" medication as increased activity will lower your weight, blood sugar and blood pressure as well as improve your cholesterol. No pill on the market can do all four of these things simultaneously.

    Dr. James Ireland M.D.
    Assistant clinical professor of medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine

    TRIBUTE

    PETER DEASE — A TRUE TREASURE OF HAWAI'I

    With the passing on Nov. 11 of Punahou grad Peter Dease of Lawa'i, all Hawai'i lost a beloved living treasure.

    Many considered this great-great-grandson of Kaua'i's first missionary doctor, James Smith (1818-87) — whom he resembled both in service to his fellow man and in uncanny likeness — the most knowledgeable historical resource on Kaua'i.

    Dease retired back to his boyhood home after years representing the Hawai'i Visitors Bureau in Chicago. He then began 15 years as the island's outstanding volunteer docent for five of the island's natural and cultural attractions.

    "What days are Peter's tours?" visitors would ask at the Kaua'i Museum, the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lumahili Gardens, Grove Farm Plantation Museum and Kilauea Lighthouse. People responded to Dease's infectious love of Hawaiiana.

    This tall, friendly kama'aina modeled the "Hawaiian Hospitality" claimed as the heritage of these islands. We say: "Please send us more Peter Deases."

    Ray Smith
    Wheaton, Ill.

    CAR STEREOS

    LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC, DON'T FORCE OTHERS TO

    Walls and windows pound day and night? Meet the Subwoofer Assault Vehicle. Like a mobile version of graffiti, arrogant drivers with super-amplified car stereos increasingly thump our neighborhoods with their unwanted music. And their aftermarket mufflers. Isn't a muffler meant to suppress noise?

    I am all for personal freedoms, including the freedom of speech. Freedoms are only viable if they do not infringe on the freedoms of others. While a person should be allowed to enjoy whatever music they like in the privacy of their own car, they should not be allowed to force everyone else within a mile radius to listen to that music against their will.

    The issue is not musical taste. The bass caused by boom cars are so powerful they drown out all other sound nearby, and are low enough not to be noticeably dampened.

    By all means, listen to your music, just turn it down so that only you become deaf, not everyone around your car as well!

    Allan Sommercorn
    Ka'a'awa

    PROPOSITION 8

    DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE MIGHTIER THAN COURT

    The issue and case of Proposition 8 and gay marriage might and should come down to the definition of the word "marriage."

    In its simplest and lowest common denominator, marriage is defined as a union of a man and woman in the dictionary, by most states, by the federal government with the Defense of Marriage Act and the Bible.

    What the California Supreme court did is throw the word "marriage" out the window.

    I believe in the saying that the "word is mightier than the sword," and the word marriage is mightier than the Supreme Court of California. Or any court.

    Ken Chang
    Kane'ohe