WIRETAPPING

CRITICAL THINKING WAS LACKING IN EDITORIAL

Your Aug. 7 editorial lambasting Congress for passing authorization to continue wiretapping by the NSA showed an appalling lack of critical thinking.

On the one hand, you state that following 9/11, it was understandable that Congress would pass the Patriot Act even though it "clearly encroached on our civil liberties."

On the other hand, you reason that Congress' approval of the new law was "simply unforgivable," given that there has been no attack on American soil. It is obvious that your left-leaning position obscured any thought that perhaps if we already had such NSA programs in place that maybe we could have prevented the horror of 9/11.

And, perhaps the reason there have been no more attacks is because there has been a proactive program in place.

The civil liberties arguments are weak and unsubstantiated. The law also has sufficient oversight protection, plus sundown provisions.

It is incredible that there are still so many people in denial about the nature of terrorist threats that leave all of us vulnerable to WMDs. Fortunately, there were enough members of Congress (from other states) who got the message — this time, at least.

WATER

INDUSTRY, DEVELOPERS CONSERVE NOTHING

We have been told to conserve our precious water supply for years, yet new developments keep getting approved.

Are we idiots? Do we carefully monitor our water use so more people can move here? Do we sponge-wipe our cars while golf courses get watered? Do we act responsibly with our finite resource base just so more real estate can be sold to retired baby boomers from the Mainland? Do we take short showers so tourists can take more water?

This scenario is a joke. Politicians and people in power speak with forked tongues.

Maybe we should waste water as an act of civil disobedience — leave the hose on when you wash the car, let the water go down the drain because the faster we run out of water the more difficult it will be for developers to pursue their never-ending growth agenda.

We are told to conserve, to act responsibly, yet the tourist and development industries conserve nothing.

ENVIRONMENT

SWITCH TO TAP WATER AS WELL AS REUSABLE BAGS

San Francisco's mayor has prohibited the city's departments and agencies from buying individual bottled water, and plastic grocery bags are outlawed in that city.

New York City has begun promoting the benefits of its tap water.

Hawai'i needs to follow suit to help ease our garbage problem.

As a whole, Hawai'i has wonderful drinking water.

It just takes a change of heart and attitude to make the switch to reusable shopping bags. I've done it, and it's pretty cool. The future of Hawai'i depends on you.

EDUCATION

STATE NEGLECTING MUSIC CLASSES IN OUR SCHOOLS

Your Aug. 9 article "Making money with music" explains the decline of public school music programs. A program is supported only if it can increase the tax base.

With the requirements of "No Child Left Behind" and the continued underfunding of public education, music programs are a luxury that fewer schools can fully support.

Many of the programs that excel are a byproduct of a supportive administration and staff and much parental support. They are excellent programs, not because of the state administration but in spite of it.

Many have questioned the high enrollment in private schools.

But as the public school fine-arts programs have diminished, private school fine-arts programs have increased.

Isn't it interesting that the administration supports "making money with music" but has neglected "making music."

NONPROFITS

FISH-NET FUNDRAISING SENDS WRONG MESSAGE

Thank you, Lee Cataluna, for saying what many of us are thinking while sitting at a busy intersection, staring at that fish net. Although creative in some ways, this has got to stop!

Lately, many organizations that involve our children have been practicing this kind of fundraising.

I'm all for supporting our young people, but are we really teaching them the value of hard work when all they have to do is stand at a busy intersection and ask for money? Allow them to see that in life we always have to give to get, earn instead of expect and also realize that the reward is in the process more than the end result. That very process builds character and helps to develop skills useful for their future.

Selling chili, Huli-Huli chicken or cookie tickets and washing cars do just that.

Just think, we might have a marketing executive in the making when they realize their creative potential in attracting a variety of cars to their car wash. Cooking the laulau or Huli-Huli chicken may prepare someone to realize their dream of becoming an executive chef.

However, teaching them to earn their way by standing at a busy intersection and asking for money may unfortunately prepare them for a place that we hope they never end up.

If we want our children to become more responsible adults, we have to teach them by promoting practices that will prepare them for their future.

REHABILITATION

CRIMINAL REGISTRIES WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM

The use of criminal registries will not fix, nor does it address, the true problem (rehabilitation) with the state's justice system.

The state of Hawai'i is not unique in this problem. If Sen. Will Espero or members of the Public Safety Committee are true leaders, they will work for reform of the prison system.

The state of Hawai'i has done nothing or a very poor job of rehabilitation.

Money should be spent on personnel to properly rehabilitate and supervise inmates after they have served their time in prison rather than registries.

I know this will be costly and will take time. But the question should not be what it will cost, but what is best to make Hawai'i a safer place to live.

Who has the leadership to step up to this responsibility?

BASEBALL

BABE RUTH STILL RULES ON HOME-RUN RECORD

After doing some calculations, I figure that Babe Ruth would have hit 1,015 home runs if he had played a 162-game schedule during his career (like they do now).

So until someone hits 1,016 — Babe rules!

ALTERNATIVES

MESSAGE FOR COUNCIL FROM 'TEAHOUSE' FILM

I was truly heartened by the City Council's willingness to explore alternatives to fixed rail and disappointed by the mayor's rigidity.

It reminded me of the movie "The Teahouse of the August Moon" about the American occupation in postwar Okinawa.

An American officer, played by Glenn Ford, is sent to a rural village to assist in the economic revival of the village. One of his duties is to build a "pentagon-shaped" schoolhouse.

The people of the village urge him to let them build a teahouse, which would be more in keeping with their culture and lifestyle.

They succeed in building a beautiful teahouse enjoyed by the entire village, reviving the local economy.

However, the officer's superior demands that the teahouse be dismantled because it does not follow plans sent down by the federal government. But word has reached the federal government of the little village's revival, and American dignitaries are sent to Okinawa to see the teahouse.

The officer shares his plight with his Okinawan translator, played beautifully by a young Marlon Brando, who reassures him that the teahouse has not really been destroyed. On his signal, the parts of the teahouse that had been hidden are brought back, and the teahouse is quickly rebuilt to the joy of all.

As the villagers knew, administrations change, plans can change. Hopefully, the members of the City Council will continue to listen to the people.

HISTORIC SITES

SHPD ON RIGHT COURSE TO PRESERVE RESOURCES

The State Historic Preservation Division is on the right course to preserve cultural resources, protect historic places and re-inter Hawaiian 'iwi.

I can say this with conviction because I have been personally involved, since assuming my position two weeks ago, in the efforts of staff, supporters and senior Lingle-Aiona administration officials to ensure SHPD has the resources it needs to do its job.

Yes, turnover has been more than any of us would like to see, but SHPD has made steady progress in filling vacancies.

Five positions have recently been filled, and we are working on a creative three-fold effort to expeditiously fill six remaining vacancies, hire temporary help and prioritize the workload. We are also reaching out to develop internships with local universities to increase the pool of talent knowledgeable in architecture, historic preservation and archaeology.

The volume of permits and development plans SHPD reviews has grown because of Hawai'i's healthy economy.

The private sector has hired archaeologists and historians to help with their preservation plans, adding to the challenges of retaining state employees. I commend the SHPD staff who have remained on the job to ensure historical and cultural treasures are preserved in a respectful and sustainable fashion.

I am also encouraged by the willingness of community groups, including Native Hawaiians, to offer help in one of our most significant and culturally sensitive duties — the proper re-interment of 'iwi. We hope to develop new partnerships with volunteer groups to augment the work of the island burial councils.

As the new director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, I look forward to working closely with archaeologists, historians, the Native Hawaiian community and the private sector. I feel confident that working together we can meet the challenges that the State Historic Preservation Division faced long before Gov. Linda Lingle took office.