SUPERFERRY

BAD BEHAVIOR COMMON AT ISLE PUBLIC MEETINGS

It matters not what side of the ferry debate one is on. Personally, I have some doubts about the economic viability of the ferry for passenger service. What matters is that Gov. Linda Lingle suffered abuse during the meeting on Kaua'i.

I am embarrassed and appalled at the lack of aloha and the disrespect shown to others who happen to have a different view or be in a public capacity.

It is fine to exercise free speech and to have a strong opinion. The line should be drawn when debate is drowned out by those who have little to contribute except profanity and insulting remarks.

This behavior is becoming common at public meetings. Is the culture of the loud and the rude taking over our social system?

KAUA'I RESIDENTS OWE APOLOGY TO GOV. LINGLE

Putting politics aside and not considering for a moment the agenda of the Superferry, what transpired on Kaua'i while our governor was there — the disrespect that was displayed — was embarrassing.

The entire population of the island owes an apology to Gov. Linda Lingle.

Our governor demonstrates the conduct of a person of character and culture.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDERS TRYING TO KEEP LIFESTYLE

Thank you for your excellent Page One article (Sept. 23) on differing opinions concerning the Superferry.

As a 30-year resident of Maui (my children born and raised here), I honestly do not get the O'ahu mindset that we are unfriendly or hostile to our island brethren.

No, we do not want or need an H-4, and are only trying to protect and preserve what little is left of our lifestyle after the overdevelopment of the past 20 years.

Yes, we finally have to make a stand somewhere, so why not here, on this issue?

SAD TO WATCH ANTICS OF SUPERFERRY PROTESTERS

It's sad to watch the childish antics of the many Superferry protesters at Nawiliwili Harbor. The harassment of Superferry passengers was uncalled for and should be prosecuted.

If concerns over congestion and overloading the infrastructure are reasons to ban the Superferry, then these protesters should look in the mirror.

Unless you are 100 percent Hawaiian, you have at one time added to the congestion of the Hawaiian Islands.

If you are worried about more tourists, try visiting Lihu'e or Kahului airports. Tourists come daily in great numbers without the Superferry.

Earthquakes, lava flows, tidal waves, hurricanes are constant threats to our lives on the Big Island. The Neighbor Islands lack sufficient resources to deal with these disasters on their own, and would benefit from quick deployment of emergency support from O'ahu by the Superferry.

SUPERFERRY LOGICAL STEP IN FUTURE OF HAWAI'I

It is sad a few people of Kaua'i are giving their island and our state a black eye.

They claim they don't want change. Well, with time comes change, whether we like it or not.

They do not want to be known as a suburb of Honolulu. Well, guess what, they are a suburb of Honolulu.

Perhaps what the people of Kaua'i need is a wake-up call. Since these same people have no problem living off the finances provided by O'ahu, let's leave them on their own for a while and see how they fare.

Wake up, people, the ability to move across our state by every means possible is the next logical step in our future.

ADVERTISER

APOLOGY DUE FOR PHOTO ON TGIF SECTION COVER

When I first saw that historic flag-raising photo (TGIF, Aug. 31) of the heroic Marines and Navy personnel raising the American flag of victory over Iwo Jima in World War II being enacted by a bunch of hip-hoppers, regardless of their popularity, it really tore at my gut.

I was very much alive during that campaign and immediately thought of the thousands who gave up life and limb so that we could still be free.

And then a few days later to read the lame excuses that The Advertiser conjured up in defense of their decision to print it. You ought to run a very public apology to all those brave men and women and all of us who lost fathers, brothers, sisters and friends in that campaign. It is almost as if they died in vain if that is the way you are going to show your freedom of speech. You disgust me.

MIDEAST

HANSON ACTS LIKE PAID CONSULTANT TO BUSH

The headline of Victor Davis Hanson's article "Bin Laden still holds out hope that U.S. will leave" (Sept. 20) implies that we must continue the useless sacrifice in the bloody Iraq quagmire just to spite bin Laden.

Has Hanson forgotten that Bush diverted the bulk of the military effort in the Middle East from Afghanistan, where bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorists were located, to Iraq based on the outrageous lie that Saddam Hussein was complicit in the 9/11 attack? Has he forgotten that Bush ignored the FBI's Aug. 6, 2001, warning about bin Laden's plans for an attack on the U.S.?

Why doesn't Hanson demand a serious effort to bring bin Laden to justice?

He acts like a paid consultant to the Bush administration.

MOVEON.ORG AD

PROUD THAT SENATORS SUPPORTED FREE SPEECH

The contention that Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka do not support our military and are opponents of liberty (Dana Clevenger's letter, Sept. 24) seems very much like a personal attack. The whole point of the letter seemed to be that MoveOn.org crossed a line in its ad against Gen. David Petraeus, but the letter goes on to say the senators are afraid of MoveOn.org and don't support the troops.

Why is it wrong for Move On.org to make personal attacks while it is OK for the letter writer to use the same tactics?

The letter concludes with a quote from President Kennedy about the need to stand fast in defense of liberty. I would contend that defending liberty is exactly what the senators were doing by voting against condemning the MoveOn.org ad.

Just as the letter writer has the right to complain about our senators' vote, so, too, does Move On.org have the right to say rude things about Gen. Petraeus.

It's not that either is right, but everyone has the right to express their opinion. I am proud of our senators for seeing the issue as a challenge to free speech and voting accordingly in defense of liberty.

IRAQ

WHAT NATIONAL INTEREST COMPELS US TO REMAIN?

Will someone explain what U.S. national interest was believed by our administration to justify our invasion of Iraq?

And, more importantly, will someone explain what compelling interest justifies the continuing death of our troops and the expenditure of billions of tax dollars in Iraq?

It is now apparent that the alleged threat of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and its claimed harboring of al-Qaida operatives neither existed nor justified our starting the war. Then what actually motivated our leaders to invade Iraq?

We are now told by our administration and our military leaders that should we withdraw from Iraq tomorrow, its government and military are incapable of creating stability and security. If this is true — so be it.

While our invasion of Iraq may arguably have germinated the seeds of Iraq's civil war, that ironic U.S. embarrassment is not a compelling U.S. national interest that justifies the risk of death or injury to even one of our troops. Nor does saving our administration's face for its inability to export democracy to a country that didn't ask for it.

Unless someone can articulate a compelling U.S. interest to continue the war, why are we still in Iraq?

TRANSIT

THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TRACK ON RAIL

It's too bad Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his rail gang didn't take time to ride the failing rail in Las Vegas before they continued with their false hope in rail to find Honolulu's solution to moving people.

A firsthand look at our future would change their minds and keep the millions (and soon billions) of dollars to be wasted on fixed rail available for a more flexible, reasonable and workable solution. Invest in TheBus, with more and better feeders.

Our administration's miscalculation of ridership figures is on par with the Las Vegas administration's estimates before blowing $650 million, and now they're out looking for more money.

If residents and visitors aren't riding the rail in Las Vegas, they won't ride the rail here in Honolulu.

WEST O'AHU WILL HAVE COMMUTING OPTIONS

After so many years of trying and so many false starts, I'm heartened to see that Honolulu may soon get the mass-transit system our residents so badly need and want.

I am 100 percent behind the current efforts to make mass transit a reality, and I will do everything I can to make transit happen.

It's true that I was a mass-transit opponent when I was a City Council member. The reason for that is simple. Proposals that came to us then did not adequately serve West O'ahu communities. I could not support a system that did not serve Kapolei, the place where policymakers were directing all of O'ahu's growth.

Now we do have a system that begins in Kapolei, where it is most needed, that will eventually go all the way to the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.

At long last, people on our side of the island will have transportation options that include traveling by bus, boat, car and eventually mass transit. It's about time.