CAN WE PUT ASIDE POLITICAL PETTINESS?

Regarding "Hawaii Democrats laud Obama's selection as Peace Prize winner" (Oct. 9): Republicans, give me a break! Can't you put your petty disdain for the Democrats aside this one time, and appreciate the fact that a son of Hawaii, a good son of Hawaii, has won one of the highest honors in the world? You would have appeared admirable had you just been gracious about President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Do not hide behind anything other than the truth: You're drawing party lines.

I, for one, am proud of President Obama because he is deserving of this honor for putting world peace at the top of his agenda I'll admit that I am a registered Democrat, but I vote for whom I believe is the best person for the job. Over the years, I've voted for many Republicans. President Obama is not perfect, I know that, and he accepts the award with great humility.

And I'm not letting the Democrats off the hook. Can you Dems honestly say that if a Republican leader had won the award you would have been any more generous? I can only hope so.

Republicans, Democrats and other party leaders — let's not get so defined by a label that it becomes exclusive, uncaring, crippling.

mona wood | Honolulu

B&BS

MINI-HOTELS DON'T BELONG EVERYWHERE

City Councilman Rod Tam says that B&Bs in residential zones should be legalized because people are breaking the law; rather than enforcing the law, we should just change the law to allow up to 12 tourists in every residence.

His analogy: The prohibition of liquor and gambling was unenforceable so government legalized those activities and creating a gambling mecca in Las Vegas. [0xa0]Mr. Tam, along with Councilman Anderson, recommends Bill 7. [0xa0]If alcohol and gambling were the subjects of Bill 7, any illegal liquor store or casino in our residential zones would be automatically legalized and every residence could have one.

The reality is that taverns are allowed only in special zones approved for this business. Casinos in Las Vegas are allowed only in designated zones. That's the way it should be for our mini-hotels. Permit mini-hotels in resort zones, not residential zones.

As far as enforcement goes, if you open a casino outside of this zone in Las Vegas, you had better hope that the police arrive before the Mafia.

bob ress | Kailua

FURLOUGHS

TEACHERS DESERVE BETTER PAY, SUPPORT

Teaching is indeed a profession (Letters, Oct. 8), probably the lowest-paid profession. Many teachers, now furloughed, make less than $40,000 a year, before tax. How much do members of the other "professions" — doctors, lawyers, etc. — make? So how much are teachers really valued? Apparently not that much.

Yes, furloughs damage the goal of educating our children. So pay these professionals a living wage — show them that you value their professionalism. Until you do, don't expect teachers to take cuts in their already poor salaries and continue to work until 10 at night, over weekends, and on their "vacations" on lesson preparation, reports, etc.

Teachers do not need a "renewal" of their dedication — their dedication has never been at issue.What they need is support from the community for their professionalism and a salary commensurate with that professionalism.

If we want top quality education in our schools and our university then we need to step up and support teachers and professors — and that means paying them salaries appropriate to their professionalism and commitment.

If you would be happy with a third-rate school system and a third-rate university, continue to demand more pay cuts for teachers and professors. If not, demand that legislators and the governor support education as a top state priority instead of painting state employees as the cause of the state's financial problems.

robert cowie | Kaneohe

AFGHANISTAN

RESOLVE KEY TO MOVING FORWARD

In Sunday's Island Voices, Rep. Abercrombie wrings his hands over what to do in Afghanistan. He trots out the tired Vietnam analogy, takes a couple of shots at Bush, and recites all the ethnic groups in that country. In his last paragraph, he calls for three conditions to be met before making a decision: "proper consultation with Congress," "support of the American people" and "clear and achievable objectives," implying we have none of these.

Who would expect those criteria to ever be fully met? Congress will never consider that it has been "properly consulted." The American people will remain divided.

And the closest we'll get to "clear and achievable objectives" is getting the Afghans to recognize their government and police themselves. How that happens may change a thousand times before it's safe to walk away, but it's all about us being there.

Rep. Abercrombie advocates a process leading to what he calls "a thoughtful decision." What is it that requires all this rethinking and consensus? The area is a mess and every terrorist group on the planet would love to have safe haven there, next to their expanding front in nuclear Pakistan.

Our resolve is already in question there. Convincing the Afghans otherwise may be the primary objective that will lead to an acceptable conclusion.

brian barbata | Kailua

UH FACULTY

BUDGET SUBSTANTIALLY CUT, WILL TAKE MORE

With regard to UH faculty salaries, Advertiser readers should note that the UH budget has already been substantially cut, and will certainly be cut further. Budget cuts allow the UH administration to terminate programs that are no longer needed, something that is nearly impossible to do during times of prosperity.

The near-term savings from a budget cut are comparable to those from an across-the-board pay cut, but the long-term benefits will be much greater — assuming the UH administration has the wisdom and courage to do what is needed. The Final Report of the 1997-1998 Vertical Cuts Committee was never acted on, and little has changed since then.

Neil Frazer | Professor, UH-Manoa