Letters to the Editor
Wednesday, May 29, 1996
All the clogged Ala Wai needs is one of gov's gators
Some people want to refashion the Ala Wai Canal after San Antonio's River Walk. Now it appears that the governor has a different, ecotourism vision. First he prevents the dredging and cleaning of the Ala Wai by not releasing the state's share of the cost. This ensures that the sludge remains in place. Then he allows alligators to enter Hawaii ostensibly to entertain at the State Fair. Add the alligators and thickets of mangrove to the existing bacteria, sludge and the tilapia in the Ala Wai and there you have it - a cheap, tourist-attracting, water-themed park, Okefenokee Waikiki!
As stupid and silly as this may be, it makes much more sense and is less damaging than the city's proposal to revitalize Waikiki by increasing its height and density.
Richard Y. Will
Bomber named for Hawaii defies explanation
How can we finance, build, name, advertise and bless a nuclear-capable, $2 billion B-2 Stealth bomber as the "Spirit of Hawaii"? Can a military, political, and economic regime so insensitive to the spirit and needs of Hawaii long endure?
Glenn Paige
In government service, all men aren't equal
On civil and government service job applications, it clearly states: "an equal opportunity employer." Now, I don't know about you, but when I was a kid and Mom ripped the chewing gum into two equal parts, those pieces sure looked "equal" to me. When it came to college exams, if I couldn't use my calculator, well, no one else could either. It was equal. When you apply to "an equal opportunity employer" known as our civil and government service system, there is no such thing as "equality."
Veterans (I have nothing against vets. I sing our national anthem louder than I sing "Hawai'i Pono'i") are given either five or 10 points of "preference" over non-veterans. If Joe Non-Veteran (JNV) applies for a particular job and two or three veterans apply for that same job, JNV is automatically dropped to a lower list and his name and resume will not be referred to the "hiring authority." It doesn't matter if JNV is 150 percent more qualified than the veterans (vets must meet minimum requirements); the vets will get the "equal" chance for the job.
If you are in the civil or government system, you too will receive preference. The veterans buried in Punchbowl have a greater chance of getting a civil or government service job than us non-veterans. I don't know, maybe they better fit the job description?
T. Christian
Clinton's attempt to avoid lawsuit insults military vets
In a legal tactic to avoid a sexual harassment suit while in office, Bill Clinton has claimed protection from legal action under the Soldiers and Sailors Act. His claim is based on his position as commander-in-chief.
The act he is using protects members of the uniformed services from lawsuits while they are away from home on official duty. But our governmental philosophy dictates civilian control of the military. Therefore, the commander-in-chief would seem to be civilian by definition, and not a member of any uniformed service.
But what makes Clinton's claim particularly egregious is that this gentleman went to great lengths to avoid uniformed service. My question to all of Hawaii's veterans and active duty members is: Am I the only one who interprets Clinton's actions as an insult to his office and to those who have have actually worn the uniform?
Robert R. Kessler
Commander, U.S. Navy (Retired)
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