Mayor Harris has morphed
in columnist's appraisal

What a difference a mere two years can make in a person's perspective!

In August 1995, Star-Bulletin Managing Editor David Shapiro wrote of Mayor Jeremy Harris, "Give the man credit: He flat out works like a dog." Shapiro said "the worst critics can say about (the mayor) is that he does too much. Council members never known for camera shyness make snide remarks about his press conferences."

Now, fast-forward to September 1997 and see what Shapiro now says about Harris: "The mayor has been getting on my nerves lately with cheap shots at the news media and a cloying need to draw attention to himself with political stunts that should be beneath him."

Shapiro described Harris' tactics as tacky, shameless, grandstanding, silly and having very little class.

I'm glad Shapiro's BS detector is finally working. But watch out for that hyperbole monster, Dave!

John Henry Felix
Vice Chairman
Honolulu City Council

Yes, gays are mistreated
just as much as Christians

On Sept. 12, letter writer Robert Ing wrote, "Are gay people given 15- to 30-year prison sentences for their homosexuality? Are they being beaten and starved? How about being forced to eat food tainted with human waste, or being physically bound for months and even years on end?"

Ing might be surprised to learn that, in fact, same-sex sexual relations are currently punishable by a prison sentence of up to 20 years in the state in which I live, Rhode Island, and also in Georgia and Virginia. A homosexual can be imprisoned for life in Idaho for making love with a life partner.

Until 1950, all but two states classified same-sex relations as a felony, with only murder, kidnapping and rape commanding heavier sentences.

Penalties for homosexual acts in other countries range from 10 days' imprisonment in Ethiopia, to a fine and beating in India, to life imprisonment in Guyana. Eight Islamic countries prescribe the death penalty for homosexuality.

Incidentally, the death penalty for homosexual behavior was not repealed in England until 1861.

Rev. Jan Nunley
Rector, St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
Providence, R.I.
(Via the Internet)

It's not true that
all wars will be nuclear

In response to Rowena Akana's Sept. 20 View Point, perhaps she should update her reference library if she believes that the U.S. military will be involved in only nuclear wars.

Our military has utilized the lessons reinforced here in Hawaii to fight and win battles against several non-nuclear capable foes.

And what about future wars? Ever heard or read about North and South Korea? Maybe this would be a good time for a field trip. Most people who have been to South Korea can tell you about the very real tension between these two countries.

Training saves lives. Please don't be so quick to put our troops in greater danger than absolutely necessary.

Wesley Miller

Single-passenger dropoffs
reign at Punahou School

It's difficult to find a place to run these days without being asphyxiated by carbon monoxide, and since I prefer the great outdoors to the confines of a health spa, I should probably reschedule my exercise regime from midnight to around 4 a.m.

However, since it's probably unsafe at that hour, I choose daylight. And on one of my excursions through Punahou, I stopped to catch my breath for a good deal longer than anticipated -- and literally counted 546 assorted Mercedes, Jaguars, Rolls, Volvos, Jeeps, what have you, all arriving in procession to drop off their precious single passengers at Punahou School.

I'm all for higher education and the spoils that come with it. Yet even in New York, Paris or London, politicians, bureaucrats and their offspring ride trains, buses, the underground or even bicycles to school or the office, in what would seem to be a logical approach to reducing congestion during rush hour, not to mention pollution.

I wondered if these individual chauffeurs are the ones complaining about smoke-free restaurants or the lack of them. They should try to set a better example for street breathers, while at the same time consider some relatively inexpensive character-building benefits for their children.

John L. Werrill

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Bishop Estate Archive

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