BushWAC
Who says we can't blame defecting WAC schools?
Let me see if I understand this. The governor proposes we pay for the "honor" of having schools with far better financial resources, from areas with far better economies, come to our island so they can kick our butts in sports?And the Star-Bulletin justifies this in a May 28 editorial by saying, "The university presidents and athletic directors who decided to bolt from the WAC can't be blamed for putting the interests -- essentially financial interests -- of their schools above those of the conference."
Excuse me, but what about our financial interests? What is the next brilliant proposal? Pay Asians to vacation here?
I have never heard anyone say, "Hawaii? You'd have to pay me to go there!" Yet I have been to places like El Paso and Tulsa, and you WOULD have to pay me to return there.
Larry Solomon
Kaneohe
(Via the Internet)
Hawaii is well rid of WAC turncoats
I am a Fresno native and Fresno State fan. I say "good riddance" to the eight defecting WAC schools. The manner in which they treated the remaining WAC members has been despicable. They have shown that they are schools with little class and cannot be trusted. They should be shunned by the NCAA.The wac should continue with the remaining eight schools and consider adding one or two others in the near future, perhaps Nevada-Reno or Utah State. Let the remaining WAC teams benefit from the money windfall.
Chances are that a couple of the defecting schools may be asked to join another conference and the remaining defectors may be asking to return to the WAC.
Greg Tanner
Sherman Oaks, Calif.
(Via the Internet)
UH should schedule big-name schools
The Western Athletic Conference split could be the best thing to ever happen to the University of Hawaii.UH should go independent. Why should we pay travel expenses to UNLV, SMU, Colorado State or San Diego when we could pay the same money to teams like Stanford, Colorado, Michigan or USC?
Why would these teams play Hawaii? Vacation and recruitment. UH can still schedule BYU, if it wants. Schedule them and they will come.
I know it is a scary idea, but little birds must leave the nest sometimes.
Sherman Takao
Kapolei
What compels people to destroy the planet?
Pakistan's and India's nuclear tests made me realize how very sad it is that complicated political issues still evolve into collective hatred and a desire for carnage.One wonders, sometimes, if the human race can avoid bursting the seams of the only place we have to live.
Amos Parker
Spend money educating people on need to vote
According to a May 15 article, a new computer system for counting votes would cost $2 million and save the state $1 million. It is tempting and attractive to cut down on the time and manpower required to tabulate ballots, but the Office of Elections is naive to think that more voters will turn out because the system is faster.Many people no longer believe that the outcome of elections represent their choice. Additionally, we are limited to two major parties that have enormous resources for media blanketing and advertising hype.
In the fall, public dissatisfaction over the "achievements" of past legislative sessions and government leadership could either be expressed by increased numbers of voters at the polls demanding change -- or with more non-voters realizing how useless it is to get involved.
That $2 million may be better spent re-educating people on why they should vote.
Melissa Yee
Sex lives of presidents is nobody's business
The men who have occupied our nation's highest office -- from George Washington to Bill Clinton -- have not all been paragons of sexual virtue. If we list the great ones, we will undoubtedly find sexual indiscretions committed by all of them.The American people have responded to President Clinton's alleged sexual dalliances with a great degree of acceptance and common sense. It is encouraging that there is a collective intelligence displayed in our country that runs counter to the hypocrisy shown by a few. This should give sexual moralists pause.
I strongly believe that the protection of the private lives of presidents from public voyeurism and the unrelenting scrutiny of the media should be as inviolable to our nation as is the separation of church and state.
Wendell Davenport
Hurricanes deserve strong fan backing
Hurray for the Honolulu Hurricanes! Last week my son took me to my first game, Honolulu vs. Colorado, and it was worth every penny. Congratulations to the management, staff, coaches and players for the fun, exciting, colorful party atmosphere. They've certainly done their part in providing Honolulu with a great professional football team.Now it's Honolulu's turn. Most of the players have direct ties within our community. They are our sons, brothers, friends and co-workers. We've watched many of them play football since high school, and they've made it all the way to the professional level.
They deserve our support. In a city of a million people, surely we can find 8,000 to attend a game on one night. Honolulu deserves pro sports; prove that we want the Hurricanes to stay.
Anuhea Brown
Political overcorrectness leads to misguided apology
Poor Bill Kwon. He writes a piece praising a young lady golfer from Korea. He puts in a couple of humorous comments, and the forces of political correctness (Letters, May 28) rise in indignation.Then the Star-Bulletin sees fit to print a silly apology. Who or what is next?
Ed White
Kaneohe
(Via the Internet)
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