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Thursday, July 9, 1998

Publicity will help writer sell more books

Thank you, Lois-Ann Yamanaka, for making it possible for me to read "Blu's Hanging." It usually takes me a month to read a book, but yours was so interesting, it took me only a week. The pidgin and multi-ethnic situations carried me back to my younger years.

A mixture of cultures was always in evidence during our youthful activities. I learned that there were "Uncle Paulo" types in all ethnic groups. Most were harmless, some were deviates.

Those of us who are "shocked" and "disturbed" by this well-written novel, and cannot accept it for its literary merits, seem to have very "thin skins." Most shocking and disturbing is that a group of esteemed scholars, the Association for Asian American Studies, considered the book artistic enough to be awarded its 1997 Fiction Award, yet later caved in to "ethnic sensitivity."

An fo pau dis lettah, I like geeve my toht fo da day: Now, becuz da "chicken" AAAS wan mak one beeg steenk, an da noospapah wen rite plenny stuffs, da book stoahs goin sell uku-pile moah "Blu's Hanging!"

Robert L.J. Rapoza Sr.

And all's right in the politically correct world Japanese are sneaky, Caucasians are rude, Chinese are tightwads, Hawaiians are lazy, All African Americans talk jive, All Portuguese are lolos, Okinawans are too hairy, Koreans sell liquor, Samoans like beef, All Filipinos are sexual predators, Old folks are lousy drivers with stink breath, Teen-agers are punks, Women are vain, Men uncaring, Writers alcoholics, Cops murderers, Dogs bite, Cats scratch, Aliens abduct... All praise is worthy, All criticism fair. Darryl Tsutsui Pearl City

Aizawa and his team made great contribution

Mahalo to Corky for his thoughtful July 1 cartoon tribute to former Schools Superintendent Herman Aizawa. His resignation, along with other leadership team retirements, constitute what I consider a "brain drain":

Stan Seki, former deputy schools superintendent, is a legend himself and is highly regarded by both the DOE and members of the Legislature.

Ken Yamamoto, retiring from the instructional services section, is the brain behind curriculum development and a walking library on learning trends and practices.

Don Nugent, personnel services officer for more years than I can remember, has developed and maintained solid, updated procedures for effective, efficient personnel processing practices.

Call it a changing of the guard, the old guard. Aizawa and his guardsmen have made magnanimous contributions to our educational system.

Eileen Y. Ono
Principal
Ewa Beach Elementary School

Best wishes to Estrada as he launches presidency

I enjoyed reading the July 1 article on Joseph Estrada, the charismatic new president of the Philippines. My wife was born in the Philippines, and we both have watched the recent presidential election with great interest.

It is amusing how the political Philippine elite, educated in the "best" schools and colleges, have scorned him. President Estrada, with his deep compassion for the poor, represents a challenge to the arrogance of the rich.

As a devout Catholic, I applaud President Estrada's statement of allegiance to the poor. It reflects what we as Christians are supposed to believe in and do.

My wife and I will keep President Estrada in our prayers. The economic revolution begun by former President Ramos must now include the poor of the Philippines. Estrada has the potential of being a great president.

Bob W. St. Sure

KKK photo shouldn't have been in annual

Ken Chang concluded his July 1 letter to the editor by rebuking those disturbed by the Castle High School yearbook photo that depicted a student wearing an apparent Ku Klux Klan outfit. Chang advised, "Get a life."

It's too bad the African-American man who was dragged behind a truck and ripped apart by KKK-type racists can no longer exercise that option.

While we may debate the propriety of choosing such an outfit for Halloween, the question is why it was highlighted in a yearbook. Our young people should be discouraged from displaying insensitivity toward any of our diverse groups -- whether Arabs, Jews, Asian Americans, Filipinos or Caucasians, who are targeted on "Kill Haole Day."

As picky as it may seem, most hatred and violence is germinated by "insignificant" stereotypes and symbols. Mr. Chang, no man is an island.

Faye Kennedy

Photo depicted dangerous bicycle-riding practices

I was appalled by your June 27 photograph of a man riding a bicycle one-handed while carrying a child in the other. His actions were sheer idiocy, and showed gross negligence in the care and safety of his child.

But what really horrified me was your irresponsibility in even printing this picture. What does it tell the general public that it's a "family affair" to put children at risk by doing something so stupid as this? That it's a sign of healthy family relations to go bicycling without the proper safety gear?

Eighty percent of all bicycle-related deaths in the United States are caused by head trauma, and the majority are children.

By printing this picture, you may well have contributed to this number.

Jim Baker
Laie
(Via the Internet)

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