Gary Rodrigues should be impeached for misbehavior
I just got through reading your Oct. 9 front-page article regarding the arrogant Gary Rodrigues and his personal dilemma in his very public office. I now understand why so many people want to be part of a union; look at the benefits -- personal loans from the boss, job promotions without merit and salaries higher than the directors'. Where does one apply?On a serious note, can someone like Rodrigues be impeached for his improper and unbusiness-like behavior? Personal relationships between boss and secretary have no place in the office, especially if these women were granted special treatment for things other than doing work that warranted such high-paying salaries. UPW member dues are paying their salaries.
It is a travesty to have such a man leading this union. I only hope that there will be a complete investigation into what I feel is a serious matter, and that there will be some disciplinary action taken against Rodrigues for abusing his position as UPW state director.
Thank you for printing such an informative article.
M. Cooper-Martinez
(Via the Internet)
Public schools need more state funding
While federal money for education in Hawaii continually and substantially increases, actual state spending on education proportionately decreases. Consequently, our public schools show no improvement.Instead of rallying for even more federal funding, which creates only more dependence or "bureaucratic welfare," our legislators might spend their energy on developing a legitimate way for our state to fund education, while mandating the state auditor's recommendation to implement a comprehensive accounting system.
Meanwhile, kudos to our new schools superintendent and Board of Education for proposing to restore the Department of Education budget to at least levels of funding in years past.
Laura Brown
Mililani
(Via the Internet)
Football players have been through enough
I want to make it very clear that I do not condone what happened on that Las Vegas trip. I believe that the individuals involved are sorry and that they have learned a valuable lesson: to engage in activities that embarrass your parents, coaches and school is absolutely unacceptable.However, I must say that, if I were in Father Mario Pariante's shoes, I would immediately revoke the suspensions imposed on the students involved. Why? Because their public crucifixion by the local media has been punishment enough.
One more thing: Did your newspaper have to print the Tony Tata story right smack in the middle of all the coverage surrounding this Las Vegas incident?
Please let the St. Louis administrators, coaches and players take care of this problem.
As for the rest of us, including the media, let's all just butt out.
Andrew T. Leandro
(Via the Internet)
Attempt to link abortion, gay marriage is shameful
This evening I was outraged to see the TV commercial attempting to align homosexual "rights" and the issue of abortion. The campaign to restrict marriage to people of the same gender speaks to the moral integrity of our island home. I see no slippery slope beyond the issue at hand -- simply an honest and meaningful effort to keep marriage within the bounds of moral decency.Shame on those who deceive through fear and misinformation. If they disagree with the initiative to amend the Constitution, at least they should state their views with integrity and let the people of our state decide on the basis of fact.
Toby Clairmont
Mililani
(Via the Internet)
Discrimination shouldn't reign in these islands
When I attended elementary school in Seattle, we were the only Jewish family in the district. There were no allowances made for "being different" so I suffered unspeakable prejudice as a result. It was difficult for a child to handle.So imagine my surprise and pleasure when my family moved to Honolulu. In junior high, I was again the only Jew but, this time I suffered no negative reaction. In fact, there was no reaction. Why? Because in Hawaii 46 years ago, everyone was "different." There were students of all races and religions, so I was accepted just like everyone else.
Now, in Hawaii, some people want to point out "differences" for the first time. What a dreadful shame to turn this melting pot into divided camps, where some people are OK and some people are not. How dare we legislate prejudice in any form.
Please, for my children and the ones who will follow, vote "no" on both a Con Con and the constitutional amendment. Keep Hawaii as it was -- a paradise where everyone feels "aloha."
Wynn Bloch
(Via the Internet)
'Traditional marriage' has evolved with the times
The appeal to "tradition" is always dangerous, since traditions exist in the minds of human beings and are thus always changing.In the part of the United States where I grew up, in the not too distant past, there were laws meant to preserve "traditional marriage" -- laws that ensured that only two people of the same race and color could get a marriage license.
Lucky for me (Caucasian) and my wife (Chinese) -- and no doubt also for the majority of those who are currently waving the "protect traditional marriage" banner -- the courts have struck down all of these old anti-miscegenation laws.
As a husband and a father, a heterosexual and a Christian, I plan to vote "no" next month, both to protect our Constitution from being politicized by whatever is currently the hot "tradition" issue for some special-interest group, and to keep our government from infringing on the civil rights of any of our citizens.
Philip J. Bossert
Kailua
(Via the Internet)
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