Opposing convictions
How is marriage 'threatened?'
I have one basic question to ask those who oppose gay marriage: Who is being hurt? Show me the victim.Traditional marriage is in mighty bad shape right now. Since six out of 10 marriages in the U.S. end up in divorce, it is ludicrous to say same-sex marriage threatens the traditional ones. Can't you just see a homosexual trying to disrupt a heterosexual marriage?
I know of more than one homosexual union, and I see in them the same commitment, love and devotion that goes into a heterosexual marriage. And, as a practicing Catholic, nowhere do I find Jesus speaking on the subject.
I will vote "no" regarding the constitutional change. And as for traditional marriage, I support it -- having been in one for the past 56 years and counting.
Emmett Cahill
Volcano, Hawaii
Clergy supporting gays are wrong
The statement by a Lutheran Church pastor (Star-Bulletin, Sept. 30) that Jesus would vote "no" and in favor of homosexual marriage is astonishing. Perhaps his Bible is missing the 10th chapter of Mark, where Jesus clearly states that marriage is between one man and one woman.I also find the name-calling by the director of Kokua Kalihi Valley to be offensive. To characterize Christians who believe in the Bible's teachings concerning homosexuality and marriage as being bigoted and hateful is, in itself, very intolerant of the vast majority of Christian believers.
Lisa Mendonza
Elitists hide behind judicial smoke screen
Self-styled elitists say they are in favor of preserving constitutional rights, but the almost certain consequence of voting "no," as they recommend, will be to legalize same-sex marriage. It is obvious what they favor.There is no constitutional right to same-sex marriage at this time. Therefore, no existing right is being taken away by favoring the amendment to keep marriage between a man and a woman.
The 1993 state Supreme Court plurality decision, which initiated this entire controversy, was the opinion of two judges and was concurred to by a third, who employed a wholly different line of reasoning.
A 3-2 vote is hardly an overwhelming judicial mandate for momentous social and cultural change.
Tom Dinnell
Constitution must be kept intact
My partner and I have been in a loving, committed relationship for the past 18 years. Friends have said, "You're more married than most married couples we know."The truth is that we, as a male couple, are less married, in that we lack any of the fundamental, automatic, near-200 specific civil rights given to any couple who can obtain a marriage license.
This is not some "game," as the other side would like voters to believe. This is about very real-life things: hospital visitation and determination rights, survivorship, shared taxes, medical, insurance, community property rights, and on and on.
Now Hawaii's Constitution is under fire from the forces of fear, misunderstanding, scapegoating and religious intolerance. It is vital that voters keep our precious Constitution intact, because it guarantees all of Hawaii's people the rights and protections that true equality demands of it.
Doug Self
Paia, Maui
Same-sex marriage:
Past articles
QUOTABLE
"It was as close to an agreement for slavery as any I've seen, with virtually no rights for a physician, and they (HMSA) had the ability to virtually terminate them at will."
-- Richard Miller, a retired professor of law, on a proposed Hawaii Medical Service Association participating physicians' agreement that was subsequently changed.
-- Alwin Zecha, chairman of the Pacific Leisure Group, on the need to promote Hawaii beyond its image of sun, sand and surf.
-- Pope John Paul II on the 20th anniversary of his election.
What kind of equality do feminists want?
Every once in a while, Senior Editor Diane Chang goes off the deep end, like in her Oct. 12 column, "Blaming women for being, well, women." Chang deliberately missed the points that author Robyn Blumner was trying to make in her Oct. 10 Insight article.Is Chang insinuating that we should have a law to have men change into women for a couple of child-bearing years, so that we can have some equality around here?
Hey, how about a law that makes it mandatory for the father to take 12 unpaid weeks off from work after childbirth, so the mother can go back to the office? This would guarantee that men would make 65 cents to the same dollar earned by women, instead of vice versa.
And I missed that part in Blumner's article which states that fewer women should be hired because of cost considerations.
Chang needs to lighten up. We have enough trash being generated by the White House media.
Herb Ota
Pearl City
(Via the Internet)
President Kim is shameful to kowtow to the Japanese
Regarding your Oct. 9 editorial on Japan's apology to South Korean leader Kim Dae-jung, the apology should have been for 50 years of Japanese rule (1895-1945), not 35 years.Japan offered no compensation to Koreans, but made a $30-billion loan to South Korea, which is a questionable deal. In return, Kim expressed a need to "forgive and forget" the Japanese aggression, and even agreed to a partnership with Japan for a united front against North Korea, which is contradictory to Kim's early policy for reconciliation with the North.
Kim has disappointed Koreans and not met their demand for compensation for the suffering they experienced under Japanese rule.
Hung Peng Lee
A mainland CEO is not throwback to plantation
What a shame that the Bishop Estate trustees, through a spokesperson, would discourage and deny the citizenry of Hawaii access to knowledge and skills from the mainland, and somehow try to link it to our plantation-era, oligarchy past. Ludicrous!The time is now to pull up and let go of the wrong that seems to be rooted in a mystifying inferiority. It is important now, right now, to remind ourselves that, at the core of our being, is goodness.
Manifest this truth! Go try 'um, pally! May love, peace and liberty prevail throughout America and beyond!
Kaupena Wong
Waianae
Mink's oratorial skills are credit to islands
I saw Patsy Mink on "The O'Reilly Factor" and she brought great credit to the House of Representatives and Hawaii. I always knew she was a great stateswoman, but I didn't know how great until I saw her respond to O'Reilly's badgering with spontaneous intelligence.It was the first time I saw O'Reilly stuck for words. He had to cut her off during the interview because he couldn't win his argument.
Jane Watanabe
Pearl City
Coffee Partners is not big-money mainland firm
Your Oct. 6 front-page teaser, referring to Coffee Partners Hawaii as a "big-money mainland company," is completely inaccurate. Coffee Partners Hawaii is locally owned (95 percent), is managed by local residents and has yet to turn a profit.In addition, over the past two years, we have contributed to Hawaii's economy by:
It's unfortunate that a sensationalized headline may have detracted from the positive effects of Starbucks in Hawaii, as the article inside discussed.
Greg Meier
Coffee Partners Hawaii
Most Hawaiians don't want independence from U.S.
In his Oct. 5 letter, Howard Mew poses nine questions on sovereignty to Hawaiians. Eight of the nine questions refer to independence. Independence is not the sovereign structure most Hawaiians favor.The relevant question is: What form of government do Hawaiians want?
For years, Ka Lahui Hawaii has proposed a Democratic and elective native nation similar to the 550 native nations that already exist in the U.S. Why not let Hawaiians choose by vote the form of government that we want -- democratic and elective, monarchal, traditional, independent, etc.?
We all know that the majority of Hawaiians do not support either a monarchy or a secessionist government. Mew and others continue to clamor about the bogeyman of independence rather than address the sovereign models proposed by Hawaiians.
Mililani B. Trask
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