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'Stretch' Johnson marched for equality

I was saddened to read that Howard "Stretch" Johnson, educator and social activist, passed away in New York, May 28, at age 85 (Star-Bulletin, June 12).

I first met Stretch at a large multi-ethnic gathering at the old Kapiolani Park bandstand. We had just ended a long parade that began at Ala Moana Park celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and civil rights.

Stretch told me about the years of denial and rejection of Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday bill by the state Legislature. He felt certain that we could get it passed that year. A coalition of diverse individuals and organizations was formed and rapidly growing. Within a few weeks we had a petition of more than 10,000 signatures supporting the bill.

At the University of Hawaii Manoa campus ballroom, an evening of "African Roots" -- culture, music and dance -- took place. It was educational, exciting and fun!

In the past, many politicians opposed this bill. But that year I don't remember any politician publicly speaking out against the bill. They realized that the people supporting the bill were their constituency -- the voters.

Finally, the state honored Martin Luther King Jr. with a holiday. Everyone realized that this was an effective way to get things done politically. Shortly after that, the Rainbow Coalition was formed.

Stretch was also a Quaker. I met him several times at Sunday morning meetings in Manoa. Fond memories...goodbye, Stretch. I will miss you.

David A. Lane

Treaties represented residents of every color

Louis Hao's June 12 View Point, "Treaties attest to Hawaii's status as a nation," fails to note that the "subjects and people" mentioned in the five 19th-century treaties the Kingdom of Hawaii entered into with the United States were citizens of Hawaii who were descendants of all races.

Unlike the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which Louis Hao represents, and which recognizes only kanaka maoli, the Kingdom of Hawaii considered many other races for citizenship. That is how it was then, after annexation, and as it should remain.

Earl Arakaki
Ewa Beach

Maui must move to protect open space

I am in favor of the open space funding charter amendment. When I relocated to Maui from Boulder, Colo., I was surprised to learn that a funded open space program did not exist on Maui.

Surely an entire county can manage to do what one small town in Colorado is doing. Boulder City residents many years ago exhibited acute foresight by starting a funded open space program while the city was still surrounded by acres of open space land that was inexpensive.

Maui county must start a well-funded open space program now -- before it is too late.

Mary Ann Ciuffini
Kihei, Maui

Quotables "I should have done a certain amount of popular media, such as 'Larry King Live,' just to humanize it and do something about the demonization process..." Kenneth Starr FORMER INDEPENDENT COUNSEL Lamenting his reluctance to talk with the media during his investigations of President Clinton's activities involving Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky "It was not just once or twice that I plunged into deep despair thinking that I would never be able to step on the soil of the north in my lifetime." Kim Dae-jung SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT In remarks prefacing his historic visit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il

Good luck to employees in effort to save paper

All of you who have joined or will join the Star-Bulletin Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) please accept my admiration for your commitment and it's proof that Star-Bulletin employees are willing and able to help themselves in putting together a takeover bid.

Your effort is certain to mean a lot to the court when the day comes to see who has stood up to be counted as concerned about keeping Honolulu a two-newspaper town. Please be proud of your recognition that a monopoly situation would be as politically, culturally and informationally bad for Honolulu and Hawaii as well as bad for those employed in the news business here.

Again, my admiration and pledge to do all I can to make sure the Star-Bulletin remains so important in your lives.

Phil Mayer

Bulletin closing archive

Frog proliferation could be a sign from almighty

Your front page article on the growing colony of alien frogs in Hawaii ("Pesky alien species have folks hopping mad," Star-Bulletin, June 5) made me think of the P. T. Anderson film, "Magnolia."

The film, a morality play about synchronicity, coincidences, broken family bonds and parental abuse that takes place during a rainy day in Los Angeles, ends with an epiphany of frogs in the form of precipitation.

As Hawaii deals with the alien frogs from the Caribbean, a similar amphibious assault took place in Salida, Calif. where large number of frogs began to appear in residential areas.

When Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrews go, God smote Egypt with frogs (Exodus 8:2). The Romans believed that the health and well being of a society could be determined by the health of its frogs.

Could it be just a coincidence that the frog epidemic in Hawaii continues to grow during the Xerox murder trial and the reclassification of Peter Kema Jr.'s disappearance into a murder investigation? I doubt it. God sends messages through frogs.

And if you don't believe that God could possibly punish Hawaii for its sins with an army of frogs, let me remind you of the refrain in Magnolia -- "But it did happen."

Brad Haida
Pearl City

Kudos to Everett for hitting big time

What a pleasure to see Neil Everett joining the fat ranks of Hawaii sportscasters who have moved up to the big shows on the mainland.

Neil is the best writer in broadcast sports I've seen in my 38 years of Hawaii journalism. Besides, he's a gentleman and a collegial newsroom worker. He deserves the chance. Next stop: "Monday Night Football"?

Bob Jones

ADA case is about civil rights for disabled

You could not be more wrong in your June 9 editorial analysis titled, "Intrusion on State Rights."

The case that will be heard by the Supreme Court, Garret vs. University of Alabama, is not an 11th Amendment, state sovereignty issue; we assert it is a 14th Amendment equal protection issue. We believe that Congress amply established the states' historical patterns of discrimination against people with disabilities before it passed the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Shame on any state that would, in the guise of protecting its sovereignty, deny the civil rights of some 15 percent of its population -- its citizens with disabilities.

Gary L. Smith
President
Hawaii Disability Rights Center

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