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Saturday, November 11, 2000

Star-Bulletin closing after 117 years

Reaction to Star-Bulletin sale

Just for the record, from someone who reads a lot of newspapers for a variety of issues, your newspaper is excellent! The coverage you give to important issues in Hawaii and worldwide is wonderful.

I never see news clippings from the Advertiser referenced, yet I frequently see those from the Star-Bulletin cited. Congratulations on the sale to David Black.

Barbara Price
Portland, Maine

Tapa

It is like an early Christmas! I knew the sale would go through. The very best to all.

William Wagner
Mt. Holly, N.J.

Tapa

Congratulations! I was really gonna miss you. Good luck and aloha from Georgia.

N. Campbell

Tapa

Hooray! The Star-Bulletin is my lifeline to Hawaii, my home for 17 years and in my heart still.

Mary L. Hudson



Bulletin shutdown archive


Voters saw through attacks on Gabbard

I am one of the 100,000 people who voted for Carol Gabbard for school board. Her opponents tried to paint her as an evil person who eats children for breakfast.

Obviously Hawaii's people were not affected by the absurd personal attacks against her. But even more telling is the fact that in the "Kids Voting" program, Gabbard was also the victor.

Philip Barnett
Kailua

Gabbard's post-election remarks are troubling

What should I make of Carol Gabbard's post-campaign statements (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 8)? She seems to be blaming others for her poor image, complaining about being "dragged into a 'smear campaign' that portrayed her as a homophobe and hate monger." This, despite running a campaign that displayed a marked intolerance toward gays.

Specifically, one of her television ads directly exploited the issue; the group Alliance for Traditional Marriage and Values (headed by her husband) endorsed her and ran inflammatory-but-factless, full-page, anti-gay ads in both voters' guides. And vandalism of her campaign signs was attributed -- with no evidence whatsoever -- to those sympathetic to gay issues.

Then, commenting on the recent BOE struggle with anti-harassment policies, she hopes that "we can move on to issues that are of concern to all of us." Meaning what? That if some children suffer ill-treatment in our public schools because of their sexual orientation, the rest of us shouldn't worry about it because we're not gay, too? They're not our kids? That we don't have to respect or care for others if they're in some way different from us?

Patrick DeBusca Jr.

Kids Voting experience brought revelation

On general election day, as I was standing in my polling place at an intermediate school waiting to cast my vote, I noticed a large sign reading: "Kids Voting." What a great idea, I thought. This will give young people a feeling of participation and a chance to familiarize themselves with the democratic process.

Then I watched as a mother, already having voted herself, march over to the "Kids Voting" area with her young son. She proceeded to fill out a ballot on his behalf while he played distractedly on the floor a few feet away. Election officials looked on, smiling.

Come on, people. Clearly, this isn't what this program was designed for. What, if anything, is this kid going to learn from this exercise? That it's OK to let those in power co-opt your vote?

Maybe this mother was just giving her son an early lesson in how local politics work.

Liza Vinzant


Quotables

Tapa

"Yippee! I'm delighted that this
is going to continue to be a
two-newspaper town."

Jean King
FORMER HAWAII LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND
MEMBER OF SAVE OUR STAR-BULLETIN
On hearing that the 118-year-old afternoon daily
in Honolulu is going to be purchased by
Canadian publisher David Black

Tapa

"Women are catching up as aggressive
drivers though they're less overt.
They are more seethers."

Diane Nahl
WHO, ALONG WITH LEON JAMES, CO-AUTHORED
THE NEW BOOK, "ROAD RAGE AND
AGGRESSIVE DRIVING"
On how increased traffic and a competitive
society are causing tempers to
flare on H-1 and beyond


Story on Bush's DUI had weak premise

I'm disappointed that you chose to run such a factually inaccurate Pacific News Service article last Saturday opposite the glowing profile of Clinton, the consummate campaigner, in your Insight section.

The writer equated George W. Bush's misdemeanor DUI in 1976 with his own multiple bank robberies. He asked, in essence, why so many have to pay high prices for controlled-substance and violent crime convictions while Bush got off so easily?

Bush paid the penalties specified by law at the time. Misdemeanor DUI is not the same as multiple bank robbery. And enforcing the law is not the same thing as a lack of forgiveness.

Next time, spend more time finding a column with more integrity and less partisan sour grapes.

Jeffrey Ady

Hawaiians merit better burial place

So the bones disturbed at Kuhio Beach are to be put in the front yard of the Honolulu Zoo (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 24)? I can just hear the visitors from distant lands, listing all that they have seen: "Flamingos, peacocks, monkeys, parrots, Hawaiians, elephant, snakes..."

The idea of reburial at such a site is beneath contempt. I can't even summon up a giggle at this decision.

Beverly Kai

Column on former UH player was inspiring

Dave Reardon's Nov. 6 column on Doug Nomura puts into perspective a lot of things about ourselves, our problems and goals. It makes you ask, "Well, what have you done or what are you doing to make the world better?"

To associate the values of a former Rainbow Warrior like Nomura with the football team -- and I would like to think, college athletics in general -- helps all of us understand that winning a game isn't everything. It is just the vehicle which transports our young people towards meaningful careers and in developing their character.

Earl Tanaka
Bucharest, Romania

Improve state of municipal golf courses

Can we please step up the quality of our municipal golf courses with better maintenance and operations? For example:

Bullet The tee box and the hole on the green should be moved on a daily basis.

Bullet The greens are bumpy, which indicate maintenance is required.

Bullet Motorized carts should not be permitted within 100 years of the greens. The barriers for this should be monitored weekly to reduce infringements.

Bullet The fairways could be aerated more often with the cost borne by increasing cart fees.

Bullet Certain courses have more crab grass and weeds than others.

Bullet Implement changes to make refreshment carts economically feasible.

Bullet Some of the starters' offices are too dull and dreary.

Bullet Most of the restroom facilities are acceptable but some could be spruced up, including the installation of more paper towel dispensers.

Bullet Reduce maintenance by insisting on spikeless shoes.

Chester M. Obara
Pearl City

Too many new cars is bad news for traffic

With respect to your Oct. 31 story, "Auto sales speed ahead 20 percent," how many of those 40,333 new cars are replacements? Or are they in addition to the vehicles still on the road? Has anyone projected the number of cars on this island 10, 15, 20 years from now?

We need to take bold steps with regard to rapid transit and perhaps even instituting limits on new autos being brought into the state. If not, there won't be enough hours in the day to get to the office, work eight hours and then drive home again.

Rick Phillips
Haleiwa

It's not too late to welcome veterans home

In the wake of the tragic attack on the USS Cole, it is important to remember the sacrifices of those who have valiantly served this country or currently protect our nation's borders.

These true American patriots have responded to the call to duty with an amazing courage and honor. They deserve our gratitude on Veterans Day.

While many vets would appreciate a thank you, millions more are looking for someone, anyone, to say something to them they've never heard before. For all who adorned the battle fatigues of Korea and Vietnam, and returned to the states without a parade, let the country finally tell them, "Welcome home."

Frank S. Lamson
Department Commander
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
Pearl City

Memories and significance of Veterans Day

The Hawaiians call this island Oahu, meaning the gathering place. Rising out of her earth looms a volcano, now dead. Within the bowels of this crater known as Punchbowl, a special gathering continues to endure the decades -- the bones of men and women who gave a measure of themselves in the service of their country.

It was at this national cemetery that I spent Veterans Day last year.

A rainbow hung heavy in the sky as a light November mist settled against my skin. Taps played softly in the background. Headstone after headstone of "unknowns" assaulted my vision. My heart ached when I thought of the hundreds of mothers unable to weep over the graves of their sons.

As the artillery offered a 21-gun salute, I noticed a partly smoked cigar resting on a marble slab alongside a small bouquet of flowers. The engraving revealed that a Korean War vet lie buried beneath. Touched by this gesture of love, this silent sharing of a simple pleasure, I smiled to myself.

The sound of laughter caught my attention, and I glanced over at a group of old men. I saw their gnarled hands and feeble steps made proud by the medals they still wore pinned to the chests. I was reminded of the magnitude of sacrifice that individuals are called to make.

Then I turned my head toward the future. Looking out across a sea of grass and marble, I spotted my own three boys. I watched their fingers trace the chiseled names of forgotten dead, and listened to the lilt of their voices filled with wonder and compassion.

For the first time, I marveled at the forgotten heroes of Veterans Day. How many of the free and the brave had left little ones behind when they marched off to war?

All across this country there are children anxiously waiting a parent's return. Their lives are affected by not only noble causes, but also by the whims of politicians and the actions of madmen across the waters.

When they say goodbye, it is for a long time. Possibly forever. Valor demands a toll from them as well. Those of us caught up in the whirlwind of adult living too often fail to realize the depth of that sacrifice.

Kaye Pepin
Ewa Beach

Pearl Harbor pollution needs greater oversight

Puuloa (Pearl Harbor), once the home to abundant sea life, has a Restoration Advisory Board charged with community oversight of the naval cleanup program. The board asks very few questions and feels it has more than enough community representation. Concerned citizens are welcome to attend.

Pearl Harbor has extensive pollution, including hundreds of leaking underground and above ground storage tanks, plumes of diesel fuel floating on groundwater in the basal aquifer, former unlined landfills that were used for discarding toxic waste materials accumulated over several decades and contaminated soil (PCBs, dioxins, etc.).

Waipio Peninsula has extensive contamination from an herbicide/fertilizer mixing area located near a landing strip that was used to poison pests during decades of sugar cultivation.

Our group strongly supports greater public participation and oversight in this critical watershed.

Henry Curtis
Executive Director, Life of the Land

Lahainaluna needs air-conditioned classrooms

I am a junior boarding at Lahainaluna High School. If you've ever visited Lahaina, you know how hot it gets. Sometimes it reaches 80 degrees in the classroom, which is distracting when you're trying to study.

We may have received electric fans from the state, but they're cheaply made and you're lucky if they last two years. If you'd like to help us, let us to buy air conditioners. Or better yet, maybe somebody can donate them so we can skip the red tape.

Shyra Smith
Lahaina, Maui

Close election proves Hawaii's vote counts, too

Hey, guess what? Hawaii's vote finally amounted for something.

Forget Florida and the Electoral College for a moment. As of Thursday, the popular vote for presidency had Al Gore ahead by less then 200,000. In Hawaii, 205,209 voted for Gore.

If the popular vote count continues to hover around this range, it means we got to decide who won the popular vote, being last in the election process that starts from the East Coast.

Maybe Gore's not going to be president, but some of you wished you had voted, eh?

Sechyi Laiu

Riflery story had nothing to do with Uyesugi

I take issue with Steven M. Nakamura's Thursday letter. He feels that the Nov. 1 story you ran on the State Air Riflery Tournament (an excellent story) was ill-timed since it was the anniversary of the Xerox murders. The story had absolutely nothing to do with those murders.

I am sure that the athletes who were featured are very good or outstanding students who will go on to college (maybe on athletic scholarships), graduate (which is more than I can say for some of the other more popular sports), and become fine, upstanding citizens of our community. For anyone to imply that even one of them will turn out to be like Byran Uyesugi is insulting.

Roy Ishikawa
Aiea





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