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Luiz's possible release should shock public

Have the three state-appointed psychiatrists who examined murderer and sexual sadist Paul Abraham Luiz at the Hawaii State Hospital lost their minds?

After reading your Jan. 27 story about Luiz, and the many violent and irrational crimes he's committed against young women in Hawaii, including murder, I was furious to learn these state-appointed doctors would ever consider releasing him from the hospital.

Luiz says he murdered 16-year-old Barbara Seibel in 1975 because she kicked in his car windshield while he tried to rape her. Luiz admitted to killing another woman in the Philippines because she resisted his advances.

If that weren't enough to keep him behind bars for life, he attacked at knifepoint five women that we know of, ages 16-25, over a 10-month period in 1972-73.

The brother of the murder victim, Jim Seibel, says Luiz should never be released and is a danger to "every woman on the planet." He should know.

The police and the prosecutors did their part to keep Luiz, now 55 years old, locked up for half his lifetime. The public should be outraged, demand he stay either in prison or an institution, and call for the resignations of these state-appointed doctors. They are undermining the safety of every woman in the islands.

Malia Zimmerman
Kailua

Luiz doesn't deserve second chance

So murderer Paul Abraham Luiz, aka Abraham Paul Jordan, wants to leave the State Hospital. Let's just ignore the fact that he has raped several girls and women and, in 1975, brutally murdered 16-year-old Barbara Seibel. Let's accept his attorney's view that he has shown "exemplary behavior" for a year at the hospital, so he deserves "conditional release." What conditions?

Will his attorney, Peter Ross, stay by his side 24/7 for the rest of his days, to keep my daughter and your daughters safe from this person? If it is Judge Rey Graulty's decision, will he watch over this man he is considering letting loose in our society? This murderer never showed exemplary behavior when he was free. He doesn't deserve any more chances. It doesn't matter how long ago his vicious crimes were committed.

The memory of Barbara Seibel deserves more consideration. My heart goes out to her brother, Jim. I thank him for his efforts in trying to keep this man off our streets.

And Judge Graulty, please think of Barbara when you make your decision. Our children face enough dangers in this life without you adding one more.

M. Cuello
Mililani

There ought to be a way to eliminate state taxes

About a week ago, I went to Florida on a business trip and a visit to Disney World. On my flight back from Florida to Las Vegas, a gentleman from Florida was sitting on my right and a gentleman from Neveda was on my left. We started to talk about state taxes. The man from Florida said he does not pay state taxes; the tourists pay it for him. The man from Nevada said he doesn't pay state taxes; the gamblers pay it for him.

I was already mad because as a Hawaii resident I pay one of the highest state taxes in the country. Now I am furious because I find out I am also helping to pay Florida and Neveda taxes.

I guess Hawaii's Legislature does not have the brain miso like those of Florida and Nevada. No wonder we cannot pay our teachers what they deserve.

Jimbo Miura

Quotables "A sociopolitical epic tale speaking to these larger themes of innocence in America, the price of war, the sacrifice a generation made." Ben Affleck HOLLYWOOD ACTOR His description of "Pearl Harbor," the $135-million Disney movie filmed in Hawaii and scheduled for release on May 25, possibly in Honolulu "If we are going to strike, we want it to be short enough (so it) would allow people to graduate." J.N. Musto EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FACULTY UNION On a possible strike by faculty members as early as April 2

Hawaii has much to do in civil-rights arena

Why would a group of people --regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation and religion -- walk 110 miles over the course of seven days around the entire island of Oahu? The answer: equality and justice for all.

Inequality anywhere is injustice everywhere. Yet a Jan. 24 letter by Vanessa Birang stated that she is "getting tired of hearing about how homosexuals are so oppressed."

For her sake and the sake of others who just don't know how oppressed, consider the following:

There are no public accommodation laws in Hawaii on the basis of sexual orientation. Therefore, it is legal to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in housing and basically all businesses open to the public.

There are no hate crime laws in Hawaii. Since the murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming in October 1998, there have been more than 67 reported murders due to perceived sexual orientation (four victims were from Hawaii) and thousands of incidences reported yearly. Hate crimes begin with discrimination.

Due to harassment based on sexual orientation, gay youth are more likely to avoid school, run away from home and three times more likely to attempt suicide than straight peers.

Despite recent Family Court same-sex adoptions, there are no full legal adoption privileges for same-sex couples parallel to heterosexual couples. Litigation in district, circuit and/or supreme courts will need to be pursued.

Despite the '98 election, the state Supreme Court reaffirmed on Dec. 10, 1999, that "same-sex couples are entitled to all the rights and benefits of married couples without the license," according to attorney Dan Foley. Therefore, the government is required by law to grant same-sex couples equal rights and benefits of marriage without calling it "marriage."

Civil unions is the solution, and Hawaii's people support this measure.

Tracy LaGondino
Co-Chairperson,
Media and Public Relations Committee
Civil Unions-Civil Rights Movement

Guillermo spews racist commentary

Following the almost incoherent Jan. 25 column by Emil Guillermo, I am compelled to say that, for some time now, I have pondered why the Star-Bulletin facilitates such racial warfare in our beautiful community.

Syndicated columnist Cynthia Tucker is also racist but at least she writes well and does have her objective moments.

Guillermo is just plain offensive, non-intellectual and not even clever. He writes from an intolerant, limited world view.

We who have long lived in Hawaii know that tolerance is the only way to live harmoniously, even though there are problems with those who have not yet matured enough to understand.

Why would you allow your pages to be used as a wedge between those of Asian origin and all the other ethnic groups? In his paranoia and venom, Guillermo targets his hate talk mostly toward Caucasians and especially conservative Caucasians.

Do you really want more one-sided, hateful, divisive rhetoric given such a prominent place, and the appearance of acquiescence by your newspaper?

Jean Coleman

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