CNN's geography is in a sad state

I found the map above on CNN. It illustrates the route the U.S intelligence plane crew took home from China.

Notice how the map goes from Guam (a U.S. territory) to Hawaii to the United States. Looking at this map, one might be led to think Hawaii is not actually part of the United States! Where's the aloha? Hawaii is the 50th state in the union, for crying out loud!

If CNN can make this goof, it's no wonder half the nation thinks like Nicholas Cage's tourist character in "Honeymoon in Vegas.

Cage: "I need to get back to the states!" Kauai airport ticket agent: "We are a state, sir."

Pat Walsh
San Francisco, Calif.

Downed plane was not on a 'spy' mission

The media is not doing any favors for the military or the State Department by continually referring the the Navy P-3 as a "spy" plane. This aircraft is a "reconnaissance" aircraft that flies openly scheduled missions to collect electronic data.

"Spy" aircraft fly secret missions, not openly scheduled and would be over another country's air space without that country's permission. Our EP-3 was on an "Elint" or electronic intelligence mission over international airspace. It was NOT a "spy." I certainly did not consider myself as a spy during my 78 Elint missions in Vietnam.

William G. Burlingame Sr.
Mililani

China is acting like a hostile nation

Charles Bergman (Letters, April 5) stumbles when he equates the American EP-3 forced to land on Hainan Island with the Soviet MIG-25 Foxbat flown by a defecting pilot at the height of the Cold War.

It is true both aircraft remain the property of their originating nations. There the similarity ends. The United States had the right and obligation under international law to offer the defector sanctuary. The technical intelligence gained from the aircraft, given the context of Cold War and the constant threat of nuclear holocaust, was entirely justified by American rights of self-defense.

China has treated the U.S. Navy EP-3 like a prize of war. The United States, even in the midst of an undeclared war, returned the MIG.

Rights of safe harbor are granted ships and aircraft between friendly nations throughout the globe on a daily basis. By rejecting that right for a U.S. Navy patrol aircraft, China is redefining the nature of its relationship with the United States from that of a friendly nation to that of a hostile nation.

Scott Allen
Kailua

[QUOTABLES] "This bill, in my estimation, is welfare for politicians." Colleen Meyer, Republican state representative from Waiahole, objecting to a bill that would allow Honolulu City Council candidates to receive up to $80,000 in public money to run for election in 2002. "This levels the electoral playing field." Brian Schatz, Democratic representative from Makiki, saying the pilot funding program set up by the bill will attract candidates who don't want to compromise their integrity by accepting campaign donations from special interest groups.

Educators don't live in make-believe world

How sadly ironic that in the midst of strikes by teachers and University of Hawaii faculty members, the governor is still opening Washington Place for an annual Easter egg hunt for Hawaii's children.

I guess the message for Hawaii's keiki is that the Easter Bunny is real, while qualified and well-paid teachers and UH instructors are only the stuff of make-believe.

Judy Chong-Nakamura

Governor's obstinance fits classic profile

Just before the strike I assigned my University of Hawaii students a paper on comparing Governor Cayetano and Creon, the King of Thebes in Sophocles' "Antigone."

As the strike continues the comparison is striking. Creon, the ruler of Thebes, was guilty of hybris or arrogance toward the gods and the city. On the grounds that he could make any laws he wanted, he forbade anyone to bury Polyneices on penalty of death. Antigone defied him and buried her brother. She argued that Creon cannot override natural law and the laws of the gods.

Creon sentenced her to be buried alive. The city became polluted because of this violation of gods' law.

Stubborn and arrogant, as the condition of the city grew worse, he refused to do anything. His son, Haemon, begged him to relent. But Creon kept saying he was the law and no one 7ould defy him. Finally the blind seer, Teiresias (Senator Inouye?) persuaded Creon that matters had gone too far. Creon relented, but too late.

When he rushed to the cave in which Antigone was buried, he found Antigone had killed herself rather than starve to death. Haemon in tears also killed himself.

When Creon's wife found out their son had died, she also committed suicide. Creon, because of his stubbornness and arrogance had lost his son, his wife and future daughter-in-law. He learned too late the price of his arrogance.

Everyone wants to settle the strike. But Governor Cayetano, in his arrogance, refuses to bend. Like Creon eventually he will bend, but at a great price for everyone. The schools, the university, the students and the state will be damaged. And Governor Cayetano himself, like Creon, will lose the respect of the electorate and the business community. One day soon he will leave office. What will he do then without power and without respect?

Robert J. Littman
Professor of Classics
University of Hawaii at Manoa

Condolences for Tye are appreciated

The tragic death of University of Hawaii swimmer Tammy Tye prompted an overwhelming demonstration of aloha from the community. Please accept our thanks for all the prayers and donations in support of Tammy, her family and her teammates.

Young people are not often faced with the reality of death among their peers. The shock and sorrow felt by Tammy's teammates was and is profound. All the kind words and letters from you are truly appreciated. Those of you who knew her are, like us. poorer for her passing.

Solzhenitsyn wrote: "Some people are bound to die young. By dying young a person stays young forever in people's memory. If she burns brightly before she dies, her light shines for all time."

Tammy will always shine in our memories.

Bruce Kennard
Swimming and Diving Team
UH Athletic Department

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