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Saturday, July 7, 2001



Embracing diversity is the best way

Thank you to the Star-Bulletin for striving for balanced coverage in the news of Hawaii. I appreciated your July 1 story and photo on the12th annual Gay Pride Parade in Waikiki, an event that illuminates and celebrates the diversity that exists in our community. On the other side of the coin, your story in the July 2 paper about the Mike Gabbard prayer vigil highlighted the perspective of those who live in fear of change and people who are different.

Throughout history, new technologies, new political expressions and new social dynamics have often provoked fear and anxiety among individuals as well as societies. But the hallmark of a healthy person and a community is one that is able embrace new ideas to grow stronger.

For some, the fear of those who are different is compelling and destructive. It acts as a barrier to growth and prevents an honest examination of one's self and values.

Celebrating gay pride is very much a new idea that can be embraced by individuals and societies who recognize that our diversity makes us stronger. Living in fear that homosexuals may take over our schools and communities is outdated thinking established on a foundation of ignorance and bigotry.

How do you choose to live? Embracing diversity or championing fear? Whichever you choose, you will not be alone.

Eduardo Hernandez


[Quotables]

"At this point...he's very alone, and he needs some words of support. And he needs some good advice, and I'm hoping that his friends will contact him and talk to him."

Jon Yoshimura,
Honolulu City Council chairman, on the status of fellow Councilman Andy Mirikitani, who is being urged by some Council members to resign after his conviction this week on theft and bribery charges. Mirikitani said he will announce his plans on Monday.


"It only takes one incident to create an air disaster."

Patricia Friend,
President of the Association of Flight Attendants, who says airlines have failed to deal with air rage by passengers and are putting air travelers increasingly at risk. The organization says there are 4,000 incidents a year of unruly passenger behavior.


Navy illusive about Ford Island plans

I have to agree with your June 27 editorial regarding the proposed plans for Ford Island, the threats to its historical integrity and the Navy's need to be more forthright as they proceed with these plans.

My family once owned Ford Island. I grew up in Aiea overlooking Ford Island, I soloed at Luke Field and I have always been a proponent of maintaining Ford Island's historical integrity.

What saddens me is that it's only now, on the 60th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, that anyone is taking issue with the Navy's plans.

As a former member of the Aiea Neighborhood Board, I recall receiving word of these plans at a board meeting about eight years ago. It really started with the plans for the Ford Island causeway. The Navy said the causeway was necessary to build housing on the island.

The board supported neither the causeway nor housing, and questioned why the Navy had to build on the island, when it owned so much vacant land around Pearl Harbor. We told the Navy representative that this was tantamount to building housing in the middle of Arlington Cemetery or Gettysburg battlefield. We received no reasonable explanation to our concerns back then, so it comes as no surprise that the Navy is still illusive now.

All I can hope is that enough of an outcry is made to persuade the Navy to reconsider its plans and to assure that Ford Island will not be lost to the interests of builders and developers.

Alexander "Alika" Thompson
Houston, Texas

Many in military can't handle pet quarantine

Many outstanding service members opt not to come to Hawaii due to the outrageous fees for the pet quarantine. I am a victim, too; my dog is currently in quarantine. This governor needs a reality check together with the people who put him in power.

Louis Lopez
Kapolei





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