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Homeless veterans deserve more help

With another post-Sept. 11th Veterans' Day upon us today, we should reflect upon all the veterans, living and dead, who have served our country. Veterans' Day should be a time to honor all who have contributed to the freedom we so often take for granted.

Veterans' Day also should serve as a reminder of how we continue to disrespect many veterans. It is estimated that about 20 percent of the homeless in America are veterans. How, in this time of renewed patriotism, can we ignore the plight of vets who sleep on the streets and struggle each day to survive?

As a country, we should be ashamed, and should work to make sure that next year we can truly celebrate Veterans' Day as it should be celebrated.

Alika Campbell
Kailua

New museum teaches us about ourselves

Those who mocked the idea of a state museum should visit the Hawaii State Art Museum. Today I saw friends and neighbors admiring the work of friends and neighbors, seeing themselves and Hawaii with new eyes, connecting with art.

"That's where Daddy grew up," I heard a father explain to his son. Then it dawned on me why French people visit the Louvre. They are looking at their own history, at themselves. Now we in Hawaii can connect with our own art. It's true, "Art is for everyone." Thank you, Governor Cayetano.

Jean Yamasaki Toyama

Bad teacher makes lasting impression

When I was a fifth-grader at Aliiolani Elementary School, my best friend, a boy I'll call Bernard, was the funniest kid. One day during an arithmetic lesson, Bernard stood up and accurately mimicked our scowling teacher as she scribbled equations on the blackboard.

I burst into merry, uncontrollable laughter. I was soundly punished for the infraction by having to stand outside the classroom, not only for that math period, but for every single math session thereafter to teach me a lesson. Not surprisingly, even today, my numerical skills leave much to be desired from missing that crucial year in arithmetic.

Three sentences into her Oct. 30 column, I immediately recognized that same mean "mad lady" teacher described by Cynthia Oi in "The Good, the Bad, and the Public Workers." I wonder how many more children suffered cruel indignities as a result of the "mad lady's" archaic teaching methods?

Back then, most parents dared not speak out against the demi-gods of education, thus allowing an unfit teacher to use the classroom as a forum for personal frustrations.

Despite my bad experience, I went on to joyfully teach speech in the public schools, determined never to be like my disgruntled and humorless reverse role model.

As for the "mad lady," after years of shaping the future of hundreds of children, she retired to a long and healthful life playing mahjongg. Go figure.

Wanda Kulamanu Ellis Au


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Election 2002



More thoughts on election results

Toll is just another word for tax

One of Governor-elect Lingle's most passionate campaign themes was to lower the taxes paid by Hawaii's residents. One of her first proposals as governor is to double-deck a portion of the H-1 freeway from Kapolei to downtown. She suggested the new double-deck road could be financed by tolls.

Isn't a toll a road tax? Wouldn't this affect the lower- and middle-income residents who drive from the Leeward and Waianae coasts into town?

The dictionary defines toll as "a fixed tax for a privilege" or "a charge for a service." A tax by any other name is still a tax. Is Lingle beginning her term as she means to go on?

J. A. Baang
Waianae

Lingle will need time to undo damage

Before she is even sworn into office, Linda Lingle has to read headlines that put the pressure on -- "Industry expects swift change," "Democratic Legislature will cause stiff opposition," "Lingle has uphill battle."

Give the woman a break. It took Democrats 40 years to make this mess; it might take 40 years to clean it up.

Fortunately, I think Lingle has the guts to do it. I wouldn't want the job for all the tea in China.

Lingle needs all the help she can muster, and no more negativism from nitwits who should be charged with neglect and dishonesty.

John L. Werrill

Attacks on Gabbard hurt his opponent

Belly-aching by City Council candidate Pam Witty-Oakland's supporters is not going to do our community any good.

It appears that some of her supporters just wanted to tear down her opponent, Mike Gabbard, not lift up our community. Homosexual activists simply hate Mike Gabbard and everything he represents.

Unfortunately, Witty-Oakland did not keep her distance from those people, and I believe she paid the price for it politically.

Jose Perez
Waianae

Gabbard won because people 'like Mike'

Some people have been speculating as to why Pam Witty-Oakland lost the City Council election to Mike Gabbard by a whopping 24 percent. Such speculation is completely off the mark.

Gabbard won for the simple reason that he campaigned hard, got his yard signs up early, and knocked on every door in the entire district more than once -- more than 30,000 homes. That is serious grass-roots, person-to-person effort.

But even that would not have helped Gabbard if he were not such a likeable personality. Anybody who has met Mike Gabbard knows he is warm, friendly and humble. He won the election because people like him. Attempts to make others dislike or distrust Gabbard failed. It's as simple as that.

Evette Shamon

Lawmakers should give Lingle a chance

Although I didn't vote for Republican Governor-elect Lingle, I hope that Hawaii's lawmakers will not dismiss any ideas she may have just because of party lines. Look at her ideas for merit first. Let's do what's right for Hawaii. I hope Lingle will do the same.

Charles W. Santiago Jr.
Wahiawa









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The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point (150 to 200 words). The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number.

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