Domestic violence merits more attention

I would like to respond to the series of articles written lately about the statewide "ice" problem and the hot line. I think it is marvelous to see so many people in our islands so concerned about the drug epidemic.

But it worries me to see how dramatically our leaders are responding to ice while seeming to ignore other problems. Why not create a state-funded domestic violence hot line, where I can call to report my neighbor who beats his girlfriend? And then have dozens of state-paid detectives stake out and bug their house, and investigate each report, and maybe even kick out the perpetrator? And then hold a statewide summit to discuss the terrifying rate of domestic violence in Hawaii, and what to do about it?

Maybe people would pour into the streets holding signs saying "No More DV!" or "Break the cycle of violence." Then perhaps the governor would go around to every neighborhood and address what she plans to do about domestic violence.

Amelia Woods
Kapolei

Koreans' hostility of U.S. undeserved

Being from the Land of Aloha where people are warm, cheerful and hospitable, going abroad is always a social adventure. Traveling in South Korea recently, I experienced a large amount of hatred toward America, including flag burning and unfriendly faces after telling people where I was from.

Some people I spoke to said the anti-Americanism was due to the alleged rape of a Korean woman by a U.S. soldier (he was acquitted). I think their finger-pointing and name-calling should stop. South Korea smuggles thousands of teenage Filipino and Russian girls into its sex-slave industry each year, and there are an outrageous number of rapes of Korean people by Korean people.

How long will this hatred last?

Brian Blanchard
Waialua

Cable operator seems to enjoy monopoly

Did you know there's a state office that regulates cable TV companies? I am not making this up. This state office has three employees: administrator, program specialist and secretary. Shouldn't we have at least that many cable companies to choose from? When I asked the administrator "isn't that a monopoly?" and "isn't that illegal?" he answered, "We don't like to call it that. We prefer 'nonexclusive franchise'."

My monthly bill includes $3.12 for a "franchise fee." If 388,000 subscribers pay $3.12 a month each, would that more than make up the half-million-dollar price of a nonexclusive franchise?

Barbara Ikeda
Honolulu

Why pick and choose the commandments?

The recent removal of the Ten Commandments from an Alabama courthouse brings to light the problem many Christians have with the whole issue.

Some Christians ignore the fight for the Ten Commandments because 1) there are more than 10 commandments in the Old Testament, and 2) Christ replaced all the Old Testament laws, supplanting them with, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind and with all thy strength, and Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Why do some Christians pick only 10 of the Old Testament commandments? And why are Christ's two commandments overlooked?

Why don't we display only those commandments that really shaped our laws: God's orders against stealing, killing and lying? Violating biblical laws regarding loving God, there being only one God, taking his name in vain, keeping the Sabbath holy, honoring one's parents, committing adultery and coveting are not crimes and our nation's laws were not founded on these principles.

Post the relevant three in our government buildings, and no court would have cause to remove them. And if it did, we'd have great cause to revolt.

Larry Weis
Aiea

Bush is turning Iraq into another Palestine

The $87 billion President Bush is requesting to try to fix the fiasco in Iraq might as well be flushed down the toilet. Look at the situation with Israel occupying Palestine: Israel has superb armed forces and intelligence and its boot squarely on the neck of the Palestinian people, yet it lives with daily bombings and killings. They haven't been able to solve their situation in more than 30 years of occupation.

You are looking at our own future in Iraq, only it will be much worse because of the tribal, ethnic and religious differences -- and its vast size.

We will be in Iraq until we realize the utter folly Bush has led us into -- or until we go bankrupt.

Terrance C. Horton
Kapolei