We should give U.N. equal disrespect

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan ordered flags at the United Nations flown at half-staff when Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died. Kofi Annan did not order U.N. flags to be flown at half-staff when Ronald Reagan died.

Is Kofi Annan sending a message to us in the United States?

Perhaps we should keep this in mind when it comes time to renew the U.S. financial support that provides more than 25 percent of U.N. revenues.

Anti-abortion rule must be stopped

In what is seen by many as a reward to their right-wing base, House and Senate Republicans tucked a potentially sweeping anti-abortion provision into a must-pass spending bill being considered by Congress before adjourning for the year.

The provision would allow health-care providers to refuse to provide or pay for abortions or offer abortion counseling referrals. In addition, it would bar the state from withholding taxpayer money from these health-care providers. In other words, a hospital or clinic which provides services to the general public could impose their personal and religious beliefs to deny abortion services and there is not a thing the state can do about it.

This provision is yet another in a continual series of assaults on a woman's right to make fundamental decisions about her own body. Social conservatives and anti-abortion activists have poured millions of dollars into electing Republicans to state and federal offices to pursue their anti-abortion agenda. And sadly, for the women of America, they are succeeding more and more often.

As chairwoman of the Patsy T. Mink Political Action Committee, I call upon our congressional delegation to stand firm and do everything in their power to stop this provision from becoming law.

Social Security can be saved

Today there is much discussion on the concerns of the Social Security system. The following are some proposals to lengthen the life of the system by decades:

As to the federal government investing Social Security money into the financial system, it is too risky. The economic cycle is not dead, hit a bad year in the cycles and the money will be lost. The government should reduce its large budget deficit.

Clinton gala attendees set a fine example

The opening of the Clinton library was beautiful for one reason. It showed the world that democracy was alive and well. After a bitter and divisive election, there they were, all the Democrat and Republican candidates and ex-presidents, grinning and back-slapping, praising each other and having a good ol' time. No civil war, no imprisonment, no torture, no executions, not even an angry word. Take that, you flea-bitten, tin-horn, two-bit dictators of the world!

While we're at it, let's kick all the non-democratic dictators of the world out of the United Nations. Who invited them?

UH band should show respect for anthems

We enjoy the University of Hawaii band's performances at the Aloha Stadium. The band has come a long way from its sit-down-only performances at the old Honolulu Stadium to the intricate, snappy and entertaining formations currently being choreographed to the delight of the fans. Kudos to the band and its director.

That said, however, it is incredible that the band shows such disrespect and to our national and state anthems. The public address announcer asks fans to stand in respect during the singing of the national anthem and "Hawaii Pono'i," but at that moment the drum majorette struts from the mauka sidelines, across the south end ending on the makai side. She is very conspicuous as she is the only one walking while the entire stadium stands motionless.

Patriotism, considerateness, decency and common sense dictate a respect for our national and state anthems. I hope the band director will understand and comprehend what our anthems are all about. I hope, too, he and the band members will appreciate the greatness of this country as they enjoy the freedom, privileges, heritage and benefits our anthems convey.