When will courts hear the child's voice?

Regarding "'Ice' addict cleared of killing newborn" (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 30): Someday society will reverse this ruling and take responsibility for its actions. We're just not ready.

Yet a child's voice was heard amid the clamor of decisions, reasons and rulings. As is often true of children, it spoke the truth. The truth of the heart. The truth of real knowing. We all heard it inside ourselves.

Some of us heard it in the statement of Kimo Aiwohi, the baby's father: "My son can finally lay to rest."

Aiwohi's conviction should have stood

I read the article about Tayshea Aiwohi being cleared in her newborn's death because her unborn child was not a "person." So why is a drunk driver charged with two counts of murder when he hits and kills a pregnant woman?

Aiwohi's child died after it was born because of her substance abuse. The charge never should have been cleared. The charge should have been raised to murder because she willingly took that "hit" of crystal meth with the knowledge that it could take her child's life. So why the double standard for an unborn child? What is the difference between Aiwohi and a drunk driver? I do not see one.

UH prof should worry about local problems

In his "Isle Viewpoint" ("Bush pushes America in dreadful direction," Star-Bulletin, Nov. 29), University of Hawaii professor Gary Helfand faulted Bush for refusing to force (!) the U.S. drug industry to develop vaccines. Has the definition of democracy changed?

Helfand should be more concerned with problems in our fair state. The fastest-growing urban area in Hawaii for more than 10 years (Kihei) doesn't have a high school or plans to build one. Honolulu is funding a second public transit system while the rest of the state doesn't have a viable first one. Our patronage-driven state operations need to be changed.

Helfand is wasting his time on big issues with a lame duck who will be out of office, albeit not soon enough for most. Back to basics, Professor!

Children should learn more about the world

It seems like more Americans today are living in a bubble called "international ignorance." Most people living in the United States don't concern themselves with current events around the world, just those on the home front. Even their knowledge of local news is minimal at best.

We need to educate future generations to help them grow up with an interest and understanding of other cultures. The best way to do this is to introduce foreign languages earlier. Make it mandatory that a foreign language be taught in elementary and middle schools. That way, students might come out of primary and secondary education bilingual, with more of an understanding of the world around them.

If we can teach children about other cultures at a young age, they will be more aware of the world around them as they grow to become adults.

Let's all give a little more to homeless

I applaud the individuals and charity organization members for their tireless efforts in helping the poor and the homeless. It is saddening to see the homeless senior citizens being exposed to the hot sun and the pouring rain while spending their golden years out on the streets. Imagine how the little homeless children would feel about the society that abandons them.

Perhaps the state can help by spending the millions of dollars in tax surplus to serve the more urgent needs of the homeless people. The homeless senior citizens can be placed into care homes while waiting for a more permanent solution. The quickest way would be to buy old hotels and convert the rooms into small, low-rent studio apartments. Trailer parks can be another possible quick answer to this problem.

We can all help by donating money to this worthy cause. Not all of us can become saints or heroes, but we can all become the "catcher in the rye" -- someone who lends a helping hand to those who are in dire need of assistance. After all, charity is one of the most important virtues of all major religions. Remember that a man's true value is judged not by how much he can gain, but by how much he can give to society.