Age brings wisdom and Akaka's got plenty
I wonder why Stan Stong (
Letters, Feb. 16) uses age to detract from the many good qualities of Sen. Daniel Akaka? Stong says he is in his mid-80s and infers that all persons in that age group will have health issues that affect them.
He goes on to say that people in his age group will have difficulty in keeping abreast of developments in today's rapidly changing society. Stong appears to be judging the senator based on his own limitations. He makes no mention of the wisdom and experience that can be gained over eight decades of life.
I believe Senator Akaka is more than capable to successfully serve Hawaii for another six years. I am urging all my fellow senior citizens to support our distinguished senator on election day.
Henry Lau
Waipahu
During wartime rights are most vulnerable
In a world threatened by terrorists, we in the United States want our president to do everything in his power to protect us. The question now is, what constitutes the power of the president. And is he overstepping the legal boundaries of that power?
The president, most certainly, feels a great responsibility to follow his mandate to protect our country and the American people, as do other members of his cabinet. They feel that he has the legal right to use whatever means that are at his disposal to fulfill his mandate.
However, there are a number of constitutional law scholars who disagree and believe the president has bypassed the law.
There are those who argue that in time of war the president should be able to transgress the law if it means protecting our country. But it is during wartime when attitudes about the law can become equivocal that it is most important we maintain a vigil on the close adherence to the law.
It has recently been made clear, by legal authority, that there are several avenues the president could take that would not jeopardize in any way his ability to carry out surveillance, in a timely way, and still be within the law. He has chosen not to do this.
The law, historically, forms the bedrock on which all societies are built. If the law is not strictly adhered to, the door is open to serious abuse with the resulting compromise of our freedom. No one should be above the law, not even the president.
Wendell Davenport
Honolulu
3-strikes bills will rid streets of violent felons
When really bad felons such as Shane Mark with 60 arrests and 14 convictions are released back into our communities, most often they continue to do more harm. In the case of Marks, he killed a police officer.
Senate Bill 2260 and
House Bill 203 provide a solution to put a stop to this madness,
Opposition to these bills is mainly directed at the added cost of trials and of housing these career criminals. However, a victim of a criminal act will tell you that the cost to them is far greater.
I support these two bills. They will do two very important things for our community.
1. A guarantee of 30 years of hard time after three violent felonies will be a solid deterrent to habitual violent felons. This solid deterrent is currently not in the law. Instead, there appears to be a common belief that bad people can commit a violent crime and not have to do the time.
2. A guarantee of 30 years hard time after three violent felonies will give us some security and peace of mind. When the really bad felons are out of our communities, we can go to work without the fear that our families and homes are going to be preyed upon by habitual violent felons while we are away.
This is not about retribution; it is about victims' rights as they are far more important. To be honest, why wait to three violent felonies, why not two?" Lets really take a bite out of crime and make three-time violent felons do the time.
It is up to the Legislature to move these bills into law -- now.
Bob Hampton
Honolulu
Republicans get help send Case to Senate
As Rep. Ed Case has pointed out in his Web site announcement explaining his run for the U.S. Senate:
" . . . you can choose, in the privacy of the voting booth, which party ballot you will vote, regardless of whether you are a registered member of whatever party. So yes, anyone otherwise registered to vote can vote in the Sept. 23 Democratic primary . . ."
Now this is a chance for Republicans to have a significant effect on the coming election. Crossing over to help Case be elected senator will be a big step forward in supporting the current administration.
John A. Broussard
Kamuela, Hawaii
Don't beach the humu; it serves Hawaii well
Regarding the bill to make permanent the status of humu- humunukunukuapuaa as the official fish of the state:
Every time this election idea comes up, do you notice that most of the other nominees are food fish (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 30)? Does that tell us something about the people nominating them? No offense; it's breakfast time and right now I'd nominate the Big Fish sandwich at Burger King.
Don't think with your stomach. We need a state fish with brains to lead us!
Indigenous? So what if the humuhumunukunukuapuaa gets around outside of Hawaii? So do our other less sophisticated political animals. (In fact, all state representatives should stay home and do their work.)
And remember, incumbents rule! Let me remind you that it's been 20 years since we designated the humuhumu as the state fish! In all that time, not even a hint of a scandal.
And yes, you can definitely train the humuhumunuku-nukuapuaa (the Lagoon Trigger especially) to do tricks. And they can be taught more quickly and easily than most dogs.
There won't be another state fish election. That would require decisions among the humans at the Legislature. That's asking way too much.
Fred Barnett
A proud humuhumunukunukuapuaa campaigner from 1985
Kailua