Officer's about-face makes no sense
Regarding the story on 1st Lt. Ehren K. Watada's refusal to serve in Iraq (
Star-Bulletin, June 7), something here smells fishy. As your article points out, Watada joined the Army in June 2003, well after we had invaded Iraq. Did the idea that he might have to serve there come as a complete surprise? I'm led to the inevitable conclusion that Watada is either a coward or a publicity hound -- or maybe both.
Mike Rohrer
Mililani
All soldiers must be prepared to fight
I was saddened to read about Ehren Watada, an Army officer and one-time Honolulu resident who
refused to serve in Iraq. His views on Iraq are convoluted. Watada claims that he will not serve in Iraq because the war there is "inhumane." Have we ever fought a war that has been humane? Watada knew all too well when he volunteered for the Army that he may have to fight in a war. He was all to happy to be commissioned as an officer, take an empty oath to defend our country against all enemies both foreign and domestic.
Watada has chosen to exercise rights that were paid for by the blood of others who fought for those rights. He can hide behind his lawyer, hide behind carefully chosen words, but in the end his refusal to serve his country will forever be a blemish to the Army, our country and worst of all himself.
Eric Daido
Mililani
Prison time won't be enough punishment
Regarding
1st. Lt. Ehren K. Watada being the first to not go on deployment: He will be a first but not the first not to go.
Watada says he is an officer of honor. He forgot that he took at oath when he became an officer. Instead of an officer of honor, he is a coward of choice. He is acting like a spoiled brat.
His "first" will be the first service member of Hawaii to be imprisoned for failing to deploy. In my view, 15 years will not be enough for him to serve in prison to repay the great heroes who live up to the oaths they take.
Tom Penrose
Honolulu
Crushing cars would remove theft incentive
Could this scenario be happening in Hawaii? Cars in other states are often stolen and stripped of vital parts by criminals. To clear the streets, the city later hauls the framework to be auctioned off. Then, those who originally stole the car attend the auction to buy the framework so they can reassemble the parts that they stole. These criminals will now have legal title to a full-working car, since the car's vehicle identification number on the frame is now on the new owner's paperwork from the auction.
Rather than the city auctioning off abandoned or stolen cars, wouldn't it be better to crush and flatten them for scrap metal? This would help rid the islands of old cars nobody wants, and reduce reasons for criminals to steal cars, thus lowering auto-theft claims and insurance premiums.
Maybe some also could be removed of lubricating fluids, crushed, chained together and anchored to the ocean floor for marine life habitats.
John Burns
Aiea
Hawaii should support traditional candidates
A few years ago, Hawaii voters went to the election poll to vote for banning same-sex marriage in this state. A whopping 69 percent voted for traditional marriage of one man and one woman thus rejecting same-sex marriage.
Today our two U.S. senators, Inouye and Akaka, voted with the rest of the Senate Democrats to reject a constitutional amendment that would literally place "a hedge of protection" around traditional marriage from activist judges who have negated the election results of the majority in a couple of states that voted to ban same-sex marriages.
With the powerful Old Guard liberal far-left Democratic Party behind them, both senators turned their backs on traditional family values people by rejecting this amendment.
The question is, does the Old Guard Democratic party here have a hook, line and sinker on our moral choices?
The answer to this will come in the November election, when all traditional family values voters will be energized to remove Akaka from office.
In addition, we need to elect a conservative Republican for Rep. Ed Case's vacant slot.
Melvin Partido Sr.
Pearl City