Purdue coach isn't showing much grace
I think that we will be seeing Cheese Night at Aloha Stadium today. If not, then the idea should be considered. I think it would go nicely with the whine that Purdue coach Joe Tiller is bringing. Pac 10 officials are being brought in for the game, although according to the article "Purdue's Tiller against UH trip" (
Star-Bulletin, Nov. 22), Tiller is an advocate of using officials from the visiting school's conference in nonconference games. How is that supposed to be more fair than the University of Hawaii using Western Athletic Conference officials at home? Is it really necessary to keep saying that you don't want this game and that you asked your athletic director, twice, to cancel it?
Trust us, Mr. Tiller, with your attitude and your comments, we're not too happy to have you here, either.
Shireen Garcia
Kapolei
'Dumb' soldiers merely silent, not stupid
In response to Manu Josiah's
Nov. 18 response to my
letter of Nov. 16: My statements were questions: "Is this our Army today? Senseless as dumb oxen?" I did not characterize our men and women as stupid. The primary definition of "dumb" is "mute, silent." Animals are often referred to as "dumb animals" only because they do not speak our language. Many animals seem much smarter than human beings but they are "dumb" or "mute."
My question was, "Do you want an Army of unquestioning soldiers who mutely follow orders, like Hitler's and Tojo's did?"
Yoshie Tanabe
Honolulu
Sharing smoky air is damaging to lungs
I, a nonsmoker, shared an air-conditioned office with two smokers 25 to 30 years ago. Back then there was no law against smoking. My position required giving lectures. It slowly became irritating to my throat and voice. Doctors, after taking lung X-rays, asked if I worked in a polluted area -- my lungs had been affected. No, at first I could not recall any unusual pollution, but I soon realized where it came from.
I moved out of that office. My lungs were permanently damaged. Since then I have stayed away from smokers and facilities allowing smoke. Now I and many nonsmokers will enjoy going to smoke-free environments, to bars and restaurants we never patronized before.
Mahalo to Hawaii for taking this necessary step forward.
Audun Davik
Honolulu
Mayor plays with the meaning of 'majority'
The Star-Bulletin reported on Nov. 15 that "45 percent of 905 Oahu residents chose rail" (
Star-Bulletin, Nov. 15) in a city-sponsored survey of transit alternatives, and 55 percent chose one of the other options. In response, Mayor Mufi Hannemann said, "So it is clear that the majority of the people on Oahu are for a fixed guideway system."
Hannemann is a bright guy, who like any successful politician understands what the word "majority" means. If Hannemann has the brass to claim majority support for rail based on this poll, where anyone with basic math skills can tell his statements don't match the facts, how are we supposed to trust the extremely optimistic ridership numbers, or the multibillion-dollar price tag that keeps going up every few months?
Let's call Hannemann's bluff. Let's put the rail system, and the tax to support it, to a vote, and see what the "majority" thinks.
Jim Henshaw
Kailua
We do need ban on cell phones in buses
In reference to the
Nov. 22 letter by Pablo Wegesend about cell phones on city buses: It is about time a cell-phone ban takes place. I have been a bus rider for 20 years -- 10 years with the presence of cell phones. It is hell riding on the bus with someone sitting next to you chattering about personal business for more than one hour at 7 o'clock in the morning or going home late in the afternoon. God help you when that person is using a walkie-talkie type cell phone! And imagine if you have someone next to you and behind you talking on cell phones at the same time. When that happens, I usually find another seat and move. Why should I be forced to do that?
I understand the need for cell phones in emergencies. Other than that, people should shut them off. Business can wait. Unless you commute to the countryside, bus rides usually are short.
So shut off those cell phones, and meditate or read. This applies to bus drivers as well. This is the very same reason why radios are not permitted in the bus. Imagine if everyone turned their radios on?
Rosita Sipirok-Siregar
Makakilo