If you don't like dogs, stay away from Waikiki
Sunday's letter to the editor headlined "Waikiki should not be friendly to dogs" highly bothered me.
Here in Hawaii, dogs are accepted as friendly companions, and a majority of the public enjoys their company. To disregard dogs' social capabilities and coop them up in the back yard is highly selfish. Animals aren't mere toys or decorations. They crave attention, happiness and fun just as we all do.
If certain people don't enjoy being around dogs, they might as well confine themselves in a plastic bubble. As for my dogs, they'll be roaming Waikiki Beach with me whenever they want.
Alvin Park
Mililani
General has a right to voice his beliefs
For those calling for Gen. Pace's apology or resignation, forget about it. This is a case of religious freedom of speech. I served for 24 years in uniform, and I will defy anyone to tell me that I cannot say, while in uniform, that I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and as a result I believe in the truth of the Bible, which includes the teaching that homosexuality is immoral.
This is exactly what Pace did, no more, no less. Just because he is in a position of leadership does not mean he cannot hold a personal belief. Our country's history is replete with military leaders who exhibited and voiced a personal belief in God, and despite of it (or rather because of it), their capability to lead men and women in combat in some of the greatest battles that have defended our present-day rights was in no way diminished.
Pace also said that adultery was immoral, so he didn't single out homosexuality. I certainly don't condone the recent comments of Tim Hardaway or Ann Coulter. Their comments were hateful and not appropriate. However, what the general said is in a totally different context because it is central to his religious beliefs and therefore must be accepted and "tolerated" by those who have a different belief system or no belief system at all.
The outright contempt aimed at Pace is wrong. He should not apologize, and calls for him to do so need to cease.
James Roller
Mililani
Drug abuse obviously a problem in schools
The teachers union says that there are no drug problems in the schools, and therefore there is no real need for
random drug-testing. They also say that this drug-testing should be done only when the administrators feel or notice there is a problem.
This has worked really well with the current rash of drug arrests of Department of Education employees. This might be just the tip of the iceberg, as many know that people abusing drugs or alcohol are adept at functioning normally. These problems have nothing to do with their "15-hour" days, students, their families or the environment -- it's about choices they themselves make.
Random drug-testing is the only way to go because it will take away the everyday responsibility (except for the obvious situations) from all others in the system (including other teachers).
This is a first step in the right direction.
Henry Pundyke
Kaneohe
Japan should not deny sins of its forefathers
In their article about Japan's current response to the role of imperial Japan in recruiting "comfort women" during World War II, Ralph Cossa and Brad Glosserman indicate that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe feels that Japan should be "judged by its record of the last 60 years rather than for the sins of its forefathers" (
"Asian Outlook," Star-Bulletin, March 18). The memorial at the Dachau concentration camp outside Munich, Germany, offers a different point of view. The words of George Santayana are displayed: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Atrocities committed by a country during war are part of that country's history. Japan should face its history honestly.
Nelson Smith
Honolulu
Fuel from food? What a nutty idea
OK, let me get this straight. Somebody is doing a study to see if we can wring enough oil out of kukui nuts, avocados and coconuts to see if they can provide a fuel alternative to our energy predicament (
"Our opinion," March 19)? Last I recall, a kukui nut consisted of an impenetrable shell covering a three-quarter-inch-diameter heart that, up until now, has been found to have only enough oil for one night's worth of candlelight or for slathering over your massage partner's shoulders. Power up a combustion engine to push a 2,500-pound vehicle around with it? Sounds nuts to me.
I'm all for research but let's get real. Let's say that they're looking for a new line of high-quality cosmetics, cooking and health oils for retail merchandising. If you're looking for a fuel alternative, let's look someplace and invest somewhere that makes a little more sense. Geothermal, wind and biodiesel from waste oils. Energy production via waste treatment by plasma arc or thermal depolymerization. Save the avocados for my nachos.
Lance Uchida
Honolulu