Christmas party brings joy to foster kids
On Saturday, my family and I attended the annual Foster Kids Christmas Party. What a wonderful joyous event the Foster Family Programs of Hawaii gives to all the foster children of Oahu!
More than 700 volunteers made this party a huge success. They gave hundreds of children a day filled with games, entertainment, food and gifts from Santa; a day where these children are made to feel special and are filled with the spirit of Christmas. Thank you does not seem to be enough to say to these volunteers. The volunteers looked like angels walking around with smiles spreading joy to all the children.
Also, what a treat for these children to be wished a Merry Christmas from Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and Congresswoman Mazie Hirono! My family and I have been blessed to have two foster boys come into our home and family and feel honored to be a part of Foster Family Programs. So on behalf of our family and all of the foster families that were at the party, we want to thank you and wish you all the joy this Christmas season that you have brought to our families.
Kathleen Balda
Honolulu
He is watching over those on battlefields
May all in this world drop their arms and anger and may we truly have lasting peace.
We need fewer wars of words and weapons.
May all our brave men and women of our U.S. armed forces all over the world be kept safe and sound.
We have our freedom, but it is never easy or free and the many sacrifices of our brave men and women, those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those that came home wounded and healing, you are never forgotten by this grateful nation.
Let jealousy and animosity and hatred be a thing of the past and that all be replaced with love and compassion for your fellow being.
This year is especially more meaningful for peace as our eldest grandson, Ryan Furomoto, and many of his buddies are serving their second tour of duty in Iraq and we know that the Lord will watch over the tens of thousands of troops all over this world and that they all return home safe and sound.
As grandparents, we worry and yet we are proud for your courage to aid the hurt and wounded as your duty in the Army Medical Corps in these trying times.
May you and your buddies have a safe and joyous Christmas.
Love, Grandma and Grandpa Sugita
Tom and Marie Sugita
Pearl City
Science and religion parse cosmic events
Regarding "Christmas Star mystery" ("Keeping Faith," Star-Bulletin, Dec. 23), I fully support astrophysicist Grant Mathews' theory and would like to add "the rest of the (local) story."
Back in the 1970s, George Bunton of Honolulu wrote an interesting short story entitled "The Star of Bethlehem." It has a copyright of 1977 and was distributed by the Bernice P. Bishop Museum Press.
I knew George and had the privilege of presenting this story as a lecturer many times in the Bishop Museum Planetarium. I might add that both stories present an astronomical view only.
Both articles agree that neither the month nor year of the birth of Christ is known, but both believe the month was probably April. As for the year of birth, Mathews and Bunton generally believe it was between 7 or 6 B.C. and 1 A.D.
Some of the anomalies related to astronomy or superstition are/were:
» There was no real star in the east -- but there were several conjunctions and some eclipses during that time frame. A triple conjunction is most logical. (Note: None of the eclipses were attributed to the star, but rather, one of them was used to date the death of Herod and so establish the latest year when Jesus could have been born.)
» The wise men came from the east to Jerusalem -- they didn't go to the east. Also, there might have been more than three wise men. Three sounds reasonable because of their bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh. However, Caspar, Melchior and Balthassar were invented in the ninth century. (In the Eastern Orthodox Church, their number is regarded as twelve.)
Comets (evil omen in those days), shooting stars, meteors (or "fireballs" or "bolides") were "bad news" and, along with King Herod, would not be received with great joy by the masses.
Be careful when you count the years between 7 B.C. and 1 A.D. The number 0 (zero) was developed by the Hindus about A.D. 400. The Arabs came into possession of the concept when they invaded India about A.D. 700. Europe started using zero about A.D. 1200.
Don Neill
Kaneohe
City Lights display is better than ever
Sunday night, I had the chance to take my 6-year-old niece down to City Lights at Honolulu Hale. What a great time for both of us! I hope everyone else who hasn't made it down there does so before the end of the month when the lights come down.
Many thanks to the city employees who helped make this year's version of City Lights the best ever, and especially to whoever built the "Lanakila" train that shoots smoke out of its smokestack every three minutes!
Kalani Melvin
Kailua
Let all of the world's people live in peace
Not far from where the Christ child lay, men are killing men today
While we talk of peace on Earth, good will to men
Bombs and rockets light the sky, where angels once sang on high
And we supply the weapons that spell their bloody end.
If you listen, you can still hear the angels,
It matters not where you may be
You might even hear God's own voice commanding:
"Cease fire! Let my people be."
Somewhere on this blessed Earth,
There's been trouble since before his birth
Men cried out, but we ignored their plea
Now while they're fighting over there,
We raise our voice in common prayer,
For an end to war, for everlasting peace.
If you listen, you can still hear the angels,
It matters not where you may be,
You might even hear God's own voice commanding:
"Cease fire! Set my people free."
So listen, leaders of every land,
It's time to stop and take a stand
Peace and love are gifts that you should give
If dreams of peace should now come true
The world will send its thanks to you
Cease fire! Let all God's children live.
If you listen, you can still hear the angels,
It matters not where you may be
You might even hear God's own voice commanding:
"Cease fire! Come celebrate with me."
Keith Haugen
Honolulu