Hormuz incident was no laughing matter
I enjoyed Corky Trinidad in his Nguyen Charlie days. I have occasionally enjoyed him since then, although I don't share his hatred for our current president.
His Jan. 10 cartoon was frivolous beyond words. What took place in the Strait of Hormuz was a profoundly serious incident. Many of our wars started because of interference with legitimate U.S. naval or maritime interests: Thomas Jefferson and the Barbary pirates; German U-boat attacks on American shipping; the bombing of Pearl Harbor; even "Remember the Maine."
Freedom of movement through the Strait of Hormuz is no laughing matter, neither for us nor for the world at large. Further, the object of Corky's scorn, President Bush, was notably restrained in his comments on the matter.
Sometimes discretion is the better part of humor -- or sarcasm. Anyone who thinks the Hormuz incident was inconsequential or humorous needs to think again.
Peter S. Glick
Honolulu
High-rises create more 'blight' than guideway
I find it rather bizarre that the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects should oppose the city's elevated fixed guideway system, saying it will created a "blight" in the community. (Does this mean the mayor cannot count on campaign contributions from the architects any more?)
It is the architects who have created a blight with all of the high-rise buildings that block views and dump extra amounts of traffic into neighborhoods of our communities, often with the encouragement of quasi-regulatory units like the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Are they worried that a raised traffic system might mar the view from their 400-foot monstrosities? At least ground-level landscaping can modify some of the view situations along the guideways, which is more than can be said for the multiplicity of high-rise towers.
I'm sure that the raised portions of the H-1 freeway must have created a similar outcry when they were constructed, but the community interest prevailed and should prevail in this instance as well.
Richard Criley
Honolulu
Lawmakers do right thing ... in fantasy
A rare occurrence with significant impact follows this scenario. Who would have thunk that an athletic director would be so careless as to lose the beloved coach? The coach wakes up the people as to the state of the state facilities. The legislators step forward, but are smart enough not to raise taxes in this overtaxed state, and implement the most viable fund raising method -- a state lottery.
Current funds being sent to Las Vegas and Indian casinos are diverted to public works projects, just in time as military construction fizzles out. The nation is in recession and foreclosure, but Hawaii is at full employment, with a stable real estate market and families intact. The University of Hawaii is able to retain its superb professors; education and Hawaii thrives. We become a bridge to exporting American innovation and expertise to China. We are not dependent on tourism, and can afford to stop growth and preserve the beauty of the outer islands.
All we have to do is wish June Jones luck, pay off Herman Frazier and let some politician take credit for this win-win lottery idea.
Jay Chun
Honolulu
Team still has many accomplishments
All University of Hawaii Warriors should lift their heads up high and proud; they have done more for our state than any other team in UH history. They have brought in much-needed money to improve our athletic facilities and help the athletic program so that the coaches can recruit on a higher level. They need to look at the Sugar Bowl loss as a learning experience, a stepping stone to bigger and better things in the future, and feel pride that they have paved the way for the future of this program.
I am proud to be a Warrior fan. Mahalo, Warriors!
Susan Faulk
Honolulu
Who wouldn't leave for $2 million?
An SMU Mustang "Whoaaaa!" to those who are being so harsh toward June Jones for leaving and having said on many occasions how much he loved the islands. There seems to be the accusation of "hypocrite," "liar" and "traitor" reflected in the criticism of Jones. But hey, come on, I love Hawaii too, but if someone offered me $2 million a year to do my job in Texas, I'd be on the next plane out! (OK, OK, maybe, just maybe I'd leave for only $1.7 million.) Wouldn't you leave? Does that make you a hypocrite, too? The truth is we often leave the things we love. That's life. It does not make one a bad person.
The angle I would like to see worked is persuading Jones to donate some of his millions (since he loves us) to UH. Maybe he could donate a million to build a new athletic building. How does the June Jones Athletic Complex sound? Or the June Jones Run and Shoot Scholarship Fund?
Leighton Loo
Mililani
No appetite for turning Fido into food
No matter what the reason for putting down a cat or dog, to have its meat on the dinner table would be the most unappetizing meal for almost all people (
"Why not use unwanted animals for food," Star-Bulletin letters, Dec. 29).
Tetsuji Ono
Hilo