Tourists aren't the ones trashing Oahu
I recently participated in a cleanup of the Barbers Point area in preparation for an upcoming bicycle race. In order to make the roads passable, and to keep the place from being an eyesore, we cleared away discarded tires, mattresses, microwaves, clothes, televisions, refrigerators, and more tires, and more mattresses, and so on. The place should be renamed "the western Oahu dumping ground."
It is embarrassing that Hawaii residents would do that to the island. It also made my blood boil to think of all the blowhards who blame "the ruination of paradise" on tourism. Maybe we should all run down to the airport to be on the lookout for tourists arriving with tires and mattresses brought to discard on our island.
Jeffrey Adkins
Aiea
Enough with the anger; let's try forgiveness
It is time to lay to rest City Councilman Rod Tam's use of the word "wetbacks" since he has humbly submitted his apology and submitted to Council censure.
His use of the term was in reference to illegal immigrants from Mexico, not legal workers. It had to do with those who disobey our nation's laws of entry, not anyone's race. If you are not an illegal immigrant from Mexico, the term does not refer to you. Other racial slurs target an entire nationality or race. This one does not; yet he has apologized anyway.
I encourage all Hispanics who are not illegal immigrants to call or e-mail Tam to accept his apology and thank him for submitting to political correction.
Do not allow those who would try to cause division and anger to influence you. They are of the wrong spirit. According to our Creator, once confession and apology have taken place, forgiveness and reconciliation should follow. Choose to be of the right spirit and bless Councilman Tam.
Mary Tom
Honolulu
Old neo-con myths won't help America
Jerry Coffee's assertion that "John McCain is the most qualified man to lead our nation in modern history" is absurd
("Opposing View," Star-Bulletin, June 8). He apparently bases this assertion on the fact that McCain had a 22-year Navy career. He also has "decades of Washington experience," as if this qualifies him to be president in a time of precipitous changes geopolitically, environmentally and economically. I prefer a person with a quick, intelligent mind, open to new ideas, rather than a has-been who parrots the tired old neo-con cliches and untruths.
McCain's history since coming to Washington has been one of cozying up to lobbyists and special interests to advance his personal finances and interests. Witness his involvement in the savings and loan scandals of the 1980s. As a member of the "Keating Five," he was lucky to have avoided serious prison time.
Coffee goes on to trot out the usual neo-con shibboleths such as cutting taxes creates more tax revenue, a canard long ago discredited by every economist on record, and that we should ask any Canadian about their "expensive, socialized" health care system. Last time I checked with my Canadian son-in-law, he was quite happy with Canadian health care.
Coffee spouts the trite, tired conservative cliches that have long ago been discredited and will finally be discarded in the dust bin of history after the November elections.
Nash Keel
Kaneohe
What are motives of Obama's 'friends'?
Thinking people have seriously questioned Barack Obama's choice of friends, mentors and acquaintances. Radical hate-mongers like the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Father Michael Pfleger and admitted Weathermen terrorists like William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn as mentors and long-time acquaintances don't encourage realists to hold much hope that Obama will choose the right people as political appointees should he be elected president. If Obama only sees the error of his choices when they are exposed to the light of a political campaign, can we afford to let him make these mistakes as president?
But even more important questions exist: Why did these people choose Obama as a friend and acquaintance? Why did they encourage him to enter politics and run for the presidency? He has proven that he can deliver a prepared, vacuous speech with gusto and emotional appeal, but he has also shown that impromptu thinking and speaking are not his forte. In his own books, he describes his constant quest for mentors. He strikes me as someone who cannot lead but can be lead. Is the Weathermen's new bomb Obama?
Terry Allard
Ewa Beach
Entire administration should be impeached
Impeachment of all in the Bush administration is long overdue. Impeachable offenses are many, inexcusable and well pre-meditated.
America has been brought to her knees before the world on the basis of horrendous actions by these people. Financially, politically, legally and morally, they are the worst dark side of America.
They deserve immediate impeachment and prosecution.
James Marcus
Waimanalo