Most are neither weak nor totally self-reliant
Guy Monahan
(Letters, Aug. 28) suggests that readers should use "critical thinking," and then he quickly switches to an argumentative trick. We are not either self-reliant individualists or misguided weaklings totally dependent on the government. Most of us fit somewhere in between; we do everything we can from our end while supporting the government to do what takes a united effort to accomplish. For the simplest example see any branch of the military or law enforcement.
What worries me about the type of argument that Monahan presents is that he actually believes it. Yes, we are individuals, but we are also a nation of individuals working together for our country. Now we have two good candidates for office, so let's not demean either of them by oversimplifying their goals and backgrounds.
Lou Zitnik
Hilo
Media's 'Obamarama' can be nauseating
Am I the only person in this state who finds the constant day-in and day-out coverage of Barack Obama sickening? I'm fully aware that Hawaii claims Obama as one of its own, and it's also very exciting that someone who spent a good amount of his childhood growing up in the islands now might be poised to lead this great nation. In addition, his nomination as the first person who has any African-American heritage is also noteworthy and shows just how far this country has progressed socially.
That aside, the constant bombardment of "Obamarama," from Thursday's headline "It's Official!" to the dedicated section last week, is making me go into overdose! His progress as a candidate should be covered, but please, a little moderation is in order.
Dave Fahrenwald
Kailua
Humble Hawaii shows the world its potential
Hawaii - land of mai tais, hula and ethnic diversity. Who would have thought that this state was known for sports, especially after introducing surfing and making accolades in the Olympics and the World Series Little League? Who would have know that celebrities like Don Ho and Kellie Preston came from a state known for the tropical atmosphere and beaches? Who would have thought the next potential president of the United States would come from a state that was showcased for its aloha spirit and downgraded for having no intellectuals to rise to such political and social power?
Well, Hawaii has come a long way to convince the world that we can produce productive citizens and caring people who hope to show the world that ethnicity has no bearing on what an individual can do, no matter where he/she comes from. Hawaii has shown the world that we have something to perpetuate to the world and our own children.
Our children can now dream of becoming the next president, of becoming a world-class pitcher or decathlon champion, or the next soldier to sacrifice his or her life and share what it is like to be born in Hawaii and what it is like to be raised in a state of diversity and what America can be.
Good luck, Obama! Not only Hawaii watches you, but the world.
Nani Goya
Waipahu
Toll would be unfair to Leeward residents
Thirty-plus years ago I and others were told, "Go West, young man, go West"; we did.
We were told, "Businesses will come"; they did.
We were told, "Government will come"; it did.
Unfortunately the improvements in freeways didn't. For example it's taken the state 25 years from planning to almost completing the 4-mile north-south road, while during those same years thousands of homes have been built in Ewa. What used to be a five- or seven-minute commute out of Ewa now can take 45 minutes.
Now it's our fault there is all this traffic coming out of the West? So let's create a toll road and make me pay for government's failures.
I'm all for toll roads but with a little twist. When I pull up to that toll booth, the state should pay me and all the people on the West side (especially those who live in Ewa) for the continual deterioration of our quality of life due to their poor planning and incompetence.
We kept our end of the deal. The state failed miserably keeping its end.
Mike Freitas
Kapolei