Hyphens divide America
I read with interest
Faye Kennedy's Sept. 11 letter in regard to Olympic gold medalist Bryan Clay, where she stated that "he shows no identification with African-Americans or other vulnerable minorities. It will be interesting to see how this works for him."
Well, maybe he decided he's just an American, not separated by race, creed or color. Maybe more of us should think this way so we can come together as a nation.
Bob Martin
Honolulu
Manoa Valley Theatre shows off local talent
Don't miss the Manoa Valley Theatre "Always ... Patsy Cline" show now running until Sept. 21. Our family enjoyed a wonderful musical evening with the great cast and band who brought the beautiful, robust music of Patsy Cline to life. Our out-of-state guests could not believe that such talent could be found in a small community theater. We in Hawaii are very lucky to have affordable, easy-to-reach theater available in our residential neighborhoods. Life is but a dream soon over and all that is important is what we share together.
I would like to thank everyone who made this show possible. It was an evening we shall long remember.
Carol Fanning
Honolulu
Kauanui's assailants got away with murder
I am outraged and saddened by the news that the men who murdered former Kauai resident Emery Kauanui in La Jolla, Calif., got "sentenced" to time served
("California men receive light prison sentences for death of surfer," starbulletin.com, Breaking News, Sept. 5).
The longest sentence was for 349 days.
I have surfed for more than 50 years and met The Duke when I was 16.
I have seen the rich take over Southern California spots like Lunada Bay and those beaches around La Jolla.
To be murdered over a spilled beer is insane. These guys followed Kauanui home and beat him. The judge didn't even give the suggested sentences of the D.A. of four and a half years.
This was a case of rich kids getting away with murder!
Steven Johnson
Hollywood, Calif.
Pilago wrongly backs anti-biotech bill
Supporters of Hawaii County Councilman Angel Pilago beware! Pilago recently introduced Bill 361 to the Committee on Environment Management, Hawaii County Council. This negative bill will eliminate the use of biotechnology research on all taro and coffee in Hawaii County. Biotechnology is a science-based, state and federally regulated and approved tool that is accepted by farmers around the world. It is the tool that saved the Hawaii papaya industry from decimation by the ring spot virus.
All farmers and those who believe in agriculture sustainability must speak against bills like this. In a unified voice we must support positive bills for Hawaii agriculture, whether it is biotech, conventional or organic farming.
Pilago is a candidate for Hawaii County mayor. We should not vote in candidates who will take care of only special interest groups interested in legislating their lifestyle and personal choices. We need a mayor who will support all of Hawaii agriculture - and that means conventional, biotechnology or organic farming. We should not support any candidates who are against progress for our islands.
Loren Mochida
Director, Hawaii Papaya Industry Association
Hilo
For Schnabel, it's too late to say sorry
It drives me crazy when I see these punks who have killed someone and the lawyers make them all clean shaven and nicely dressed to go to court. Then they apologize to the family and say they "wish it hadn't happened." There should be an eye for an eye in these instances. Twenty years with the possibility of parole (five years with good behavior) doesn't mean a thing. They killed someone. They should be automatic life term, no parole, or bring back the death penalty. You take a life in this heinous way, you lose yours.
Les Schnabel Jr. not only killed an innocent man but he also killed the family and robbed them of their son. How dare you. How would your family feel if this was reversed and you were needlessly killed? Then he sheds those crocodile tears for the court and media. He took a life. He knew what he was doing but he got caught, and now he is sorry? Give us all a break.
Adrienne L. Wilson-Yamasaki
Wahiawa
Let our symphony continue to shine
I recently attended perhaps the most memorable concert I've ever attended. Pianist Andre Watts, one of the reigning concert artists working in the world today, helped open the 2008-09 Honolulu Symphony season. This is our new conductor Maestro Andreas Delfs' first season to program and if Sunday was any indication, the rest will be stellar. Together, Watts, Delfs and our orchestra shone; they demonstrated what is possible with our 106-year old, Grammy-nominated orchestra.
I was sitting near one of the many young students attending and could not help but wonder what was running through their minds. The evening gave them something tangible to aspire to; not just a two-dimensional recording. They experienced the magic that can happen only during a live concert.
Unfortunately, unless the community steps up to the plate, this could be our orchestra's last season. If you've even been thinking about writing a check to support your symphony, now's the time to do it. One can also donate to honor a friend or loved one's memory in the program, and it would be good to see more business advertising. But we need to write two checks; one to help our orchestra reduce their debt (to the Honolulu Symphony Society) and another to help match the $4 million endowment grant from the state (to the Honolulu Symphony Foundation). Every dollar counts and time might be running out.
Scott Foster
Honolulu
McCain remains friends with first wife
Sally Raisbeck's Sept. 11 letter to the editor saying presidential candidate Sen. John McCain treated his first wife badly cannot be allowed to stand without a knowledgeable response; I was there. To pretend to know - much less understand - the dynamics of years of separation of POWs from families is presumptuous to say the least. More than a few men were imprisoned longer than they had been married.
Metaphorically speaking, during those long years of separation we POWs were in "idle" but our wives were in "afterburner" (full speed), being the best mothers - and fathers - they could be. Upon our return, our wives were ready for "idle" but we were ready for "afterburner," eager to make up for lost time. For many of us for whom the disparity in pace and priorities within our marriages became too great to reconcile, the marriages ended.
In his televised interview with Rick Warren, pastor of Southern California's Saddleback Church, when asked about his "greatest regret in life," McCain replied, "I am an imperfect man; undoubtedly the loss of my first marriage. And I take full responsibility for it." And that would have been my answer as well.
But if a judgment of McCain is to be made, the people most directly affected by that breakup should be the experts; Carol McCain and their three children, Doug, Andy and Sydney. The divorce was amicable and John and Carol remain friends to this day. She refuses to speak badly of him. There's not a discernable trace of bitterness toward the husband and father they all wholeheartedly support for the presidency of our country.
Jerry Coffee
Chairman
McCain Campaign Hawaii
Aiea
Palin's concern for life doesn't cover wolves
It should be noted that the sanctimonious "pro-life" Sarah Palin encourages the shooting and extermination of wolves from airplanes, at one time even paying a bounty of $150 for every dead wolf's left foreleg presented. Regardless of what else it's called or the excuses given for it, wild animal eradication is despicable and amoral.
Mimi Forsyth
Waipahu