Fairy tales reflect the reality of politics

Once upon a time, in a big, white castle in Never-Never Land, Papa Bear Lincoln looked down and growled, "Someone's been sleeping in my bed!"

Queen Hillary, the ruler of the castle, ignored him because she was too busy asking, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, am I the fairest of them all, fairer even than 'that woman'?"

The queen's husband, Pinochio Clinton, was about to wag his finger at her and say, "Yes" until he spied his nose, which had grown increasingly longer since January. Instead, Pinochio Clinton mumbled, "I can't remember."

Meanwhile, in the far-off tropical Land of Nod, Rip Van Ben was getting a wake-up call after sleeping for four long years. "Bah, humbug," grumbled Rip Van Ben. "I could have easily slept another four years."

He was forced to wake up from his long slumber thanks to Pied Piper Frank, who had just led 49,000 followers to thwart an invasion by Princess Linda.

The moral of this story? Don't look for any happily-ever-afters until the next election.

Wanda Kulamanu Ellis Au

Boorish fans spoiled Jimmy Cliff concert

My wife and I enjoy reggae and Jimmy Cliff. We attended his concert on Oct. 10 at the Waikiki Shell, but left about 40 minutes into his performance. The crowd and poor security ruined the evening.

We had seats upfront and center stage. As soon as Jimmy walked on stage, the aisle and front filled with standing juveniles in adult bodies. Loud, high and totally blocking the view of seated ticket holders, they sang of justice but seemed only concerned with being seen by others.

Since they didn't have seats in the area, they had pushed their way to the front to form their own inhuman wall. Security did nothing. We left.

David R. Crooks
(Via the Internet)

Liberal columnists don't understand economics

I have a question about an Oct. 13 column by Molly Ivins: Do most liberal columnists intentionally lie to their readers or are they just stupid?

Ivins' piece took Dick Armey to task for his reluctance to further fund the IMF with U.S. taxpayer dollars, so that organization can throw more good money after bad bailing out economies that have been looted by gangsters and communists. Is there a difference?

At the same time, Ivins tried to make the case that "we," meaning all Americans not of the liberal persuasion, are "hypocrites and fools" because "we" bailed out the hedge fund Long-Term Capital Management.

Someone needs to explain to Ivins that there is a big difference between an out-of-control international institution using tax dollars to squander on misguided economics theories and a group of private banks agreeing to a financial rescue operation of another private entity for whatever reason but, in this case, to stabilize shaky domestic financial markets.

Jack M. Schmidt Jr.
Kailua

Voting 'yes' on amendment was a personal decision

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Letters in the newspaper have called people like me "mindless," accused us of spreading hate and bigotry, or claimed that we were forcing our religion on others in urging passage of the same-sex marriage amendment.

These accusations, to my knowledge, are false. If anyone is guilty of this, shame on you.

We, as members of the church, were informed of the issues and urged, not forced, to vote "yes." We were also urged to talk to friends and neighbors about the issues, and to encourage them to vote "yes."

In the end, it was up to each of us. It passed because the majority of Hawaii's voters wanted it to. We weren't mindless or spreading hate. We just did what we thought was right.

Maria Waite
Kaneohe

Governor supports domestic partnerships

The governor has always supported traditional marriage in Hawaii. He supports marriage between a man and a woman and believes the state has every right to enact laws pertaining to marriage. Not only does the governor support the will of Hawaii's voters, he shares their views.

Governor Cayetano also supports domestic partnerships, which are by no means the same as same-sex marriages. Domestic partnerships extend such rights as hospital visitations and shared insurance benefits to people who have formed long-standing domestic relationships.

A domestic partnership law will not place such relationships on a par with traditional marriages.

By asking next year's Legislature to create a workable domestic partnership law, Governor Cayetano is working to provide equal rights for everyone without altering the institution of traditional marriage.

He believes Hawaii is a model for the rest of the country in the tolerance and mutual respect we have for one another. By creating an effective domestic partnership law, we can continue to lead the way.

Randy Obata
Communications Director
Office of the Governor

Cayetano, Smyser have it right on partnership issue

I am impressed and encouraged by Governor Cayetano's advocacy of domestic partnership. His statements that there is a gay member in his family, and that gay people are human beings, are powerful themes arguing for equal treatment and fairness.

I have always supported marriage as an institution between a man and a woman, as well as domestic partnership to provide equal treatment.

The week before the elections, Save Traditional Marriage sent out a card reproducing A.A. Smyser's Oct. 13 column urging voters to reject same-sex marriage. Smyser wrote: "That said, if the 'yes' votes win, I hope the Legislature will use its power to respect also the rights and deep emotions of gays.

I hope it will allow them full-fledged 'domestic partnerships' with most of the rights of marriage but not the label. This strikes me as a workable compromise, respectful to both sides."

Sam Lee

Mililani

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