Judges should be elected, not politically appointed

In the Star-Bulletin's Dec. 2 front-page article, "Senate chief vows to help judges," Senate Judiciary co-chairman Matt Matsunaga said, "Society depends on having a strong and independent system of justices, and you need good judges to do that."

That is so true. Society does need strong, independent judges who should be paid just wages. But to have strong, independent judges, they must be elected by the people and not be politically appointed and obligated to politicians.

This process has led to the appointment of trustees of the Bishop Estate who have hurt thousands of children of Hawaiian ancestry who used to benefit from an outreach program that was discontinued.

Wilbert W.W. Wong

Cayetano supporter's truce offer is insincere

So Rick Humphries, co-chairman of the Friends of Cayetano, wants to call a truce with those who were upset at the election's outcome. How gracious!

Well, I cannot speak for all who supported Linda Lingle or even for those who sent "poison letters," as Humphries calls them. However, I have pondered his truce offer, and have had a chance to analyze the post-election statements coming out of the Cayetano regime regarding small business, change and other issues.

So, Mr. Humphries, allow me to be just as gracious as you. If you want to reach out to me with your so-called truce, let me just say that you and the Cayetano administration can crawl on all fours as far as I am concerned.

By the way, how can people make Hawaii a better place if they are forced to leave because of a lack of opportunities on the island?

Are we making Hawaii a better place only for the politicians, union bosses and for all of Cayetano's cronies and supporters?

Humphries and the Cayetano administration should extend a genuine and sincere offer of truce, or not extend one at all!

Sean P. Porter

All GOP members should follow example of Newt

I agree with Kioni Dudley's remarks (Nov. 23, "Candidate says GOP leaders causes losses"). If the members of the Republican Party of Hawaii want to make any inroads in politics in this state, they need to replace all current Republican Party leaders, from top to bottom. Their record in this last race sent a loud message.

Republicans, follow the lead of your top leader in the nation, Newt Gingrich, and resign -- for the hope of Hawaii's future!

Ed Lee

Safire is motivated by hatred of Clinton

Full of hate: that is William Safire, who writes for the New York Times. The man has never let up on Clinton (Nov. 24, "Probers should focus on election crimes"). He and Ken Starr are two peas in a pod. Now that Safire has some hint that Clinton will not be impeached, he goes on and on about election "crimes."

This is the last time I will read one of Safire's columns. He disgusts me.

E. Kim
Mililani

Pregnant teens don't belong in honor society

I enjoy Diane Chang's editorial comments, as they stimulate contemplation of the issues. But I disagree with the main point of her Nov. 30 column.

The Grant County High School's decision in Kentucky -- denying membership in the National Honor Society to two pregnant teens -- validates that "character" does count.

The two girls broke the "rules of conduct" and must not be accepted into the academic honor society. The decision was not sexist, discriminatory or subjective. Any student who takes illicit drugs, cheats in class, or lies and steals must not be accepted into NHS either. You break the rule, you accept the consequences.

We must readjust our moral compass. The needle was shifted to the left and we can start with President Clinton.

Jim Kuroiwa Jr.
(Via the Internet)

If women don't want men to look, dress like nuns

It's amusing, or should I say amazing, how columnists rationalize and pontificate on just about every subject. Perhaps that's why they got the job, no matter how biased, so we in turn can send in our own commentary in the merry-go-round of opinion.

Diane Chang's Nov. 27 analysis of the dressing habits of women in or out the office, who should feel free to dress or undress as they please in the name of humidity, followed by what men should and shouldn't look at, makes about as much sense as men running around the office with their flies open and shirts undone to display their hairy chests. Then ask the women the same question.

Any self-respecting lady would not flaunt herself around the office, with blouse unbuttoned, for everybody to see in the first place, regardless of how hot it is. And, if a guy looks, he would probably be too shocked to say anything these days.

Perhaps it would be more appropriate for men to wear blinders, and for women to dress as nuns.

John L. Werrill

Mililani Trask should decline OHA seat

Mililani Trask's Ka Lahui has been lashing out at Ha Hawaii because only 30 percent of eligible voters opted for the Native Hawaiian Convention. They claim that this amounts to a clear repudiation, and that Ha Hawaii should step aside.

But in our recent elections, fewer than 30 percent of registered OHA voters selected Trask for trustee-at-large. By her own logic, shouldn't Trask decline the office?

John Sender
(Via the Internet)

There are other things to boast about at UH

I'm disturbed by the reports about the UH football team. People are mocking the University of Hawaii, saying that we at least have a biotechnology program that our football team can be proud of.

Actually, that bit of sarcasm is the silver lining in the state's gloomy economic cloud. With all of the hits UH-Manoa has been taking, Hawaii still has made progress in high technology.

Tuition may be up, classroom resources down, and football up in the air (pun intended!). But at least we've made some headway in research!

Mike G.H. Chun
UH alumnus
Seattle, Wash.

Cal Lee is not qualified to coach UH football team

The sentimental hype over St. Louis football Coach Cal Lee has to stop now, before somebody crazy enough actually goes for it.

Don't get me wrong, Lee is a first-class high school coach, but therein lies the problem. One only need remember the Notre Dame debacle when they hired Gary Faust, who never lost a high school game either.

Besides, Lee's job is made a lot easier by having the best talent in the state available year after year. There are a few other high school coaches in Hawaii who could do just as good a job, given the same talent.

To think, regardless of talent, that one can jump from high school coaching to Division I-A head coaching is preposterous, especially with respect to mainland recruiting. Lee's brother, Tommy, would be a better choice, simply because he's paid his dues at the top level.

Theodor Domay
Kihei, Maui

UH should merge with another struggling team

In this day of mega-mergers, the University of Hawaii could solve the problems of its football program by combining it with that of a struggling mainland program, for example, that of Oregon State University.

The team of the combined program, call it Oregon/Hawaii, would then play half of its home games at each university. The program's cost to each university would be less, but the combined total would allow for paying more to the coach and staff.

Players could elect to receive their degrees from either school. If the fall semester was at Oregon State, those players choosing to receive the University of Hawaii degree would attend school in Manoa each spring semester, and have their travel expenses paid by the savings in the combined program's costs.

William H. Dorrance
Kailua

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