Person who taught hate should be tried as well

I did a little introspection today on whether my approval of the hate killer's death sentence in Jasper, Tex., really came from vengeance, as your Saturday View Point column suggested. I did find some minor traces of emotional thinking, but the overwhelming motivation came from my hope that the sentence may cut down on further hate crimes.

I also disapprove of something. No 20-year-old kid becomes a racist and hate killer one day on his own. Someone spent considerable time teaching him these sick ideas. And this "moral leader" is still out there, preparing his next victim. THIS is the person who should have been taken into custody first and foremost, and tried as an equal accomplice in the murder.

Randy Cordell
(Via the Internet)

McOmber is ignored by many on Lanai

In response to A.A. Smyser's Feb. 16 column on Ron McOmber, not only did Lanai Community Hospital question McOmber's frequent work absences, but so did the staff. And since when are state employees allowed to take compensatory time off with no documentation of overtime worked?

As for describing McOmber as "articulate," I had to chuckle. He is bullying and threatening and has a voice like a bullhorn that hears nothing beyond his own words.

At a recent community meeting regarding Lanai hospital, McOmber made his usual loud show with a list of complaints, many of them being the physical shape of the hospital, badly needed repairs, etc. Funny, he didn't seem to care about it when it was his job. Guess he was too busy testifying at public hearings on state time, as Smyser pointed out.

It seems that those who yell the loudest, regardless of the honesty of their statements, bully and frighten the most and gain the media's attention, with little or no fact-checking. Well, Mr. Smyser, I'm sure Mr. McOm-ber was glad that he had you to listen to him, because a lot of us on Lanai tuned him out long ago.

Margaret Daub
Lanai
(Via the Internet)

QUOTABLE "I think the public is going to have a lot to say about it, absolutely." -- City Council Chairman Mufi Hannemann, about Mayor Jeremy Harris' plan to charge a fee for city garbage pickup. "I've heard this story, this song for the last five years. It's the old 'he hasn't been around' routine." -- Gov. Ben Cayetano, in reaction to criticism by Senate President Norman Mizuguchi on his civil service proposals. "It's absolutely ridiculous that a child can be basically as close to death as humanly possible, and the perpetrator can be in jail for as little as six to eight years and has already served two years." -- Juror Richard Field, in reaction to a possible reduced sentence for Kimberly Pada, who was found guilty by a jury of second-degree attempted murder in the abuse of her now-comatose son, Reubyne Buentipo Jr.

Feary needed compassion, not a prison sentence

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mackey Feary's son, Sebastian, and his family. Mackey was a brilliant song writer. I know that he learned from his mistakes -- we are all human and do make mistakes -- and this time he was reaching out to the judicial system for help. Instead, he got a very harsh sentence.

Ten years of imprisonment for Mackey was too harsh. Being in prison wouldn't have helped his medical problems. He needed treatment for the type of condition he had, and the system just turned the other way.

Prosecuting Attorney Peter Carlisle had no right to say, "Feary got what he deserved." That comment was very cruel, cold-hearted and unprofessional. It hurt and angered a lot of people. Even the deputy prosecutor in Mackey's case ignored his pleas.

Four inmates have taken their own lives in the last two months. It goes to prove that something is very wrong with the state's judicial system.

Laura L. Riley

Can't endure another fireworks New Year

This is a plea for the Legislature to ban fireworks completely, except for religious occasions, beginning before July of this year. We cannot allow this to continue.

If this ban doesn't happen, I must make arrangements to be off-island. And, having lived here 42 years, this will be a difficult thing to do. But I just can't face another New Year's Eve as in 1998.

Ann Nelson

Fireworks Scientific Poll Results

Fireworks Online Survey Results

Hawaii Revised Statutes on Fireworks

Pat Buchanan is best person to be president

The past six years of the Clinton administration have been tortuous, unbelievable and a sad journey, as attested to by the volumes of lies, cover-ups, intimidations, physical injury and, most recently, the possible rape charges against our "beloved leader," President Clinton.

The Democratic Party is possibly at the nadir (bottom of the barrel) of its long history in American politics. The Republican Party doesn't seem to realize it is the major party in America and yet it doesn't seem to have a legitimate leader.

In my opinion, though, Pat Buchanan has it all: the looks and fire, the integrity, and he doesn't lie. He has experience as President Nixon's speech writer and as host of the talk show, "Crossfire." He has guts, common sense and -- last but not least -- he has respect for the office of the presidency.

Let's not forget Y2K! The last few months of 1999 and the start of the new millennium promises to be a cliffhanger! Some experts have forecast bank runs throughout the U.S., actual mob uprisings necessitating military rule, a suspension of Congress, and absolute rule from the White House through executive orders.

The one man who would be able to cope with the unholy mess is Bu-chanan, Republican candidate for president.

Robert M. Lowe

Taxpayers have right to object to project

I couldn't help but be struck by the last paragraph of your Feb. 2 editorial on the Natatorium, which said that the users of the adjacent beach were "carping" about the project. When an "owner" protests how money is spent, it is not carping!

The beach near the Natatorium is used mostly by local people and their children. These people may have only a few hours between jobs and enjoy them on this beautiful, safe beach.

They also, for the most part, know the tides and currents. They know that this project, with its 75-foot groins, will not work to circulate the water or keep it pure and safe. It will cause health problems like ear infections.

Besides, it will be very destructive of the reef, which we are all supposed to be concerned about.

That the valiant veterans of World War I should be remembered with a memorial goes without saying, but it should be something that makes sense in today's world.

The front elevation with the arch would be elegant and fitting, and through it you can see the ocean that they loved. But why, oh why, was it allowed to fall apart in the first place?

Marie Cole

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