Give Pada a chance to redeem herself

Among the many opinions and judgments of Kimberly Pada, has anyone stopped to think that we are nobody to judge the person next to us?

Every day we fail someone, every day we are imperfect. As a parent, in some way or another, we have emotionally, mentally, psychologically, spiritually or physically abused our children. Have we stopped to think that, if we were put in Pada's situation, that we might have made the same mistake or done even worse than she did?

I am not justifying Pada's actions. However, we should give her the chance to redeem herself.

She should be allowed to make amends to her children and most of all to Reubyne Buentipo Jr., who is in a coma. She owes it to him to nurture him, to be there through this toughest time of his life. By keeping Pada behind bars for 20 years, she won't be able to accomplish anything.

Angelene Lim
Via the Internet

Teen didn't 'murder' school worker

People need to know the facts before they say a teen-aged girl "murdered" a woman trying to break up a fight at Waianae Intermediate. There was anger in the air that day at the school. The girl had claw marks on her face and the scratches were deep. She was getting hit by another girl and she was defending herself.

Yes, she elbowed that innocent women who tried to help, but it wasn't intentional. So why is the word "murder" being used? The girl didn't pull a gun or knife on the lady; she wasn't even facing the woman.

There has been a lot of change in Waianae over the years. Every place has its flaws. Instead of just writing about how bad Waianae's schools are, why not write about solutions and how the state will improve the schools?

Janine J. Kahoonei-Leedy
Waianae
Via the Internet

Corporate America has no social conscience

In Jeff Dixon's April 10 letter criticizing lawsuits against gun manufacturers for selling guns, he cited three different lawsuits that seemed to defy common sense: against the restaurant for selling hot coffee, tobacco companies for selling cigarettes, and gun manufacturers for selling guns.

The McDonald's restaurant sold a cup of coffee to a woman at the drive-through window that was way too hot for consumption. When it dropped in her lap, it caused severe burns.

Tobacco companies are not being sued for selling cigarettes, but for their marketing tactics of targeting children and willfully withholding research showing that tobacco is addictive and carcinogenic.

The city of Chicago is suing gun manufacturers for providing them to retail stores that knowingly sell guns in a manner not complying with laws regulating sales. This means the wrong people are being sold guns.

In each instance, it is not the sale of the product but rather the negligent manner in which the product is sold. If the public does not hold corporate America's feet to the fire by these lawsuits, it will continue this negligent behavior. If anything, these lawsuits have shown that corporate America doesn't have much of a social conscience.

Tom William
Kailua
Via the Internet

Quotables "I'm basically one-handed. I dress myself, wash myself, cook with one hand. I can do most anything. It's OK I'm different." Corrie Wong GRADUATE STUDENT IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII On recovering from a stroke she incurred at age 18 "Next year, kids will be suspended for behavior nobody's ever been suspended for, and parents will ask why." Bruce Hunter SPOKESMAN, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS On the consequences of a Supreme Court ruling holding schools liable for student's harassment of one another

Violence in media perpetuates shootings

The constant barrage of murder, rape, shootings and other assorted pointless violence that the American people (especially children) have been exposed to hundreds of times a week on television and news "entertainment" shows are finally having the desired effect.

Children have been so brainwashed by this constant carnage of "entertainment" that they have become desensitized. They feel that the way to handle most problems is with violence. What was the Columbine murderers' favorite show? Probably reruns of "Hunter" or "Walker, Texas Ranger."

I know the media would like to blame it on guns but they only want to forward their own liberal agendas and increase profits.

If I were a journalist and someone asked what I did for a living, I would say child molester or possibly lawyer. At least those two avocations have more dignity, ethics and moral standards than being a journalist today.

Mike Sakalalauskas
Kailua
Via the Internet

Kids need to learn how to deal with anger

While everyone is trying to determine the cause of the shootings in Colorado, one thing is clear: The assailants acted out of anger. Although we have not seen such violence in Hawaii, today's teens are releasing their anger in destructive and sometimes violent ways, ranging from graffiti to assault.

Instead of creating stricter gun laws or tougher sentences for juvenile crimes, which can take years to pass, our schools should develop curriculum to help all teens understand and deal with their anger in nonviolent ways.

There is so much attention being focused on the three Rs that we sometimes forget the need to help young people grow up in a healthy way. We need to deal with this before another time bomb goes off.

S.W. Wong
Via the Internet

Hannemann needs less passion, more reason

"Passionate argument," it read, was the hallmark of Mufi Hannemann's style in the City Council. This fragment is, however, an oxymoron. Reason is needed before one can argue. According to your Checkup on Health column, Dr. Mayberg said it was likely that blood flows away from the rational centers of the brain when thinking emotionally. Perhaps, that is why Mufi has been replaced as Council chairman.

We need good men like Mufi in government. However, men must change before governments can. Our social ills cannot be tackled as in football. Politics is no longer a game; it is war.

Kin Hylton
Via the Internet

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