Striking meat cutters only angered the public

So, the meat cutters at Times got a contract. How nice for them. It doesn't alter the fact, however, that this customer will never buy a piece of meat in the stores they picketed, or any of the rest of the chain.

I don't take kindly to being told by one ignoramus that I was breaking the law by driving into one of the shopping centers to deliver a family member to his job. Nor do I appreciate a major road in my community being blocked because the picketers were blocking access to another mall.

I can't imagine what these people thought they were doing by inconveniencing the public. Most assuredly, they weren't gaining support and sympathy.

Meanwhile, what were the police doing? I couldn't tell. But they weren't keeping the access ways open. A pox on both their houses!

E. Alau
Via the Internet

Union picketers blocked access

I live in Ahuimanu Valley, across from the Temple Valley Shopping Center, which houses a number of other businesses besides Times supermarket. Access to these other businesses was impeded by the union members picketing at Times.

The inconsiderate blocking of the main entrance to the shopping center by the protesters burned me up. The line of cars waiting to enter the shopping center ran all the way out onto Kahekili Highway, delaying those on their way to the North Shore.

How can one group impose its policies on the whole? That's not democracy. Things have gone too far, and I am quickly becoming anti-union.

Sean Ross
Kaneohe
Via the Internet

Quotables "What's not to like about a role like this in such a well-written piece?" Bill Ogilvie Actor Portraying Kris Kringle in "The Miracle on 34th Street," at Diamond Head Theatre "Easy to say, not easy to achieve. But together we have achieved great things, and this is a red-letter day. All of us here today will never forget it." David Andrews Irish foreign minister On the signing into law of the Good Friday accord of 1998, establishing institutions designed to promote cooperation within Northern Ireland, between Ireland and Northern Ireland and between Britain and Ireland

Pidgin English doesn't belong in headline

Your front-page headline on Nov. 30, "Professahs say no let pidgin boddah you in school," is the worst bastardization of English I have ever seen in print.

It is disgusting for a daily newspaper to use such questionable slang, and embarrassing to post such a poorly worded and deliberately misspelled headline on the World Wide Web.

Spoken pidgin is a relic of our island heritage. The pidgin speaker merely reflects the language of one's family and childhood playmates. It is no more appropriate to condemn someone for speaking pidgin than to criticize his or her past.

Unless, of course, you care about that person's future. Writing pidgin is revolting in that the written word must follow a higher standard of language in order to communicate with the world beyond the neighborhood.

Alan Mueting
Ewa Beach
Via the Internet

Pidgin-speakers can survive on mainland

Pidgin English should not be discouraged in Hawaii schools because it is a staple for those in Hawaii. Growing up in Nanakuli, it was total pidgin.

Our high school taught English and I turned out OK. I am living in Indiana, and will graduate with a doctoral degree within the next two years.

If young people can learn the language basics, they will be able to communicate. In fact, it was when I learned Greek and Hebrew in college and seminary that I was able to upgrade my English skills.

I'm also thankful for the 40 or so Hawaiians living in Fort Wayne who still speak pidgin. When we get together twice a year, only pidgin is spoken. It is so refreshing to hear when you live among haoles.

The Rev. David Kapaku
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Via the Internet

City's plan for bay wasn't changed much

Your Oct. 28 editorial accurately states that the mayor changed the original development plans for Hanauma Bay after "strong public opposition," but the truth is that the changes were cosmetic.

Current Hanauma facilities have not been paid in full by the taxpayers. Although, critical enhancements should be performed, a large group of residents believe that $10.4 million worth of construction is NOT appropriate.

This is particularly short-sighted when no one in the administration, or hired consultants, can attest to its potential impact to the bay and its environs.

The plans to build a snack bar in an unspoiled area, as well as the construction of an 11,000-square-foot facility, is a senseless act of destruction.

Robert Nehmad
Via the Internet

Leave truth-telling trustee alone

Everyone should stop bugging Mililani Trask for an apology. Some people "tattled" on her in an effort to help themselves. Now they want Trask to write an apology 100 times on the blackboard.

Remember the tattletales in school? They always tattled to benefit themselves and their "friends." Well, they should remember the old rule, "You snitch, you get bus' up!"

Trask has said some shocking and provocative things in the past, but she has always acted and spoken out of principle. You never have to wonder where she stands on an issue.

This would be a better place if there were more people like Mililani Trask and fewer people trying to be "teacher's pet."

Hiroshi Matsuoka
Via the Internet

Trask is hurting best interest of Hawaiians

This letter is written from the perspective of a Hawaiian, a Kamehameha Schools' graduate and the owner of several small businesses.

The remarks made by Mililani Trask about Sen. Daniel Inouye are uncalled for on two counts:

1) The positive influence the senator has had on congressional questions relating to native Hawaiians as well as Native Americans is documented and admirable. Trask's allegations and statements are simply wrong.
2) The boorish nature of her remarks undermine the dignity with which the senator serves us.

I am embarrassed by both her ignorance and manners. For someone who professes to represent the views of the Hawaiian community, Trask badly contaminated our best interest.

Earl Harbin
Via the Internet

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