Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Chicken wings don't grow on trees

I am amazed at reports that a woman in Virginia has had trouble sleeping after finding a chicken head in her box of chicken wings. What was this woman thinking? That chicken wings grew on a chicken wing tree?

The head was only a reality check. Chicken wings are the body parts of an animal that had a face -- who experienced pain and suffering, just as we do.

It was condemned to death after a lifetime of imprisonment in a filthy, toxic shed, so its wings could be served up to a fast-food customer.

American consumers should wake up, find out where their food comes from and learn to live with the consequences.

Howard Blake
Haiku

Quotables "All I did was call the parties together. I'm just so thankful it all worked out. I think the people who really need these services especially will be very happy." Vicky Cayetano FIRST LADY OF HAWAII Delighted that a meeting she called between the state health director and the chief operating officer of The Queen's Medical Center resulted in the rescuing of its dental clinic, which was destined for closure because of funding problems "Uncle, you better go. We just went shoot somebody." Bryson Jose ONE OF THREE MEN CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN THE WAIANAE SHOOTING DEATH OF ARMY PILOT JOHN LATCHUM What he allegedly told John Kamaka in the early morning hours of June 3, 1998, according to Kamaka's testimony during the ongoing trial in U.S. District Court

Islands don't need federal protection

The trail of misinformation about the fisheries in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands needs to stop. This is like the longline fishing controversy all over again, with propaganda from Earthjustice and Kahea getting more attention than the facts.

The bottomfish and lobster fisheries in the area are among the most heavily regulated in the world. This area is not overfished, due to strict and conservative regulations that have been in place for more than a decade.

As for monk seals starving to death, this has never been confirmed by scientists. However, numerous monk seals die each year for various reasons that have nothing to do with fishing.

Governor Cayetano and all four members of Hawaii's congressional delegation opposed President Clinton's executive order on the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. This area is already under federal protection and has been for years. At least these leaders were able to recognize the facts, and also recognize the propaganda.

The taxpaying public should be outraged that pending lawsuits filed by Earthjustice are costing taxpayers millions of dollars, and are based on some of this same misinformation.

Another outrage is that Earthjustice has filed yet another lawsuit against the federal government for $15 million to cover its legal fees. If granted, this would also be at taxpayer expense.

John Myking
Kailua

Fragile ecosystem needs monument status

In July, we attended a public hearing to discuss the future of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Like the vast majority of attendees, we strongly support the protection of this fragile ecosystem in the form of a national monument encompassing the 10 most important islands as well as atolls, reefs and surrounding waters.

These islands are a unique and precious world treasure, comparable to the rain forest in terms of their diversity of life and ability to contribute to the health of the planet.

About 70 percent of the nation's coral reefs are located in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, yet human influence continues to disturb the ecosystem of this region and harm the livelihood of diverse species.

We do not support the end of fisheries. Since the Northwest Hawaiian Islands play a vital role as a fish nursery, supporting its protection also serves to support the protection of fisheries for today and for future generations. Moreover, only about seven boats actively fish in this area.

Deborah and Mike Shultz
Kailua

Medical marijuana backed by many studies

Regarding your Nov. 20 wire story, "Researchers intend to find out whether pot is good medicine," a simple point should be noted. Uninformed researchers, as well as interested readers, should visit both the Media Awareness Project (mapinc.org) and marijuananews.com to become familiar with the large amount of research already done on medical pakalolo.

They can read for themselves dozens of peer-reviewed studies showing that cannabis has profound medical applications, including but not limited to curing or putting into remission two types of cancers, slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis, stopping epileptic seizures, and relieving asthma attacks, attention deficit disorder and arthritis.

There is also a study showing that whole cannabis is much more effective than Marinol, a corporate product legally made from THC in an oil base. They might also read the government's recent Institute of Medicine report on the subject, which clearly, but timidly, states that cannabis has unique and important medical uses.

The U.S. media rarely report any of this to its consumers, so the ignorance of the researchers mentioned in the article is somewhat understandable.

Lee Eisenstein
Watsonville, Calif.

State could learn from ASSETS School

Thank you for reporting on the ASSETS School success story in your Dec. 5 issue. Its motto, "Children are our best assets," reflects the staff's genuine belief in a group of gifted/dyslexic children who, more often than not, were viewed as a liability under special education in the public school system.

As a parent of two dyslexic boys, I witnessed their transformation immediately after enrollment in ASSETS. For the first time, given the tools and encouragement to learn, they tasted academic success.

In contrast, the state Department of Education's remedy had been to place them in a "Felix" class. They were assigned mental health therapists, one of whom once said during an evaluation, "If students can't read, we just team them with others and have them cut and paste."

While the state grapples for solutions, ASSETS is a perfect model for educational success right in our own backyard: channeling resources directly to the classroom; maintaining a student to qualified teacher ratio that is low; implementing a systematic, integrated curriculum and a consistent behavior management approach; while using the same budget for its K-12 as a DOE school does for its K-5.

Laura Brown
Mililani

State government needs to shed antiquated ways

In his Dec. 1 letter, University of Hawaii faculty union member Noel Jacob Kent attributes anti-union, anti-Democratic Party motivations to my government reform efforts. As a legislator, I have advocated many union positions opposed by the business community, such as supporting a minimum-wage increase and prevailing wage laws, and opposing right-to-work and public employee collective bargaining elimination.

I have also advocated many strong Democratic Party positions such as women's rights, minority protection, gun control and public campaign financing, while fellow Democrats headed for cover.

What I cannot accept as good for any of us is an antiquated government incapable of efficiently delivering core government services in a time of rapid change.

This is not just a matter of demanding that hard-earned tax dollars be spent wisely, but also recognizing that we will not otherwise be financially able to provide for important programs.

Unfortunately, the response thus far by Kent and others is to kill the messenger. It is this very attitude that has led government employee unions to their lowest level of public support ever, and that may lead Democrats to cede our responsibility for state leadership in two years.

Rep. Ed Case
D-Manoa/University/Wilder

UH faculty union shows arrogance in demands

It's no wonder the members of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly can't get a pay raise. What's the point of saying that some professors make less than bus drivers except to reveal their arrogance? No one deserves a pay raise just because of one's chosen profession.

UHPA's proposed across-the-board raise for all faculty is unfair. As a former UH-Manoa student, I have encountered both inspiring mentors and dead-weight faculty. The same can be said about the many departments on the Manoa campus.

An across-the-board raise does not justifiably reward those who went above and beyond or those who are just treading water until retirement.

I hope that UHPA does declare a strike, so UH professors can come to the realization that they should dump their present negotiation team or learn how other Hawaii residents are make a living.

Loy Kuo

Government employees claim they're overworked

The Dec. 2 View Point column by Timothy Johns, chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, discussed the problem of lack of maintenance in state parks. He concluded that the parks are just too popular.

He seems to be saying there are too many customers for state parks. It is always big government people who complain of too much business. They say that our streets are too congested, the schools are too crowded, too many people go to the beaches, etc.

Sears or Home Depot or your neighborhood appliance repair person never moans about too much business. They never want to exclude good people from pursuing happiness and satisfaction using their services and expertise.

Timothy Johns, poor fellow, sounds rather like the spokesman for Fidel Castro in Cuba. Shouldn't we wonder why?

Richard O. Rowland
Past Chairman, Libertarian Party of Hawaii
Aiea

Legislature must change OHA voting practice

Hawaiians are still reeling from the fallout of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on Rice vs. Cayetano. This notorious case has caused challenges for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, among which is apportionment.

All voters now cast ballots for all trustees on all islands, regardless of where the voters reside. No other candidates must run a statewide campaign equal in scope to the race for governor. Why Hawaiians? It is common sense to have every resident elect his or her own respective representative.

OHA has urged the Legislature to reapportion the neighbor islands and Oahu so that representatives would be elected from individual islands. To date, these efforts have been unsuccessful.

I hope that the Legislature would look at rectifying this injustice. The operative word here is "hope."

Rowena M.N. Akana
OHA Trustee-Elect, At Large

OHA Special

Rice vs. Cayetano arguments

Rice vs. Cayetano decision

Holo I Mua: Sovereignty Roundtable

---

Counting and recounting

Bush knows he is being elected fraudulently

When I cast my vote in the presidential election, I expected it to be equal in weight and value to the vote of each of my brother and sister citizens. I have been defrauded; so have we all.

What is fraud? To support a finding of fraud, the evidence must show that:

False representations were made.

The false representations were made with knowledge of their falsity, or without knowledge of their truth or falsity.

They were made in contemplation of a person or persons relying upon the false representations.

The person or persons relied upon them.

The representations that the Florida vote result is based upon all of the votes legally cast are false, or are made without knowledge of whether the result is based on all the votes lawfully cast in Florida.

George W. Bush has demonstrated that he has relied on those fraudulent representations.

He should withdraw his announcement that he has been elected president pursuant to the fraudulent Florida vote certification.

Joseph A. Ryan

Spoiled, rich brat is throwing national tantrum

Imagine if you will, a spoiled and rich brat. All of his years he has gotten whatever he's wanted. Suddenly, something doesn't go his way and he throws a tantrum -- ranting, raving and screaming how he deserves what he wants so we should just let him have it.

Picture Al Gore.

John C. Pinero

Bush won't be president in eyes of Democrats

If and when all legal appeals have been exhausted and George W. Bush wins the election, Al Gore says he will recognize Bush as his president. He's about the only Democrat who will.

Tom Dolan

Universal ballot needed for presidential race

The election fiasco appears to have occurred largely because of the wide variety of voting techniques and ballot designs in use across the country.

Since the presidential contest is the only one truly national in scope, I propose a separate uniform presidential ballot be printed by the Government Printing Office and be supplied to every precinct.

The federal government should supply the precincts with an adequate number of standardized machines dedicated to just reading these presidential ballots. The state, county and city ballots would be handled just as they presently are.

This would not infringe on any local government's rights and prerogatives, but would lead to a uniformity that would minimize the kinds of disputes and contentions afflicting us now.

By having all parties sign off in advance on a single procedure that is as error-free as can be made possible, we can avoid the wrangling and embarrassment wracking our country and making it the laughing stock of the world.

James C. Reeder
Mililani

The strangest things seem to happen in Florida

First, it was Elian Gonzalez. Now it's the presidential election. Has democracy gone overboard in Florida? What about the rest of this country?

Alexis Wong

Electoral College system needs fine tuning

If we are to alter the Electoral College at all, we should enhance it and not eliminate it. Perhaps we should give an additional vote (or possibly one extra per 50,000 national votes over the opponent or some kind of sensible formula) so the popular vote would win the presidency in a way that preserved the input and power of the smaller states.

This way the presidential candidates would need to take each state seriously.

Thus non-threatened, the necessary number of smaller states might agree, in a constitutional amendment, to such a resolution correcting a serious flaw in an otherwise worthy feature of our system.

James M. Patton

Gore doesn't care that he's destroying country

This nation is truly weary of all the scandals imposed upon us by the Clinton-Gore regime.

The rest of the world is even more disgusted by their actions than we are. It hurts to see how Gore would disregard the good of the nation to pursue his personal ambition. What a price for our country to pay.

Paula Zina
Kapaa, Kauai

Don't waste a vote on third-party candidates

Why do third-party candidates attempt to run for president? Most people in the U.S. are either Republicans or Demo-crats. In the 2000 presidential election, every vote counted. The popular vote was unusually close and the electoral vote ended up depending on one state.

When people voted for third parties such as the Greens and Libertarians, did they actually expect their candidates to win over the main two political parties? They were basically throwing their votes away.

If you're going to vote but don't like either the Republican or the Democrat, vote for the one closest to your beliefs. At least your vote will count.

Kyle Montpas
Mililani

Cartoon to the Editor

---

Write a
Letter to the Editor

Want to write a letter to the editor?
Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think.
Please keep your letter to about 200 words.
You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com
or you can fill in the online form for a faster response.
Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509.
Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.