ADB's real mission is humanitarian?

Duh! How could I be so dumb! I used to think that the bottom line for banks was profit. But now, thanks to the local pro-Asian Development Bank media blitz, I can see globalization for what it really is: a kinder, gentler capitalism, compassionately conquering developing nations.

Thanks to the media make-over, I've realized that these institutions have suspended their fundamental bottom lines for a humanitarian mission. People before profit!

The unprecedented power that globalization grants the ADB and its sister institutions could never, ever be used to usurp local self-determination and self-governance in developing nations. Because we in Hawaii so love big government and corporations directing our lives, it would be silly to speak up for people so far away. And besides, I almost forgot that I have stock in Mother Theresa's Savings and Loan.

Patrick DeBusca Jr.
Waipahu

Public library vs. Asian Development Bank

Let me get this straight:

1. We have no funds to supply books for and run a newly constructed community library in Kapolei.

2. We spend money like crazy to sponsor the Asian Development Bank meetings at the convention center. Not only do we not charge ADB for the use of the facility, but we waive all taxes on money it does spend, and we supply "volunteer" government-paid workers to help staff the convention.

It just doesn't add up.

Michael W. Sawamoto
Ewa

[Quotables] "Think of their heads, hearts and hands doing good for the community." Betty White, Principal of Sacred Hearts Academy, on the 40,000 hours of community service performed last year by 700 students from grades 7 through 12. The all-girls' school was recently named a National Service-Learning Leader School, one of 65 in the country. "They sweep it under the rug, and the rug gets lumpy and they trip on it. They don't recognize it. They just think they're angry and upset." Richard Sword, Psychologist who counsels military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Many veterans go into law enforcement and do not seek mental health counseling because they believe it could harm their careers, he says.

Harris and Tam make a good team

Mayor Jeremy Harris feeds hundreds of children during the teachers' strike and Sen. Rod Tam weighs in favoring the governor's big fish tank.

Wasn't Tam tasked a few years back to clean up the Capitol reflector pools? Last time I looked, they still didn't seem that fantastic.

Maybe the mayor and the senator could patch up old sore feelings. Just think about it, with Mayor Harris' propensity for those really big projects and Senator Tam's wading pool experience, together they could have a full-blown aquarium, real water and all.

With the two breaking bread together again and plenty of fish available, our "new Democrat, education governor" could truly feed the multitudes.

And even better, Mayor Harris wouldn't need to support a Republican for Senator Tam's seat.

You see. Eventually, things always work out.

Steve Bowen

Don't penalize kids for lost class time

The strike is over. The contract is ratified. School is in session. But life for students does not necessarily pick up where they left off a month ago. As a parent, I am grateful to those teachers who have offered extra after-school and weekend sessions to help students complete coursework.

However, I am very concerned when these sessions conflict with a child's pre-existing commitments to family, church, or other organizations, and no allowance is made for the student to prioritize without being penalized by a lower grade or extra make up work on top of the already accelerated load they carry because of the class time missed during the strike.

I beg teachers, as well as youth leaders, coaches and others who are involved in our children's after-school and weekend activities, to be reasonable and realistic in your demands. Remember that you are not the only one with expectations at this time of year. Please ask the children in every class or group if they have scheduling or workload conflicts as a result of post-strike changes.

Recognize that it is humanly impossible to be in two places at the same time. Understand that extra work on top of strike-caused extra work means giving up sleeping, eating or other activities necessary to health, good performance and learning. Tight scheduling between activities increases the likelihood of stressed, inexperienced drivers being involved in accidents.

Please look at each student's individual situation and make appropriate allowances that do not penalize a child's grade or jeopardize a child's well-being as we get through the final weeks of school. Let us not have deaths, disabilities or suicides as an unforeseen after effect of the great strike of 2001.

Amy Stone Murai
Hawaii State PTSA Health Specialist

RIF creates good memories of reading

Thank you for your April 26 editorial supporting the Reading is Fundamental program. There are eight programs in Hawaii operating at 28 different sites providing books to almost 8,000 students. In Honolulu, we serve 4,800 kindergarten through third-grade students at 15 public elementary schools in predominantly low-income areas on Oahu. It is staffed entirely by volunteers.

They visit each classroom three times a year to conduct motivational activities, reading stories, encouraging library use, but mostly showing children that reading is fun. At the end of the visit, each child chooses a brand-new children's paperback book to keep from a wide variety of books.

The biggest motivation of all is the child's pride of ownership. Older students who see us on campus report that they still have the 12 books they received in the early elementary grades.

An outreach social worker in one of our RIF neighborhoods reported that when she asks what reading materials are available in the home, the most common answer is, "The Bible and RIF books." Our schools tell us that our emphasis on reading as a recreational activity is an important complement to their emphasis on reading as an instructional activity.

We hope that Congress will continue to support RIF as a cost-effective way to get books into homes and to get children interested in reading.

Susan Fuller
President
Reading is Fundamental, Honolulu, Inc.

Who will fill Victoria's grand movie palace?

It is quite certain we will never run out of movie theaters. But if the movie theaters run out of people, we have in our midst the new "Victoria Ward Opera House."

Like in real estate, it's location, location, location. So grand. So monstrous. So appropos.

Would somebody mind telling me what is going on?

John Werrill

---

Letter guidelines The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point on issues of public interest. The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed, must include a mailing address and daytime telephone number. Letter form: Online form, click here E-mail: letters@starbulletin.com Fax: (808) 529-4750 Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813