Not all crimes are about hate

I have read recently that all crimes are about hate. Where did that silly notion come from? It seems to be the misguided spin of those against the hate crimes bill.

But let's examine this. When a burglar steals, he does it out of greed, not hate. When a rapist rapes, it is for power, not hate. When a murderer murders it could be for envy, jealousy, greed or self-preser- vation, rarely purely out of hate. Hate really has no part in the vast majority of crimes. Let's stop pretending it does.

James Girves
Kula, Maui

Bet on free-trade zone, not gambling

There are better ways to solve Hawaii's economic shortcomings than through legalized gambling: Turn the state of Hawaii into a free-trade zone like Hong Kong.

Imagine, the only place in the mid-Pacific where all nations can conduct trade free of tariffs. Hawaii would prosper by the amount of business conducted. The Far East would certainly do business here. The job base would become enriched with information system, maritime and financial jobs. This would leverage Hawaii's growing telecommunications industry and bring still more higher-paying jobs. The key is to get money churning in the economy, and this would secure Hawaii's economic future for decades to come.

If government can come up with landmark legislation, this would far outperform any form of legal gambling. There would be no underworld, no loan sharking, no drugs or any other criminal activities that always come with gambling.

We should not even be thinking about legalized gaming in Hawaii. It's not an issue of money, but the social ills that would forever compromise the well-being of Hawaii's children.

Von Kenric Kaneshiro

[Quotables] "There's a grave concern about the loss of existing resources in the valley, and I don't want government to be put into a positions of where everybody is shuffling their feet and nobody's taking some action to move forward." Steve Holmes, Honolulu City Councilman, on Council plans for the city to purchase Waimea Valley. "It still will never replace being at the bedside, but it comes pretty darned close." Dr. Greigh Hirata, Fetal Diagnostic Center medical director and principal investigator for a program that provides diagnostic services by satellite to high-risk expectant mothers.

Shooting could have been avoided

The tragic killing of Dunstan Long by the police in Wahiawa did not need to happen.

It is time to rethink the value of our SWAT team. Before the creation of this unit, the police on the scene had more latitude to talk with people and find the reasons and possible solutions to a standoff with a frightened citizen holding a gun.

It is outrageous that the family was not allowed to intervene. It seems when the SWAT team is called out, it follows a protocol that most often ends in a death. How often does it save a life, how often does it peacefully disarm the gun-holding citizen? Our police officers are good people who want peace and safety in their community. What goes wrong when the SWAT team comes out?

Brenda Upchurch
Wahiawa

Police don't need to defend shooting

Police do not have to defend themselves or justify their actions to the media for shooting an armed and dangerous man.

The facts are that Dustan Long had already been convicted of at least one felony and was about to be sentenced for this crime. He already had shot at several people and had wounded two of them. He had a firearm and had demonstrated he was prepared to use it. He had threatened to shoot other people.

Finally, he took a shot at two police officers and was felled with a shot by another.

The officer who shot Long did everyone in this community a favor. He guaranteed Long would wound or kill no one else. For this the police department and the officer deserve the gratitude of the community and not criticism.

As for shooting him in the leg or shooting to wound, let's get real here folks. This is not Hollywood. When you have only a split second to react, you shoot for the largest area that presents itself. You shoot to stop the suspect so no one else is harmed.

For those who have suggested that they could have talked Long into surrendering, we'll never know. But better we don't know than allow an armed suspect the opportunity to take a hostage and perhaps hurt or kill another person. .

The officers involved deserve our respect and are to be commended for preventing injury and loss of life.

J. Pinero

Some Republicans don't like Lingle

I take offense at Lynn Finnegan's assertion (Letters, May 31) that Democrats are behind the criticism of Linda Lingle that has appeared here.

There are probably a large number of other Republicans like me in the state who are not thrilled by Lingle's leadership of the party. I will admit that the Republican Party has made strong gains while she has been chairman, but I don't think she is wholly responsible for those gains and question whether she should be the person to continue to lead.

We need a leader who will unite the party and not a person who will try to make all the decisions in an undemocratic fashion.

Sen. Sam Slom has proven himself in the Legislature and might be a great candidate to head the party.

Terry Davis

Forestry can stop urban sprawl

Commercial forestry on the Big Island continues to challenge our thinking about the future of this beautiful island and what land uses should be encouraged and promoted.

Emanating from Oahu is an urbanization that is slowly consuming the entire state. As people seek relief from the pressures of cities, crime and traffic, they move to rural areas. But their expectations are often high. They want paved roads, water, electricity, convenience stores, cable and phone. This leads to the creation of suburbs as more people find the area attractive and land is further subdivided.

Compare today's Maui with Oahu 40 years ago. Or compare Kona with Maui 20 years ago or the Hamakua Coast with Kona 10 years ago. The patterns become obvious, yet little is being done to stop it or slow it down.

Now is the time to decide if we want street lights climbing the slopes of Mauna Kea like they do in Honolulu.

The Hamakua Coast has some of the most productive soils in the world. Already some of the new forest plantations are achieving world-record growth rates. Let's grow something besides million-dollar homes.

There is a simple reason why forestry can be a great alternative to urban sprawl, and it has already happened on many former sugar lands. Clear an area to bare soil and watch how nature restores vegetation on the site. Weeds and grasses are usually the first to appear, followed by shrubs and brush. Eventually trees will become established. It's a natural process.

Mike Robinson
Hilo

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