AIDS is mostly spread by heterosexuals

Chris Connoley of Pahoa complains of an anti-aloha crusade (Star-Bulletin letters, June 3), yet fails to see how his own bias demonstrates ignorance and intolerance.

Citing Hawaii Department of Health statistics that identify 83 percent of AIDS cases in the state to be attributed to men having sex with men, Connoley concludes that homosexual behavior is destructive.

This is a very narrow view of a global epidemic. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the United Nations Commission on AIDS, 80 percent of all adult HIV infections worldwide are attributed to heterosexual intercourse, and nearly half of the 15,000 HIV infections that happen each day occur in young people aged 15 to 24.

Homosexual behavior is not intrinsically destructive or "against human anatomy and biology" as Connoley writes. Rather, it is homophobia that is the destructive behavior fostering ignorance, intolerance and bigotry.

Eduardo Hernandez
Aiea

McVeigh's death lets him escape justice

Monday's scheduled execution of Timothy McVeigh grows nearer. Many of us anxiously await the end of the Oklahoma City bomber.

As the first federal execution in 40 years, McVeigh's lethal injection will raise his status to martyr. His death at the hands of the government he so despises will be a badge of honor for himself as well as many others like him.

His death will deprive the people of the United States of justice. He will not experience the pain of isolation or the depression felt by many of the victims' families.

A better punishment for him would be life in prison. The dishonor and hardships life in prison would afford him is far better than the escape death allows him.

Michael Spiker

[QUOTABLES] "I don't know why it wasn't part of the bill. There should be that provision; it should be part of their punishment. I'm sure it was the intent of the law." Cal Kawamoto, State senator, on loopholes in the new DUI law that allowed Tiuli Faatoia, who had three prior drunken-drinking arrests, to escape the harsher measures of the law. Faatoia turned himself in to police in connection with the hit-and-run death May 24 of Daniel Agcaoili of Kalihi. "He does not have remorse. He does not apologize. He's getting away too easily." Bonnie DeGuzman-Woodfall, Mililani resident, commenting on the scheduled execution Monday of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. DeGuzman-Woodfall's cousin, Randy Guzman, was one of 168 people who died in the Murrah federal building explosion. "What if a member of the public came by and needed help or something? This is really embarrassing." Alex Garcia, Honolulu detective, on the new Kapolei police station that closes down at 4:30 p.m. because of staffing shortages.

Preserving culture is important, too

I think I could rephrase Art Todd's comment on how the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' mission could better assist Hawaiians in a non "anti-Hawaiian culture" way (Star-Bulletin letters, June 6).

OHA should set its priorities so that its money is used first to assist individual Hawaiian families that demonstrate financial need.

No one is saying that preservation of culture is much more important than money for rent or food.

But we need to be reminded that without some preservation, Hawaii will be just like any other large metropolis.

Kalani Mondoy
Glendale, Calif.
(Former Hawaii resident)

Megarich increase schools' wealth gap

Is the gap between the rich and the poor growing?

Thurston Twigg-Smith, former newspaper magnate and member of the "overthrow" family, and Steven Case, AOL-Time Warner chief, gave millions this week to Punahou School (Star-Bulletin, June 8).

Meanwhile, 50 public schools have no money to repair playground equipment.

Juel Gustafson

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