HSTA's Husted shouldn't resign

The editorial on the teachers' contract ("Resolve contract dispute; punish sloppy negotiators," July 28), states that Joan Husted and Davis Yogi, the Hawaii State Teachers Union and the state negotiator, respectively, should resign their positions because of their sloppy negotiations.

Husted knew the terms of the agreement. She was not at all confused about what the state had agreed to. She was not derelict in her duties nor was her manner careless or slovenly. Husted is highly intelligent, very well organized with an outstanding memory and good attention to details.

It is possible that the state's negotiator was confused about the terms of the agreement. The fact that the state negotiator signed the agreement even though perhaps he did not carefully proofread the contract should not reflect on Husted's ability or integrity.

Please describe the evidence used to make the suggestion that Husted should resign. She should be applauded instead.

As an HSTA member, I believe she and the HSTA negotiation team did an out- standing job on this difficult task of contract negotiations.

Nan Wond

Conservation ads not urgent enough

The Board of Water Supply's mellow television commercials do not communicate the message of urgency necessary to motivate people to conserve water in our fifth year of drought conditions.

We are more preoccupied with washing our shiny new SUVs and keeping golf courses pleasingly green than to think that this precious resource could dry up.

Instead of promoting scare tactics that there exists a dental crisis that demands fluoridation of the water supply, local celebrities should enlighten us with specific steps we can take to survive an imminent depletion of this pure gift of life which makes our islands so unique and fertile.

Melissa L. Yee
Oahu Citizens for Safe Drinking Water

[Quotables] "The reality is it's important, for $150-plus million, to get it right the first time." Evan Dobelle, University of Hawaii president, on considering sites other the Kakaako for a new medical school and biotechnology research center. "Her head looks small because her body is wide." Ray Helbig, On the return of Maizie, a tiny terrier mix who is a favorite visitor at Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Maizie, missing since June 28, made a surprise visit to the center Saturday with owner Virginia "Missy" Rose. A well-fed Maizie came home last week after Rose received a tip on her whereabouts.

ACLU should be wary of self-destruction

I wish to add my voice to the many who ask for debate between Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and ACLU President Nadine Strossen.

Strossen is an excellent debater with an outstanding presence and convictions to match. The American Civil Liberties Union was founded to champion the freedom to express unpopular ideas. Now it is up to us to save the ACLU from those who seek to destroy the organization from within.

The public should commend the ACLU for its decision to invite Justice Thomas to this much-needed debate.

Edward S. Clark
Keaau

Constitution gives us the right to criticize

Criticism of Hawaii's congressional representatives is covered by the U.S. Constitution, as should be a protection of Old Glory.

The "troubling lack of understanding in this country," to quote your editorial (July 4), is displayed by the likes of you in your attack on state Rep. Bob McDermott's free speech, and taunting the desecration of the American flag.

Perhaps the Star-Bulletin editorial board should visit the Arizona and Punchbowl memorials and ask the veterans who gave their lives for your "symbol." Since that and balanced, objective reporting of a successful effort to forward an amendment by more than a 2-1 margin in the U.S. House, are beyond the reach of the Star-Bulletin, maybe you should concern yourselves with covering the news and not trying to make it.

Harry J. Friel

Let churches be free from government gag

For years we have heard about "the separation of church and state" and "the right to bear arms" as if these were the absolute high points of American freedom and liberty. I don't buy it. My take on these overused and exaggerated concepts is much less spectacular than the average armchair political hack.

What if the point was simply not to allow the government to make church membership a qualification for citizenship. I think this is the point, not all the super-exaggerated fears of extremists. And what if the right to bear arms was simply an idea that was suggested to be regulated by a militia.

The movie "The American President" has a line that applies here: "Serious problems require serious people." Anyone who thinks a church's freedom comes at the cost of patriotic freedom needs therapy. If I were to judge a complaint against the separation of church and state I would do more to protect the churches' freedom against the government than somehow expand the government's freedom and protection at the cost of the churches' freedom.

To Mitchell Kahle and those who try to make a big fight out of the separation of church and state, I suggest they give it up and realize that preserving freedom means allowing the church to freely express itself, not to be victim of government gag orders.

Steve Purnell

Levy coverage hides real news

I don't care where Washington intern Chandra Levy went -- well, no more than I care about the thousands of other missing people out there.

This media hoax is 100 percent political. I'm not going to let hate media get me angry and distracted from the real crimes in Washington -- like the Supreme Court electing the president, like plans for our tax dollars to being funneled into evangelical religious organizations, like the cheesy tax cut for the masses while the rich are hosted to a banquet of tax cash. Not to mention the sinking economy, global warming, bad foreign policy and upcoming government deficit spending.

I hope Chandra is sitting on a beach somewhere writing a tell-all book, but how stupid are we to allow hate media to use her whereabouts to sell more Thigh Masters and gospel CDs.

Jack Sparrow

Bungling of consent issue still smarts

Rarely have I been so dismayed with our state representatives as when they voted to override the veto on the age of consent.

Of course no one in his or her right mind condones sexual relations between adults and minors; nor between teens of any age. But the Hawaii Legislature had a duty to craft a bill that the law-enforcement folks could prosecute, not merely an emotional law that everyone could feel good about.

The representative of my House district, William Stonebraker, is clearly a lost cause when it comes to clear legal thinking, but I'd hoped for more from Sam Slom on the Senate side. What a waste of hope.

Hawaii, we have a long way to go.

Kate McIntyre

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