Now is the time to build med school

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin editorial of Oct. 4 highlighted the need for the Legislature to accelerate a diversification of the economy of Hawaii as soon as possible. These plans should include proposals presented last year to the Legislature by the dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Dr. Edwin Cadman.

Dean Cadman emphasized the potential economic gain for this state if an improved medical research and technological development of the School of Medicine could be achieved here in the islands.

In answer to the question "Should the state proceed with plans to develop and enhance the research capability of the medical school in Hawaii in light of recent events?"

I suggest that with our obvious over-dependence on the tourist industry for our economy, the answer should be a resounding, "Yes, more than ever!"

Malcolm R. Ing, M.D.

Tsunami no threat to med school site

In letters written by Leonard K. Chun (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 7) and Michael Sakalauskas (Oct. 13), they say the proposed University of Hawaii Medical School campus in Kakaako is in close proximity to a tsunami evacuation zone. A map prepared by the Oahu Civil Defense Agency shows that the campus site is outside of the tsunami evacuation area.

Flooding or tsunami inundation was one of the evaluation criteria in the site selection. Further, according to the flood insurance rate map, the medical school site is shown as Zone X, an area determined to be outside the 500-year flood plain.

Edwin C. Cadman, M.D.
Dean, John A. Burns School of Medicine

Let's see Trask defend those who disagree

Regarding Haunani-Kay Trask's unpatriotic speech blaming America for the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center:

I served aboard a Navy destroyer to preserve her First Amendment right to give that speech.

The next time Cal-Berkeley shouts down conservative speakers such as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Chicago Seven member David Horowitz, I expect Haunani to exercise her First Amendment right and speak out against Berkeley.

Jay Bauckham
Makiki

[Quotables] "When the stadium was built, I think it was the furthest thing from my mind that it would be named after me." Les Murakami Retired coach of the University of Hawaii Rainbow baseball team, on the renaming of Rainbow Stadium in his honor. Murakami said he "went out and hustled" to get the money to build the stadium and credited for Gov. George Ariyoshi and the state Legislature for their support. "Halloween is absolutely not Christian." Travis Takamiya Youth minister at Calvary Chapel, which will sponsor an "alternative celebration" Oct. 31 at which children are asked to wear costumes with a biblical theme. "It detoxifies the idea of death." Nan Kleiber Religious education director at First Unitarian Church, which will hold a Mexican-style "Day of the Dead" festival Oct. 28 and sponsor a Monster Museum Oct. 28-31.

Professor misuses her position

Professor Haunani-Kay Trask's recent statement that the United States is solely to blame for the events of September 11 is outrageous and irresponsible.

As a professor at the University of Hawaii, Trask is tasked with the responsibility of teaching our university students to think critically and analyze events with intellectual rigor.

The defense that she is just trying to stimulate critical thinking on campus is not credible given the fact that as a Hawaiian Studies professor, she lacks the expertise to speak intelligently about Mideastern history, language, culture, politics and religion, much less the root causes of international terrorism.

Tying September 11 to the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy is just another example of a professor misusing her status to expound personal views under the rubric of intellectual curiosity and freedom of expression. Our students (and taxpayers) deserve better.

Eric Young

Trask insults every patriotic Hawaiian

OK, Haunani, get ready for the backlash. When you called the World Trade Center as "theirs," I take it that you have renounced your U.S. citizenship, too. Either you're with us or you're against us.

I'm not afraid to admit that, yes, sometimes our foreign policy sucks big time and that maybe our president should publicly say that we may have been a bit overzealous in our belief that our way was the best way.

I'm not afraid to say that because I believe in our country, the United States of America. If you need to refer to the World Trade Center as "their World Trade Center," then I guess you aren't supportive of America and every proud American flag erected by Hawaiians on the Waianae Coast.

We are in this together, and if you bail on us now you bail on every Hawaiian who loves this country but desires a sovereign Hawaiian government, too.

Use your head Haunani, not your okole when you think about these things.

Craig Watanabe

Governor controls reorganized OHA

Once again Governor Cayetano has regained control of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs through his friend and new OHA chairman Clayton Hee. The timing was impeccable.

While the citizens of Hawaii focused on the national tragedy of September 11, he has managed to slide his hands into OHA so that he can control this entity.

Does he think we Hawaiians are stupid? Does he think that he can get away with this? Does he think that we don't know what is going on?

Eventually, he will pay either politically or economically. Time will tell for Governor Cayetano and all of his puppets.

Lana Ululani Robbins
New Port Richey, Fla.

Representatives turn tail and run

I am aghast at the attitude of the people who represent us in the U.S. House of Representatives (who closed down the House for several days because of the anthrax scare at the Capitol building).

When push comes to shove, they turn tail and run like a bunch of scared rabbits.

Robert E. Lansing

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