Bush assumes people share his will to kill

George W. Bush owes an apology to me and a large part of the population of this country, not to mention other countries. His statement, "If you are not with us you are with the terrorists," requires an explanation. Does that include persons not with you because of illness, such as Ronald Reagan? How about those of us who do not believe in killing? Many persons have religious convictions against rushing in to kill with you.

George Bush has brought back "cowboy" diplomacy. Once again we will be suspicious of everybody not just like ourselves. Bush has destroyed all the work presidents from Teddy Roosevelt to Bill Clinton put into free speech, equal rights and anti-segregation -- in a few words.

Rev. Jane A. Harvill

Post office runs real snail mail

Has it been brought to anyone's attention that mail delivery has slowed? A package sent to me by priority mail Oct. 17 still has not arrived. Because there is no tracking system on priority mail my travel documents may be on their way here by a barge, or so I was told by the travel company officials when they investigated.

A first-class package was mailed to Kauai last Tuesday and has not gotten there yet. People, beware. The postal service isn't telling us all.

Werylend Tomczyk

Memorial service was poignant tribute

Many thanks to Stand Up For America for sponsoring the memorial tribute last Sunday at Punchbowl National Cemetery for the victims and families of the Sept. 11 attacks.

It was the most tasteful and poignant memorial service that I have ever attended. Locally, representatives from the Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Hindu faiths all offered comforting words in remembrance of the victims. Various ethnic groups were represented and the music was truly inspiring.

Probably the highlight of the memorial was when everyone was given the opportunity to offer a lei at the foot of a beautiful display, which read, "Aloha to NYC -- We will never forget." The memorial listed all the names of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. Hats off to Mike Gabbard and Stand Up For America for putting together this event with such short notice.

Kathy Martin

Jones not disloyal; Rolovich is just better

Reyn Yoshinaga's statement (Letters, Nov. 1) that University of Hawaii football coach June Jones is not loyal to his players ignores the facts.

Last year, Jones stuck with Timmy Chang even though he had his ups and downs as expected from a true freshman. Chang has not yet recovered from his injury and Rolovich has been playing just as well as Chang did earlier this year. Chang has had good passing numbers, but even as a fan, I say he hasn't thrown quite as many touchdowns for won four games as Rolovich has done.

Rolovich has won every game out, has performed admirably under pressure and deserves the starting spot. And after all, it is Rolo's senior year.

Leslie Ching

[Quotables] "Although it may not qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records, it certainly was a record for us." Robert Bunda Senate president, on state legislators passing 15 bills in 12 days during a special session convened to address the state's economic crisis since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack "This is not an instant-gratification war." President George W. Bush Urging Americans to be patient as the war against terrorism continues and saying the fighting would not necessarily stop for the upcoming Muslim holy days of Ramadan

Baseball should be seen as it happens

Thanks to Fox Channel 2 for having the courage and common sense to show the baseball playoff and World Series games live. I bet this is the first time many kids and some adults have ever seen the games.

When they were shown as old taped games and did not start until 8 p.m. and were not done until almost midnight, few working people could stay up to see them, let alone school kids. For those folks who want to watch old taped games, use your VCR and tape them.

Ann Ruby

Racing club faces loss of Hawaii home

The plight of the local sports car enthusiasts continues to decay in light of the ongoing search for a new home for the Hawaii Region of the Sports Car Club of America SOLO II monthly events. High costs prevent most people from participating in motorsports, but the club provides affordable racing events at airports, parking lots and racetracks.

The volunteers of the club's local region consistently give their expertise and unending commitment to Hawaii's population by organizing inexpensive, safe, educational and positive auto-racing activities. My own experience in more than 10 years in the sport has profoundly improved my life. My racing experience, including my HIRS 1997 Season Championship, all started at this basic and affordable level.

I was dumbfounded to hear that the club now has no home for residents involved in SOLO II in Hawaii.

The Sports Car Club has been scrambling for years to revitalize our sport and bring it back to its glory years of the 1960s, and now I hear that we'll have to abandon our youth, forcing them to learn their racing on the streets. Does Governor Cayetano know anything about this? Could he not do something positive to help our dying sport?

Christopher Messer

LeMahieu scored an 'A' in offering resignation

Contrary to the Oct. 24 letter by Claire Woods, I believe there are no shortcomings to the state systems and its people that could in any way be held responsible for the resignation of Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu.

His resignation was reportedly due to indiscretion and character flaw. LeMahieu admitted publicly that he had "crossed the line" with his infidelity and his awarding of a special-education contract to a philandering partner. Under these circumstances he no longer considered himself to be effective as a superintendent and tendered his resignation.

I commend the school board for its prompt acceptance of his resignation. To have retained him in face of these revelations would have projected a flawed role model to Hawaii's public school population. Our children without question deserve much better, morally and ethically, from their top leader, regardless of how otherwise talented he might be.

With regard to Woods "no guts, no glory" euphemism, surely no glory should be forthcoming from gutsy infidelity nor from the gutsy awarding of a special services contract to a philandering partner.

Larry T. Hayashida
Wahiawa

Verizon vulnerable to terrorists?

What kind of security, if any, does Verizon have to combat terrorism? If a slice in a fiber-optic cable one inch in diameter is as damaging as reported, how damaging will it be to Hawaii if Verizon is compromised by terrorist attacks?

Paul Allas

Cameras needed to nab poor drivers

Traffic camera systems will improve road safety in Hawaii.

Many times I've seen drivers speeding through red lights or stop signs as though they are not there. I observed some people talking on cell phones or not paying any attention. Other times, drivers cross the lane dividers into oncoming traffic or drive too far on the right lane. They are sometimes reaching for something, talking to someone or distracted. They are about to cause accidents, but most of us are cautious because we know they are out there.

The cameras are out to trap the law violators. High-resolution digital cameras capture and communicate secured evidence (driver and license plate) in real time for immediate processing. The images are used as evidence for the citations that are mailed out to the vehicle owners.

With traffic cameras, law violators may think twice before picking up that cell phone or talking to other passengers.

Karen B. Samiano

Citizens should question U.S. policies

Haunani-Kay Trask is right in taking a stance for peace.

Historically, the record of the U.S. military has been bloody, oppressive and primarily aimed at people of color. Remember the Native Americans and the overthrow of the peaceful Hawaiian nation?

The public has not been presented with all the facts and some groups are still demanding evidence that shows who is responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks. We are not really sure if we are at war, yet war is spread all through the media. Has Congress declared war on Afghanistan? Unquestioningly, its citizens allow the United States to wreak havoc on another country, allowing them to kill Afghani women and children. Is this a war on terror or a war on the innocent?

Trask is asking us to question U.S. foreign policy and not be blindly led for some hidden U.S. political agenda. If we do not stop the killing in Afghanistan it will come back to haunt the United States and the cycle of violence will continue.

Like Trask, I am for peace and non-violent solutions.

Melinda Healani Sonoda

Heed the words of Liliuokalani, not Trask

As a kanaka maoli (Hawaiian) and also a pua alii (descendant) of Kamehameha Nui (I), I would like to apologize for the most insulting, irresponsible, careless and pupule statement made by Haunani-Kay Trask.

I don't think our professor of Hawaiian studies had ever studied the heartbeat of our beloved Queen Liliuokalani. If she had, she would have come across the Queen's Prayer, written in March 1895 while Liliuokalani was imprisoned in Iolani Palace.

Translated, it says, "Your love is in heaven, and your truth, so perfect. I live in sorrow-imprisoned. You are my light, your glory, my support. Behold not with male violence the sins of man, but forgive and cleanse. And so, O Lord, beneath your wings be our peace forevermore. Amen."

Here in her deepest sorrow, the queen asks God to shun ill will against those who had brought injustice upon her and her kingdom, but to forgive and cleanse. This could only come from someone with a beautiful, loving and forgiving heart filled with true aloha. Shouldn't we kanaka maoli imitate her instead of wallowing in hatred?

Kahu Leolani Waipa Johansen Pratt
Ka Hoku Ao Malamalama Church-Hawaii

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