TV and movies push destructive values

After the tragedy of Sept. 11, can we honestly say that we are really one nation under God? I can't understand why our society continues to allow the movie and television industry to depict sex, adultery and violence. These are not only unlawful acts to a Christian God, but they also are unlawful to most other religions. For a nation that is so advanced, why are we allowing the promotion of these destructive values?

I was recently incarcerated in Hawaii's Youth Correction Facility and spent nearly five years in and out of the juvenile correction system. I thought what I saw on television was the way to live. I wanted money, drugs and especially sex. Many of my desires led me down the wrong path. It took me a long time to realize there's more to life than materialistic things, although occasionally I still am drawn to them.

I am writing to bring attention to the power the media have on the young. I have taken responsibility for my acts and I hope that my experiences will bring awareness to other young people who think television and movies portray the way we are supposed to live.

Jonah Kaahu

Petroleum companies gouge isle motorists

Barnaby Robinson, in his Dec. 5 letter disputing claims of excessive oil industry profits, stated that Hawaii has the highest taxes on gasoline in the nation and that only a measly 53 cents per gallon is left to cover both expenses and profits for dealers and oil companies.

Consider, however, that according to the American Petroleum Institute, last week's average gasoline price across the U.S. was $1.15. The average price on Oahu is between $1.70 and $1.76. Furthermore, while Hawaii does register the highest total taxes on gasoline at 54.5 cents, that was only 12.5 cents higher than the national average of 42 cents.

If the average tax is 42 cents, then that leaves 73 cents. If the cost of crude oil is, as Barnaby suggests, about 40 percent of the retail price, or 46 cents per gallon, then the amount left "to cover expenses ... and profit for both dealers and oil companies" is only 27 cents. However, we have not heard of widespread failures of oil companies and dealerships at the $1.15 price.

Finally, if the amount taken from Hawaii for expenses and profit is about 53 cents per gallon, as Barnaby suggests, then in his own analysis that means that the oil companies are taking up to twice as much per gallon from Hawaii gasoline consumers than from those on the mainland. Why should that be? Why should the citizens of Hawaii put up with this kind of gouging? It is certainly not a satisfactory answer that the oil companies are charging "what the market will bear."

R.S. Miller
Professor of law, emeritus

[Quotables] "Mullah Omar has taken the decision for the welfare of the people, to avoid casualties and to save the life and dignity of Afghans." Salam Zaeef Former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, explaining Mullah Mohammed Omar's decision to surrender to opposition forces. Omar and other Taliban leaders reportedly fled Kandahar, their former stronghold in southern Afghanistan. "The feeling aboard the ship was, you either liked Randy or you didn't know him." Jerry Stanton Petty officer 1st class, eulogizing Randy Glenn Whitaker, a Pearl Harbor-based sailor lost at sea. Petty Officer 2nd Class Whitaker was reported missing last Friday after a morning roll call aboard the USS Russell, which had left Pearl Harbor on Oct. 25 on a six-month deployment.

Digital radio fills local stations' gaps

I agree that it is shocking that "Sameness Rules the Airwaves" (Editor's scratchpad, Nov. 27). But I gave up. Other than for the news and traffic before I leave home in the morning, I do not listen to Hawaii radio stations any longer. I subscribe to digital cable so I now have more than 40 commercial-free music stations to select from at home. I am thoroughly enjoying the variety in the programming.

My husband calls it "voting with my feet."

Dianne Minter

Ashcroft interview request is dangerous

The Star-Bulletin's editorial (Nov. 27) supporting Attorney General John Ashcroft's request for the police's help in interviewing foreign visitors is misguided. What if a visitor does not consent to being interrogated? Anyone refusing to cooperate likely would be pressured, harassed or further investigated even without cause. He might even be detained.

The editorial states that Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donahue's "vague statement may indicate that police will avoid situations that can be considered racial profiling." Are words such as "vague" and "may" meant to be reassuring?

Another police chief says it's similar to "a standard police neighborhood canvass after a crime occurs and we go into an area to ask questions." After previous attacks in the United States, did the police and/or the FBI interview every anti-abortionist in America, or every white supremacist, or every high-school student?

Another analogy compares this proposed interviewing to that which follows an accident. What's conveniently ignored is that after accidents or crimes, individuals are not profiled and selectively interviewed unless they are suspects. On the other hand, witnesses, regardless of their demographics, would be approached.

Well before Sept. 11, President Bush had repeatedly wanted to bypass checks and balances. To give him and Ashcroft free reign now is very dangerous, indeed.

Leon C. Pereira

Vocal opposition is wrong about fluoride

I would like to thank Rep. Dennis Arakaki for being willing to speak in favor of fluoridation on Lanai. It takes courage to protect the interests of our children when some opponents are so vocal in opposition. We lead the nation in cavities and are straining our precious health dollars treating the tail end of a preventable disease.

One dollar spent on fluoridation can save as much as $80 in dental treatment in those most at risk. As a practicing dentist for more than 20 years, I have seen the huge difference in the number and size of cavities between children raised in military housing with fluoridated water and those born and raised in Hawaii. Fifty years of studies have shown the safety and efficacy of fluoridation. The Centers for Disease Control named fluoridation as one of the top 10 health prevention achievements of the century.

We vaccinate our children to prevent disease, put iodine in salt to help prevent thyroid disease, and chlorinate drinking water to prevent water-borne epidemics. It is time to take a safe, simple step to protect our children from dental disease.

We are not adding a foreign substance to our water, but are adjusting a naturally occurring mineral. Fluoride already is in our water, but at a much lower concentration than needed to be a major health benefit.

Glenn Okihiro
President
Hawaii Dental Association

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