Friday, February 1, 2002
Express your opinion in the voting booth
As a registered voter I support ...>> Qualified Honolulu police officers with laser guns pulling over people who speed and run red lights. Some people dislike them, but I find their presence is reassuring.
>> Creating an additional section within the Honolulu Police Department to focus on traffic violations. Their primary duty would be to cruise the roadways looking not only for speeders, but cars that are weaving in and out of traffic and causing accidents. But watch out, they'll be looking for those slow pokes in the left lane, too. They're just as bad as the speeders.
>> Getting the traffic lights in sync. Nothing is more frustrating than having to sit through a green light, except maybe when you have to sit through a red light when there's no traffic coming from the other direction.
>> A ban on gambling. I grew up in a state that legalized gambling. The politicians parlayed it as a never-ending fiscal fountain that would benefit everyone. It never did and never will. Education still lags, there are still legions of homeless people, and property taxes still rise on a regular basis. Somebody got rich, but it wasn't the citizens.
>> Politicians who support my views and don't pass the buck. They get my vote every time.
Bill Riddle
Pearl City
Gambling would ruin aloha of the islands
I'm writing in response to your Jan. 18 editorial, "Gambling industry proposes new ploy." I don't think gambling should become legal in Hawaii. Although it would provide more income to Hawaii's economy, inviting gambling would bring many problems into our everyday lives.People come to Hawaii to relax, enjoy the beaches, shop and enjoy the ono food. Gambling would just ruin that because of the stress, as well as the organized crime it would bring. That isn't what Hawaii is known for.
Gambling should be kept off of our islands, leaving them with the feeling of aloha they have always had. We get plenty of tourism here as it is -- we don't need to become another Las Vegas.
I hope Hawaii remains the beautiful place it is now.
Malia McCarthy
Waikoloa, Hawaii
"Why don't they listen to the people, scrap it and start over?" [Quotables]
State Senate vice president, on the traffic photo enforcement program. Forty-six lawmakers signed a petition asking the state to end the controversial program; Gov. Cayetano said repealing it altogether would be a "knee-jerk reaction."
"It's like sending your child into hell."
Pet owner, on having to put her golden retriever in quarantine for 30 days when she moved to Hawaii from California. Under Hawaii state law, most animals must complete a 120-day quarantine period; if specific requirements are met, an animal may qualify for a 30-day quarantine. The Community Quarantine Reform Coalition is proposing that vaccinated animals be exempt from quarantine.
Arab states do not represent Islam
In reference to Bill Lane's letter to the editor, "Muslim silence raises questions of tolerance" (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 20), I would like first to emphasize that the Muslim community nationwide has spoken up in many ways against the events of Sept. 11 and condemned Osama Bin Laden. Second, the American media are not giving fair time and attention to what Muslims have been organizing in their communities. Third, one cannot relate what bad Muslims do with what Islam preaches.Lane is right, actions do speak louder than words, and the Arab governments are no example of Islam. They are dictatorships that are a mirror of the Arab culture, not Islam. Today's Arab culture is to blame for their intolerant states.
I lived in Egypt for five years. As a Muslim, I saw intolerance; I lived it and I hated it. There is no example of a true Islamic state in the world. It is a myth.
Mona Darwich
Atheists believe in goodness of humanity
According to the Jan. 26 Star-Bulletin story "United in Prayer," Sen. Bob Nakata would be willing to have an atheist give the invocation to a Senate session if he or she were willing to meditate. How tolerant. The word means "to engage in thought." Surprisingly, we are thoughtful people. A humanist, or an atheist, or one who is not a believer, does not feel the need to ask God's help in becoming a better being."Let our minds and hearts be generous in outlook, courageous in the face of difficulty and wise in our decisions. Do not let self-interest or greed influence us, but let us work together to serve the people for the good of all. May our plans and deliberations bring success to our work and our rewards will be the work we do."
I am quoting Monsignor Edgar Brillantes, deleting the pleas for help from an external source. We believe there is a goodness within all humanity, which, if we choose, we can tap.
Maybe it's just that nonbelievers have an inner core of morality, integrity and goodness that is stronger than most.
Bettejo Dux
Kalaheo, Kauai
Espero doesn't favor traffic-camera system
The Jan. 25 letter to the editor written by Earl Arakaki is one big smear against state Rep. Willie Espero (D, 41st District-Ewa Beach, Lower Waipahu). Arakaki, the campaign chairman for Pam Smith, Espero's opponent in the last general election, grossly misrepresented Espero's position on the traffic cameras. To state that Espero supports the program and wants to see it expand into our neighborhoods is ludicrous.I was at the same Ewa Neighborhood Board meeting where Espero stated directly to Arakaki, "If I could end it tomorrow, I would. Unfortunately, I do not have that power, so I'm doing everything that I can in order to make adjustments." Espero has even signed a petition requesting the state Department of Transportation to immediately remove all photo speed enforcement vans from Oahu's major commuter thoroughfares.
According to the petition, "If there is to be placement of the traffic cams, then it is further requested that they be placed in school zones and stretches of road with historically high traffic accident or death rates. However, expansion is to not occur until the Legislature has reviewed the current law this session."
Tom Berg
Office manager for Rep. Willie Espero
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