Ill-fated submarine needs major blessing

When the USS Greeneville struck the Ehime Maru last February, then suffered a second collision six months later, the superstition about events occurring in groups of three came to mind.

Now that the Greeneville has suffered a third collision (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 28), it seems the superstition has come true. And since it's bad luck might not end after three incidents, perhaps it is time that the submarine was blessed by not just one, but a bevy of spiritual leaders, including a Christian priest, a Buddhist monk, a Jewish rabbi and a Hawaiian priest (and whoever else wants to give a blessing).

Let's cover all the bases and make the boat safe again. With the few submarines we have left, we cannot afford to have a submarine out of service as frequently as the Greeneville has been during the past 12 months.

Laine Skiendiel
Ewa Beach

[Quotables] "My interest is not to find ways in which my constituents can break the law ... we're looking for ways in which (the traffic camera program) can be done fairly ..." David Pendleton State representative from Kailua, on altering the state's Photo Enforcement Program. Some Windward residents have felt unfairly targeted because the camera-vans have been stationed so often on the Pali Highway. "They want you to rat out the person who was driving your car. That is wrong." Bob Hogue Windward Oahu state senator, who received a speeding ticket issued by the Photo Enforcement Program. Hogue was not in the car when the vehicle was caught speeding, but he says he will contest the ticket and won't reveal who was driving his car. Hogue has been a critic of the photo vans and led an unsuccessful drive to halt the program.

Voters did well to elect Kobayashi

To paraphrase astronaut Neil Armstrong's first words on the moon: Ann Kobayashi's election to the Honolulu City Council is a small step for a good woman, but a giant step forward for the Council.

Can we now hope in upcoming elections that the voters of Hawaii will follow the example of District 5 and elect people of good purpose and ignore those promoted merely by party affiliation or by wildly spun, widely spread political propaganda?

Howard Driver

Turnout was dismal for Council election

Although Ann Kobayashi won the election for City Council District 5, I trust she will remember it was by votes from only 11 percent of the almost 45,000 eligible voters in that district. Out of those who bothered to vote, 60 percent wanted someone else.

What a dismal turnout for an office that is the closest representation to the people. It is depressing to find people are doing the same old thing: Voting for a rerun who was endorsed by special interest groups.

I just checked out her campaign contributions on the Web and found she received $55,150 from 84 sources between Sept. 19 through Jan. 10, an average of $656.55 per donor. That list should be useful to other candidates this year. Or maybe not.

Shirley Hasenyager
Kailua

District 5 voters stayed home in droves

No one likes a positive spin on things more than I do, however as I count the votes in the District 5 City Council race, Ann Kobayashi got 40 percent of the votes cast and only 10 percent of the actual possible votes.

Ten percent is not a plurality, mandate or anything more than a Ms. Congeniality vote. Personally, I am hopeful that she will add something other than more controversy over campaign funds. But with only 10 percent of the population voting, we are lucky there is a living person in place. Good luck, Ann.

Arnold Van Fossen

Hawaii should bring back water travel

In light of deregulation, monopolistic mergers, over-reliance on air transportation and the world's precarious condition, Hawaii may have to step back into its past and re-establish water transportation as its lifeline and backup system.

The islands need more than one mode of transportation to provide for its national defense, economic and basic transportation needs. Air transportation has increasingly become less able to meet Hawaii's need for a safe, responsive, reliable, affordable and conveniently scheduled travel between islands and to the mainland.

A couple of U.S.-built, technologically advanced composites of the old interisland Hualalai and Waialeale and Matson's Matsonia and Lurline would bring the islands closer together and to the mainland.

Life in the islands would be truer to its heritage with the addition of affordable ships that meet our need for basic transportation and pleasure.

Richard Y. Will

Abortion opponents lack understanding

It is without compassion that Catholic Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua said that abortion is an absolute evil about which no exceptions are permitted (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 19).

What about cases when the pregnancy was caused by rape, when the fetus is congenitally deformed or when the mother's health is in danger? It would force abortion to go underground and cause botched self-administered abortions. The rich would go to countries where abortion is legal, while the poor can not.

It is time for human rights groups and individuals to oppose the rigid stand of Bevilacqua and others who oppose abortion and birth control.

How Tim Chang

Cartoon lightened load of depressing speech

Star-Bulletin editorial cartoonist Corky Trinidad changed my life. I was depressed after watching the president's State of the Union address Tuesday because, for the first time in 30 years of teaching and lecturing on Roman history, I finally understood an integral part of the Roman persona I could never grasp.

I never understood how the Roman senate and aristocracy could bear up and replace their ranks after continuous eras of bloodshed, terror, murder, banishment and loss of property and favor. I was taught, as I in turn had taught, that it was for power and money. But I never understood until last night, listening and watching, what power and money really meant. I was miserable.

Then, by chance, I saw Corky's Jan. 30 cartoon of Bush wrapped in the American flag, with flags out both ears, and I began to laugh. I have been smiling ever since, and I think it may last the rest of my life. Corky, you get an 'A'.

Daniel Steward
Seattle, Wash.

City shouldn't reduce its trash service

Regarding the Jan. 28 story on trash pick-up: Reducing trash pick-up to once a week will result in more bugs breeding and a stronger smelling odor. Charging for residential pick-up will result in neighbors placing their garbage in their neighbor's container to avoid filling their own can.

This is what will happen if we continue to reduce taxes and pay per service upon request like President Bush wants to do. Only the rich will prevail as they can afford to pay for such services. I don't mind paying taxes that will benefit us all.

Leave the refuse collection service alone as a public service twice a week.

Michael Nomura
Kailua

Vulnerable military bases lack security

In Tuesday's State of the Union address, President Bush described a nation facing "unprecedented dangers," a country awakened to the threats of "thousands of dangerous killers" and the "ticking time bombs" of terrorism.

While on one hand the military is racing toward implementing new anti-terrorism protection measures on military bases, on the other hand Congress is fostering the privatization of the civilian work force, housing and utilities. The great danger here is that hundreds of contract workers are swarming onto military bases, easily penetrating the inner security ring that harbors the highest-ranking military officials and most critical and vulnerable facilities.

Well-screened, security-conscious employees are being replaced by hundreds of mar- ginally screened workers hired to maximize contractor profits. We erect physical barriers but literally allow total strangers to enter our most critical and vulnerable areas.

These measures are diametrically opposed and should be re-examined if we are to achieve base and national security.

Ed Uchida

U.S., Philippines work together for peace

The "Gathering Places" column by Belinda Aquino (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 30), about the deployment of U.S. military troops to the Philippines to advise and train Filipino troops hunting for Abu Sayyaf rebels in Mindanao, is off base.

The Muslims (moros) in Mindanao never bowed to any ruler in Manila since the Philippines became a colony of Spain and the United States, and even now they have organized their own army, the Moro National Liberation Front.

The MNLF is hostile to the Philippine Armed Forces. The Muslims are not getting along with Christians now in Mindanao, and they hate authorities from Manila. Philippine President Arroyo is determined to end hostilities in Mindanao. She asked President Bush to help her eradicate kidnapping and terrorism in her country.

Aquino is trying to scare Americans out of the Philippines. But I tell Aquino that we Americans are not afraid of the likes of Abu Sayyaf and the message to them is to lay down their arms and join the mainstream of Filipinos for peace, stability and prosperity.

Bernardo P. Benigno
U.S. Army Master Sergeant Retired

U.S. should stay out of the Philippines

President George W. Bush sends U.S. military advisers to Mindanao, the southern Philippines, to help Philippine troops counter "terrorism." Indeed.

It's all reminiscent of then-President Kennedy, who send advisers to help the South Vietnamese in the early 1960s to counter "communism."

And then what happened? Kennedy's successor, Lyndon Johnson, sent thousands of troops to South Vietnam in the summer of 1965, launching a full-scale war in that country.

Will the U.S. government ever learn, in Afghanistan and elsewhere?

J.J. Kaufmann

Prisoners should read about a loving God

Since the Taliban detainees are being well cared for at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, I suggest that each of them be given a Holy Bible.

They can read about grace, mercy and love instead of jihad from the God of the Bible, who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me" (Jesus Christ).

Melvin Partido Sr.
Pearl City

State's long-term care plan is a necessity

As a polio survivor, I am unable to qualify for long-term care insurance, including the Hawaii Public Employees Health Fund Long-Term Care Program. I recently was declared ineligible because of having Post-Polio Syndrome. I have also been turned down for long-term care insurance by a number of private insurers.

I do not want my family members to have to be fully responsible for my entire long-term care, if needed.

I strongly support the state proposed long-term care program (Care Plus), and would be most willing to pay the $10 a month premium. I may not be around long enough to take advantage of this program, but feel it is essential for future generations.

Jane Marcum

Honolulu could be a pro football city

Aloha Stadium has served its purpose over the years, but now, with major structural problems, it needs to be replaced with a much larger stadium. Looking ahead not only to University of Hawaii football being a national power, but also the idea of having an NFL franchise in Honolulu, I would suggest thinking out of the box.

Picture a 60,000-seat stadium along with adequate parking on the Ala Wai Golf Course property. Walkway bridges across the canal would provide direct access to Waikiki hotels for visitors attending UH or bowl games. This would greatly reduce automobile traffic.

Many NFL teams are building stadiums right downtown. A direct right-of-way from the H-1 freeway into the parking facility would handle vehicle traffic. I also strongly believe that Hawaii is a football state and that the fans here would strongly support an NFL team, especially if several local high-school prospects went on to play for UH, graduated and then played on the pro team.

I have lived in Hawaii for 39 years and have observed how short-sighted we have been regarding building for the future. I believe UH football will be a national power and bring several other major sports along with it. We need first-class facilities befitting that type of program.

Roger A. Hutchings

Hirono has served the public well

Your paean to Gov. Cayetano's final act ("Gov earns praise," Star-Bulletin, Jan. 23) was one of your kinder reviews on the subject. The governor graciously thanked his family and cabinet members but, typically, overlooked the contributions of those he leaned on for extra support.

As an unabashed Mazie Hirono supporter, I think more respect is due for the job the lieutenant governor did to keep state government in line. Too often, a rudderless governor went to the edge of coarse and angry debate that made complex issues almost implacable. More than once Mazie was there to be steadfast and to mend fences.

The lieutenant governor has her own trophy shelf of accomplishments. She was always there for teachers, professors and students and was a positive influence during the difficult labor dispute. She signed into law an increase in the minimum wage in Hawaii, conducted a successful 10-year battle for hate crime legislation, spearheaded the push for the state's Pre-Plus Program to provide preschool for 3- and 4-year-old children in need.

She continues to seek ways to increase air cargo and tourist travel to Hawaii and has helped reduce workers compensation rates by 40 percent for Hawaii's businesses.

And there is plenty more. Thanks, Mazie.

Patrick A. Stanley

Moving the zoo is a foolish proposition

It is laughable that City Councilman John DeSoto says members of the community "don't have the guts and foresight to see why (the Honolulu Zoo) should be put at Kalaeloa." (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 22).

In a typical case of pandering to his district, DeSoto wishes to deprive the Waikiki community of a landmark, a place easily accessible to tourists and residents alike. Would anyone trek to the new zoo if it were hours away? According the Analytical Planning Consultants survey, 60 percent of Honolulu wouldn't.

DeSoto says that the current zoo cannot be expanded, yet he fails to mention that it can be improved by using better technology and use of space, something $480 million dollars could definitely provide. Even members of the Honolulu Zoological Society -- the people who run the zoo -- are against Desoto's plan.

In a time when taxpayers are losing their jobs, children are stuffed into inadequate classrooms and the poor cannot afford health care, DeSoto wants to build a half-billion-dollar zoo for his district. Tell that to the hyenas.

Eric Hananoki

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