It's the Constitution that needs allegiance

In "Isle lawmaker pushing pledge in class" (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 11), Rep. Bill Stonebraker says he wants to "promote a new generation of strong patriots who feel a fierce loyalty to the United States and all that we stand for."

If so, he is advised to replace his bill (HB 2416 ), which requires a daily schoolroom recital of the Pledge of Allegiance, with a bill that requires teaching the U.S. Constitution as the enduring protector of "what we stand for."

When entering the military or another national service, we take an oath to protect our Constitution, not the flag. The Republic "for which it stands" is ruled by this Constitution. If pledges of national allegiance by our youth are necessary, they should be to our Constitution, rather than to an icon that has become overly burdened with political weight.

Andrew Jones
Pahoa

There's an easy way to avoid traffic cams

The state's traffic cameras have become the hot topic on the radio and TV and in the papers. Lots of people are concerned, as they should be. But I have a different perspective. We have an award-winning public transit system now with new colors and new equipment. If more of us caught TheBus, there would be less traffic, less stress and potentially less speeding and red-light-running.

Athena S. Espania

OHA discrimination underscores hypocrisy

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs used to deny that it discriminates. Now it demands a special exemption from the procurement code so it can continue to discriminate. Procurement regulations forbid discrimination based on race, ancestry or family relationships. If OHA has to play by the rules, it refuses to issue any grants.

Kamehameha Schools officials used to deny that they discriminate. Now they say that because the federal government insists on a nondiscriminatory JROTC program in a nondiscriminatory school, they will shut down their JROTC program. If they have to play fair, they won't play at all.

Sen. Daniel Akaka used to deny that his famous bill would discriminate by creating a racially exclusive government for blood Hawaiians. His latest version would create a special exemption from federal ethics laws to authorize Hawaiian employees of this new federal office to discriminate in favor of themselves and their relatives. If they had to act ethically, they couldn't do their jobs.

These programs cannot advance their purposes if they cannot discriminate. But they should not be granted exceptions to the law. Discrimination is illegal because it is immoral -- without exceptions.

Patrick W. Hanifin

[Quotables] "On the second run, it was just chaos. In 17 years of sliding I've never felt such emotion on a sled. It felt like we were going to break apart into pieces." Chris Thorpe U.S. Olympic team member, after he and Clay Ives won the bronze medal in luge doubles. It was Thorpe's fourth and final Olympic Games. His teammates Brian Martin and Mark Grimmette took the silver medal; Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch of Germany won the gold. "We are not bad guys. We never talked to judges. I don't have enough money to buy nine judges." Anton Sikharulidze Russian figure skater, who with Yelena Berezhnaya won the Olympic gold medal in pairs figure skating. The ensuing controversy resulted in silver medalists Jamie Sale and David Pelletier of Canada also receiving gold medals, after a French judge admitted she was pressured to vote for the Russians. The matter remains under investigation.

Special election deserved notice

Thank you for your coverage of the City and County of Honolulu special election these past two months. your news coverage from candidate filing to final results was clearly useful to the voters of the Council district.

Due to redistricting, the 2002 elections will bring even more changes for voters. We encourage all to keep their voter registration addresses updated and to pay close attention to the official election mail they receive.

Exercising this responsibility could mean the difference between a hassle-free voting experience or waiting in the wrong line at the wrong polling site.

Genevieve G. Wong
City Clerk

Black voters were not victims in 2000

I don't think I am an exception when I say that I read the funnies to be entertained. However, The Boondocks is neither funny nor entertaining. It belongs on the editorial page. However, because it attacks the legitimate winner of the 2000 presidential election, even the editorial writers would have felt the need to offer an opposing viewpoint.

I am curious as to what cartoonist Aaron McGruder's real complaint is. Is it that the black turnout, which was higher in 2000 in Florida than the white turnout, was still not enough for Gore to win? Is it that the 90- percent-plus straight-party voting for Democrats by black voters was not high enough? Or is it that there was an (R) behind the name of George W. Bush?

The entire nation watched the daily drama in Florida, which eventually led to the election of Bush to the presidency. Nothing was hidden. The accusations that blacks had been kept away from the polls by the police, that black votes were not counted and that black voters were given malfunctioning voting machines were proven to be totally unfounded.

As long as blacks continue to believe they are victims, they will be easy prey for those who don't want them to think for themselves.

And as long as blacks vote in a monolithic bloc for Democrats, they will feel cheated if a Republican wins.

Mike Sudlow
Hauula

Muslims already have a loving God

This is in response to Melvin Partido Sr.'s Feb. 3 letter, "Prisoners should read about a loving God," in which he suggests that Bibles be issued to Taliban prisoners.

Muslims already have a loving god. He is the God of Abraham, Allah, Yahweh, Jehovah -- same god, different name.

To distribute Bibles to Taliban prisoners would insult and enrage Muslims around the world. It also would taint the objective of the world's war on terrorism. It would create the image of a 21st-century crusade and violate freedom of religion and separation of church and state -- two concepts held dear to most Americans.

I am a Christian; however, I also believe in respecting the beliefs of others.

Partido's message is well-intended, but his delivery lacks merit. The message of peace would be better served with cultural sensitivity.

Michael Spiker

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