Reformed quarantine would work better

We completely agree with James Nakatani's commitment to keep rabies out of Hawaii (Letters, Feb. 16). However, Nakatani is asking the people of Hawaii to maintain a quarantine system that includes a 30-day confinement, when the evidence -- from the Department of Agriculture's own risk analysis and staff testimony -- shows that the 30-day confinement is unnecessary.

The 30-day confinement already has been discontinued for guide dogs and other service dogs after court testimony by state veterinarian Calvin Lum and quarantine manager Dewey Sturges indicated that the 30 days did not add any measure of safety to the program.

Nakatani also supports his argument for confinement by reporting an average of 404 rabies cases in dogs and cats on the mainland from 1995 to 2000. We agree that it is important for the people of Hawaii to understand the risk they are facing. In this case, that is an average of 404 mainland cases out of approximately 134 million cats and dogs, which means there is a .0003 percent chance of a mainland dog or cat getting rabies. When you add the protection of vaccinations and blood tests -- as is being proposed -- then the argument for a 30-day confinement becomes even less valid.

The proposed reforms will protect Hawaii and will eliminate the unnecessary disruption to the lives of thousands of Hawaii families each year.

Pamela Burns
President and CEO
Hawaiian Humane Society

Everyone deserves dignity in life, death

The lack of medical care for all at reasonable cost is just one of the many reasons the public should support HB 2487, the Death with Dignity bill.

As a social worker, I believe it is caring and compassionate to release each human being to pursue the freedom to make their own decisions when they can no longer endure their pain. This freedom is necessary to have true dignity in our lives.

Today's Americans too often jump into the driver's seat in the lives of their neighbors, without understanding what they are experiencing.

Other people believe that if anyone takes away a person's right to decide how one is to care for his life then the takers of the freedom are responsible for that person. Who can take full responsibility for another's life? Who has the time, money, compassion and love to care 24 hours a day, seven day a week for all the people they intend to deny the right to make their own decisions?

Regardless of funds, time or compassion, the personal-freedom basis of HB 2487 needs your support.

Give everyone the freedom of choice. This is true respect and honor.

Carolyn Martinez Golojuch
Social Worker
Makakilo

[Quotables] "The beret is our symbol of our commitment to the transformation of our Army. It is a symbol of excellence, a symbol of unity and a symbol of values." Maj. Gen. James Dubik Commander of the 25th Infantry Division, speaking Tuesday at a ceremony where more than 2,100 soldiers discarded their old uniform caps and donned their black berets. Hawaii soldiers were among the last in the nation to make the switch. "Looks like y'all aren't voting." Amie Jamieson Co-author of the U.S. Census Bureau report "Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2000." The report found that Hawaii voter turnout in the general election that year was the lowest in the nation.

Trial shows how far lawyers will stoop

Clyde Arakawa is a disgrace to humanity, common sense and the Honolulu Police Department. How much did this charade cost Hawaii taxpayers? Forensic evidence proved his light was red. Eyewitness reports said his light was red. He is shown on videotape drinking seven to nine beers, plus a shot of whisky, before the accident that killed Dana Ambrose. He refused a sobriety test at the accident scene. Seven hours after the crash, he had a blood alcohol level of 0.6 percent, still higher than the legal limit. And his brilliant lawyer comes up with the "superior liver" defense? Years of hard drinking strengthened his liver?

A videotape of Arakawa's trial should be shown in every law school in the nation to show what a lawyer can stoop to without being disbarred. Who allows lawyers to come up with these insane defenses? Anyone remember the O.J. Simpson trial? Who oversees this garbage?

Paul D'Argent
Kihei, Maui

Merger will hurt those on neighbor isles

Your editorial "Losses may justify merger of airlines" (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 18) does not consider how dependent we on the neighbor islands are on the airlines. We know the merger will mean cutbacks in the number and frequency of flights. I have friends and family who work for both airlines. What will happen to them?

Days after the Sept. 11 attacks on America, the airline industry was asking Congress for financial aid. What will happen to the consumer with fewer flights and probably higher ticket prices -- will we get a handout from the government?

Our airlines are vital links for us to Honolulu and to family and friends on all islands. Are these accounting (paper) losses or for real?

If our government is schmoozed by the quick talk of the merger people, we are going to suffer.

Stan Franco

Smoke-free law makes Hawaii more attractive

Thanks to the wise decisions and hard work of the Honolulu City Council members, Mayor Jeremy Harris, the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, and many other dedicated organization members and concerned citizens, Honolulu residents and visitors finally can breathe free, eat and socialize at the same time.

The passage of bill 99 CD2FD1 in favor of smoke-free restaurants was proof that our government is meeting the needs of the people. As one person who testified during a hearing for smoke-free restaurants remarked, "fewer than one in four people smoke; four out of four people breathe."

We have protections for workers' health in every other industry. It's about time the restaurant industry adheres to the same standards.

The city government has just added to Honolulu's allure by providing visitors and kamaaina the opportunity to enjoy cleaner, fresher dining environments in which to relax while helping to restore our economy.

I hope the government and public-health workers and advocates will continue their wonderful work improving the quality of our lives, perhaps with a tobacco-free beach rule to accompany our no-littering laws and smoke-free restaurants. We already were "lucky to live Hawaii." With the passage of this bill, we just got luckier.

Elise Mellinger

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