Scouts discriminate, just like homosexuals

Discriminating readers discern news from opinion. The column by Rob Perez ("Ties to Scouts stains group's teachings," Raising Cane, Star-Bulletin, March 10) is the latter, better suited for the editorial page, and one reflecting confusion about the roles of discrimination and tolerance.

Discrimination exists every time one option is chosen over another. The Boy Scouts include only those who support belief in God and chastity before marriage. Homosexuality groups cater only to those who support their views. Thus, both groups discriminate by not supporting contrary sexual views or behaviors.

How, then, do we decide what to do to resolve what appears to be mutual discrimination and intolerance? The best way is to ask key questions, not about the people involved, but about the behavior, just as we do, for example, with smoking. Is homosexual behavior unhealthy? Does homosexual behavior weaken traditional marriage? The answer to these is yes.

We should tolerate everyone, protect them from abuse, but not support behaviors that damage individuals and society.

Phillip C. Smith

Learning character, morals is taboo?

They have been staining our society with their beliefs and influencing our children with these beliefs for a long time. This organization has a subsidiary that during the last 20 years has infiltrated our public schools and taught those values to our keikis without our knowledge.

We cannot allow a private group of men and women to instill upon these impressionable little ones such horrors as being trustworthy or loyal. Learning how to be helpful, friendly, courteous and kind should not be taught in such a public setting. For our children to learn to be obedient, cheerful and thrifty would put a stain upon them that will take years of self-indulgent pleasure and debt to blot out. They should not be shown how to be brave, clean or reverent by volunteers of this private organization.

I applaud Rob Perez for exposing such a cover-up and "Raising Cane" about it. They who have vowed to do their duty to God and country, to help other people at all times, to keep themselves physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight, should not have anything to do with my kids, or for that matter, yours.

These people, who are they? They are the Boy Scouts of America and the Learning for Life organization.

Hugh Green

[Quotables] "Nothing I say or do will bring your son back. I ask that you find it within your heart to forgive me. Please forgive my family, too. My family had nothing to do with this." Joseph Poomaihealani III Waianae man convicted of murdering Bernadino Arado, speaking to Arado's parents, Juanita and Benjamin Pojan before his sentencing Wednesday. The August 2000 slaying occurred when Arado went to investigate a commotion at a neighbor's house carrying a golf club, and Poomaihealani shot Arado through the heart. Poomaihealani had said he acted in self-defense after Arado ignored his warnings to stay away. -- "Please note that the medication referred to here is not RU486, the so-called abortion pill, but rather is commonly known as the 'morning after pill.' Since it prevents implantation of the egg, it is indeed a form of contraception." American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii In written testimony to the state House of Representatives for HB 2806, which would allow pharmacists to dispense high-dosage birth control pills to adults without a doctor's prescription. The pill works to prevent pregnancy; it does not cause an abortion. The bill passed the House and is now before the Senate.

Beware of political carpet-baggers

Now that the Reapportionment Commission has redrawn legislative districts, politicians will be moving to run in areas where they have better opportunities.

What voters should be on the lookout for is the "paper residency," people who really do not intend to live in the district or who do not intend to live there unless they win. Common Cause Hawaii and the Office of Elections have supported legislation (HB 1012) to require that candidates be qualified voters in the districts they hope to represent prior to filing nomination papers.

Candidates should live in the district when they file. That means moving in lock, stock and barrel.

Using an address or renting an apartment at the last minute puts folks like neighborhood board members -- who are demonstrating a commitment to their communities -- at a disadvantage to traveling politicians.

Residency matters.

Pat McCain
Downtown Neighborhood Board member

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Thanks for the Web site remembrance

Thank you for the remembrance of Sept. 11 on your newspaper's Web site.

My wife and I were in Hawaii at that time visiting our son, who is in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Smith. It was a somber time for us from the 11th on. We could not see our son because of the events of that day. We only had phone calls late at night.

I hope that we can return and that this time it will be a wonderful trip to your friendly islands. Thanks once again.

Robert Glovich
St. Clair, Pa.

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Forget the brunches; fix the roads

Is it just me or is anyone else disgusted with the deplorable condition of our roads in the Honolulu area?

The state and city should focus more on maintaining our roads than on van cams, fake waterfalls and Brunch on the Beach.

We have heard the rhetoric promising to get back to the basics. Meanwhile, our roads go from bad to worse.

John Pritchett

Put up a wall to stop rubberneckers

I just spent an hour on the freeway because of an accident in the opposite direction. Morbid curiosity makes people oblivious to the problems they create by rubbernecking.

A possible solution may be to purchase a lightweight, long and high portable fence that can be erected quickly to prevent "spectator slow-down." I could comment on what should be printed on the spectator side, but it's unprintable.

I've seen this done in California. It works, and considering all the complaints when there's a freeway accident, this just might cut the complaints in half and keep the traffic flowing.

Sueann Carter
Kapolei

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