Coach goofed by vouching for felon

I am appalled that University of Hawaii football Coach June Jones would submit a letter to the court on behalf of convicted felon Sukamto Sia.

Does Jones realize what Sia did?

Does he realize that writing this letter on University of Hawaii letterhead implies that he has the support of the university?

In his letter, Jones suggests that Sia should lecture at the University of Hawaii instead of serving time in federal detention. Does Jones realize what this says to the students and faculty of the University of Hawaii? He is telling them to lie and cheat the state and federal government and you get to lecture at the University of Hawaii instead of going to jail.

We don't need crooks as educators. And we don't need people like Sia. He should pay his fine, serve his time and then be deported to where he can cheat some other country's taxpayers.

Frank Maxwell
Waianae

Surely there's a job in government for Sia

Thank you for informing us of June Jones' creative idea for rehabilitation of his good friend and convicted felon Sukamto Sia. Given businessman Sia's extensive resume, which includes bankruptcy and wire fraud, contempt of court, gambling addiction, writing bad checks and domestic abuse, he seems like an ideal candidate for a seat on the City Council.

Peter Knerr
Kailua

[Quotables] "What a remarkable man, what a remarkable career. Eighty-eight years in show business, a brilliant comedian, an accomplished actor, a lifelong friend." Bob Hope Entertainer, on the life and career of cigar-smoking, cross-dressing comic legend Milton Berle, who died Wednesday. "Everyone has been coming closer and sharing because of this cleanup thing." Mabel Ann Spencer Co-organizer of Waimanalo's March 16 effort to clear garbage and other junk from the community, on how the project affected area residents. More than 500 volunteers gathered 200-plus cars, 500 car batteries, thousands of tires, 50 tons of various metals and 250 tons of other junk.

Best Actress lowers standards for women

Halle Berry's self-proclaimed status as the new role model for "every woman of color" pushes the bar of aspiration to a new low ("Oscar night 2002 -- The winners' circle," Star-Bulletin, March 25). What her Academy Award for Best Actress did was not open up the doors of opportunity for unnamed or unknown women of all colors, but rather insult and trample even further the virtues of womanhood.

Much ado has been made of her "steamy scenes" on screen in "Monster's Ball." Well, thanks, but no thanks. I'd prefer something that really exemplifies what women role models are supposed to be all about. The Web site Screen It reviews all movies in 15 categories. Feel free to read through all categories and then you might wonder why I was not enthralled that Berry thinks she has finally raised the bar of acceptance for women of all color by grunting and groaning her way to a state of nirvana.

The Web site should be visited often by all concerned parents and individuals who would like to know what really is in any movie before even thinking of going.

Gerald Bohnet
Laie

Diocese would support open inquiry of abuse

The Diocese of Honolulu shares the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's assertion that hiding the crimes of clergymen is itself a criminal act "Church's silence code should be discarded," Star-Bulletin, March 26). However, there is a legal procedure through which proper disclosure should take place.

In a recent story and in a March 26 editorial, the Star-Bulletin appears to have jumped to the conclusion that a priest is guilty of, and the diocese is liable for, the alleged sexual abuse of a girl more than 25 years ago. It did so after hearing and printing only one side of the case.

We told the Star-Bulletin, and repeat it here, that the diocese maintains that the only correct and proper way to examine this case is not internally (or in a newspaper) but through an open and public judicial inquiry. Only the alleged victim can initiate this. If and when she does, the diocese will cooperate fully.

For the Star-Bulletin to imply that this position is "consistent" with a "code of secrecy" makes no sense at all.

Patrick Downes
Diocese of Honolulu

Cayetano wants to ban booze altogether

Gov. Ben Cayetano has revealed the true reason for his proposed 50 percent increase to Hawaii's liquor tax. Turns out it's not really to help balance the budget, after all. Cayetano would like a total ban on the consumption of wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages. Surely he must know this country decided prohibition is a bad idea when it repealed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution in 1933.

Cayetano declared his real motivation for wanting to keep us from enjoying that after-work beer, or a glass of wine with dinner, during a March 27 television interview.

"We went to the liquor tax because it is a so-called sin tax. Alcohol doesn't help anybody, you know, and if I could wipe out alcohol, you know, by passing a law, I'd do it, but we can't do that. Same thing with tobacco."

So it's not about balancing the budget. Cayetano has some sort of a Puritan dislike for the civilized consumption of alcohol.

Next thing you know we will find ourselves with a Department of Strict Morality and Pure Thought headed by former Taliban officials. Give it up, Governor.

Ed Michelman

Forget traffic cams -- "It's education, stupid"

The "Keystone Cops" Legislature is at it again. Rather than make its priority equitable funding for the education of our young people, lawmakers waste their energies on the traffic-camera vans. These folks simply do not want to confront real issues.

Do they pay any attention to letters such as the one written by a Kalaheo High School student (Star-Bulletin, March 25) who wrote, "Give the students of Hawaii the opportunity to make their state great. Please don't cut our education budget."

Cutting the education budget seems to be an obsession with this bunch. There is much talk about the spirit of aloha in Hawaii. How about a special aloha for the education of our children?

Tony Locascio

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