Leave the firefighters' prayer alone

Regarding the story "Group protests prayer printed in HFD guide" (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 30): Enough already!

I do not care who, what or if it is nothing at all that Mitch Kahle, president of the Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church, and Michael Golojuch Jr., project coordinator of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, choose to worship, pray to or sleep with; that is their affair.

What I do object to is their appointing themselves the guardians over the rest of us, attacking all of the things that they personally don't believe in to further their own agenda.

They have attacked the Army for a cross on military property, the Navy for its youth program, Boy Scouts of America (a private organization) for their stand on homosexuality, a church because the cross was too tall and I'm sure there are many more that I have not listed. All of these organizations caved in to their demands except the Boy Scouts. Now they are attacking the Honolulu Fire Department over the Fireman's Prayer because some anonymous woman at Windward Mall objected that it was included in a government publication. (Who is this woman?)

I sincerely hope and pray -- yes, pray -- that the HFD does not cave in and will fight these people all the way to the Supreme Court.

Sharon McCarthy
Hauula, Hawaii

Students and teachers need smaller classes

Is money more important than children? The article "Class-size limits proposed" (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 23) said a state Board of Education committee suggested that schools should limit class sizes from kindergarten through second grade.

The committee's recommendation is to limit classes to 25 students per teacher. Although it would cost more to hire extra teachers, this suggestion is meaningful for both teachers and children. In Japan, a similar project is gaining acceptance because teachers cannot handle or pay enough attention to the large numbers of students in their classrooms. "Collapse of class" is a big problem now. "Collapse of class" means that students do whatever they want, with no holds barred, during class because teachers cannot deal with every student.

Also, in Hawaii, half of the children who attend public school need help with English skills, poverty or special education. If class size is limited, each teacher can communicate one-on-one and lay the foundation of a deeper relationship with each student. This limitation is useful for both teachers and students to have a better school life.

Ayako Kagita

Federalized security will be inefficient

I think it's a mistake to federalize the airport security screeners. It's going to cost the federal government (us taxpayers) too much money.

What the Transportation Security Administration should do is contract out with private companies and have higher standards.

Derek Stephens
Waianae

Washing sewage-plant wall wastes money

If the City & County of Honolulu is so short of funds that it cannot properly maintain city properties, why is the backside of a concrete-block wall along the Kailua Sewage Plant being power washed and painted? This wall shields the view of the plant from Kaneohe Bay Drive. But the backside cannot be seen by anyone from either the street or the plant. Its concrete-block construction can withstand the weather without any painting. The maintenance I witnessed was an unjustified expense.

To make matters worse, two friends and I passed by on bicycles at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 27 and we were drenched by the spray being blown across Kaneohe Bay Drive. At first we were concerned that the spray was chemical, perhaps being used to treat trees. We were told it was plain water. One of the crew was there to advise the spray operator to stop when passersby were present, but this did not happen when we cycled past. The supervisor said he would speak to that crew member.

It appears precious maintenance money is being wasted and the city crew is not doing a decent job preventing an unpleasant drenching of passersby.

James V. Pollock
Kaneohe

Lingle and Tanonaka make a great team

I recently attended a Republican Party rally in Hawaii Kai where two candidates in particular caught the crowd's attention: gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle and lieutenant governor candidate Dalton Tanonaka.

Tanonaka spoke about the need for a lieutenant governor to add value to the job by helping to create opportunities for the state. His ideas are very much like Lingle's. Both want to make key economic changes, create new and better-paying jobs, attract new business from abroad and overhaul our education system.

I believe Lingle and Tanonaka will work well as a team and will honor their commitment to see that life improves for all of Hawaii's citizens. I hope they convince voters they can stimulate the state's economy and rid it of political corruption. They've got my vote.

Ikaika'o Ahuna Nishimura

Despite GOP efforts, Mazie's the best

I guess, considering the Republican campaign of letters to the editor and the mainland Republicans and their money trying to take over Hawaii, that many local people would be influenced to say in your poll that "Lingle is the candidate who can restore trust" (Star-Bulletin, Sept. 3). Huh? Linda Lingle is the beneficiary of being born to the Cutter automobile family and of her mainland contributors.

Her most likely opponent for governor is Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, who is a truly honest and dedicated self-made woman. Her record of achievement as an immigrant who graduated with a law degree from Georgetown University and served 14 years in our Legislature (1984 Legislator of the Year) and eight years as Lieutenant Governor makes her the most tested, trusted and perfectly prepared candidate possible. Her life and her record are there for all to see, and are pure gold. Hawaii will be fortunate to see through the hype and elect the truly best -- Mazie Hirono.

Nancy Bey Little

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