U.S. seems to be permanently at war

"But what is unspoken is no less real, nor does it lack consequences just because it is not part of any ongoing domestic discussion." Writing in the year 2000, the American scholar Chalmers Johnson is here referring to the cost and consequences of American empire in his book, "Blowback."

The question of "why 9/11?" has failed to be answered precisely because there has been very little self-reflection on the subject regarding imperialism and empire. To dismiss the issue, as many have and will, is an inherent sign of the American inability to come to terms with its own violent past and contradictions in singular praise of "freedom" and "democracy."

The U.S. empire is built on violence, from the more than 40 wars of terror waged against American Indian nations that cleared the way for 19th-century European settlement to the millions killed during the Cold War from direct U.S. foreign policy intervention. This history is apparently too difficult to face.

It's much easier and proper to be complicit in the government's permanent war on land, resources and peoples. This is the way it has always been, so why would anything be different now? The reaction karmic: violence begets violence and empires fall.

Tony Castanha

We are locked in struggle for way of life

Watching all the coverage of the 9/11 anniversary, it finally hit me. We are engaged in a historic struggle, in a struggle of biblical proportions, a genuine conflict of fundamental beliefs.

Americans are fighting for our way of life. Our opponents are fighting for their way of life. We are fighting for the inherent rights of the individual, given to us by our God. They are fighting for the right of the few to dictate the course of events, rights they also claim, given to them by their god. To them, religious freedom is blasphemy. To them, individual freedom is a weakness.

Our way and their way are mutually exclusive. As much as we cherish the right of all to their beliefs, no matter how repugnant, we cannot survive together. One side will have to triumph over the other.

Now here's the really hard part. Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are not our only opponents. Many who have been our allies will emerge as our opponents. There is real tyranny in Saudi Arabia, as well as in other "friendly" regimes.

So what do we do? Unfortunately, it's not about right vs. wrong. It's really about might. To badly paraphrase Thucydides, the strong do what they will, and the weak do what they must. He goes on to say, "This is not our laws but the laws of the gods." We must win, or we lose.

Joseph Kim

Domestic problems also need attention

The removal of Saddam Hussein shouldn't be an option, it should be mandatory. We need to send a message to the whole world that terrorism and governments that encourage it are not acceptable. Yes, we are the Earth's police when it comes to terrorism, and we have a moral right to be, and to protect all human kind.

With biological agents and nuclear weapons available, the times have changed. We support President Bush and believe our cause is just. But we hope he pays just as much attention to the shaky economic situation, which is hurting millions of Americans.

Arsenio Ramirez Pelayo
Pearlridge

Let Keeia Kea's protectors stay

The article "City grabs Heeia land" (Star-Bulletin, Sept. 20) was informative and timely. However, the story failed to mention two of the people who have been fighting to preserve the Heeia Kea land ever since they were evicted from their farmstead in 1964 by HECO, along with several hundred other, mainly Hawaiian, residents. The utility wanted the land to build a nuclear power plant there.

Leialoha (Rocky) and Jerry Kaluhiwa are still residents of Heeia Kea, the only family left from the hundreds who were driven out. They have maintained a connection and commitment to the land for more than 50 years. More than 100 years ago, Rocky's grandmother collected herbs there for use in her healing practices, as did her ancestors before her.

I visited the Kaluhiwas in the summer of 1980, when they proudly showed me their flourishing truck garden where they produced fresh vegetables for local markets. Jerry's expertise in limu aquaculture, taught to him by his father on the reefs of Kaneohe Bay, gave to the entire world the knowledge of limu germination and propagation, and made possible the present successes seen today on Molokai and in the gigantic commercial productions of Indonesia.

The Kaluhiwas have protected the land without compensation for decades. It would be appropriate for the general community to recognize and honor their lifelong dedication to the land's preservation.

Lono Correa
Waimanalo

'Change' seems to be easier said than done

Those of us who have been around the block a few times recognize what "responsible change" means: "I'm in charge, and I'll change when it pleases me to," said with an imperial sniff.

Good government and responsive leadership don't get overthrown easily, with their citizen-warriors laying down their arms and joyously begging the advancing forces representing real change to "liberate" them, no matter how resolute the talk -- from Saddam to Marcos.

So what they propose as "responsible change" is taking new pictures and putting them on the same old brochures -- and trying to convince us that "damaged goods" is The Next Big Thing.

We've heard that one before, and nothing's changed.

Mike Hu

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