What if the devout had to deny God?

I wonder if Joe Gomes and other proponents of keeping religious references in loyalty oaths would be so keen if the words of the oaths were instead to deny the existence of their God ("Separation anxiety," Insight, Oct. 6). I'm sure the answer would be no, and understandably so.

Were that mandated, the faithful would be forced to deny the existence of a supreme being that they believe in. It would be unjust to require them to do this to hold down a job or attend a public school, since denying belief would be irrelevant to their ability to carry out their job or be a good student.

To force an employee to take an oath acknowledging the existence of a God he may not believe in is to force him to lie or to restrict such employment to the believers in that particular entity. Surely we don't want a society that forces such choices, even if it were legal (which it isn't). The freedom to worship is an important constitutional safeguard; it should not be confused in the minds of religious adherents with a governmental right to enforce religious worship.

Chris Measures

Stories' heading was a bit off the mark

While it may be provocative to apply psychiatric terms to theological concerns, it is a bad fit ("Separation anxiety," Star-Bulletin, Oct. 6). We all may have our own special deities to whom we pay homage, so why is it necessary to make it mandatory and uniform in organizational codes?

As a supporter of parity, it seems that instead of "separation anxiety" you should use "paranoia"-- the irrational belief that is unprovable, but, unfortunately, too commonly held.

Robert C. Marvit

Wording of oath won't change cops' duty

The members of the Oahu Chapter of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers would like to thank all those whose prayers were shared on the issue of the Honolulu Police Department's Oath of Office. We (officers) have deep emotions and convictions on this subject and it comforts us to see that we are not alone.

We understand that Chief Lee Donohue was compelled to make changes because of legal interpretations provided him. We understand that there are laws that dictate the separation of church and state. As police officers, it is our duty and responsibility to enforce these or any other laws.

We also understand that laws are subject to a difference of interpretation and always subject to change. Ask two lawyers to render a legal opinion or ask two judges to render a judgment, and the results may not always be the same. We are concerned with the application of the legal case cited and the legal interpretation used. In speaking with representatives of our command staff, it was agreed that we would leave the legal opinions and interpreting to a higher entity.

The oath of office is a component of our standards of conduct, a strict code we abide by. The changing of any of its words will not change who we are or what we represent.

James "Kimo" Smith
Oahu chapter chairman
State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers

Carter undeserving of Nobel Prize

I was shocked to witness the glorification of Jimmy Carter in the Oct. 14-15 editorial pages of the Star-Bulletin.

OK, so the man goes globetrotting to promote peace; what actual peace has he achieved?

If anything could define a Carter presidency, it would have to be deliberate indecisiveness. Jimmy Carter's term was marked by abject failure. The current state of the Middle East is testament to his effectiveness at brokering peace in that region. The man gave away the Panama Canal. He was asleep at the switch when rebellion arose in Iran (with not even enough forethought to evacuate embassy personnel), and when the hostage crisis came to a head he waited months before taking action. His response resulted in crashed helicopters and dead soldiers, the outcome of a failed rescue attempt. I wasn't even old enough to buy a home, but I can still remember 20 percent interest rates.

If, for all of that, the Star-Bulletin still believes Carter deserves a Nobel Prize, then I suggest that the editors phone the Vatican to recommend Ronald Reagan for sainthood.

Jay Sasaki
Kailua

Carter a better man than vicious writer

The Thomas Sowell column about Jimmy Carter winning the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize is one of the the ugliest things I have ever read in your paper (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 15).

Sowell asserts that Carter is a worthy successor to "terrorist thug" Yasser Arafat and that he is "chummy with dictators heading a couple of the oldest hard-line Stalinist regimes in the world."

These are ugly words tossed at a good man from someone who is out for political gain.

For many years, Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have consistently sought out peaceful solutions to many problems. They remain true to their faith and true to the ways of peace and democracy. Jimmy Carter is a far better man than Thomas Sowell will ever be.

Mike DeBusk
Mililani

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Election reflections

Hawaii needs change Hirono-style

Democratic candidate for governor Mazie Hirono represents the tide of change that will raise everybody in Hawaii.

Homer M. Campbell

Lingle's plan doesn't seem realistic

This year will be the first year that I will be voting.

After reading Linda Lingle's "New Beginning" document, I wrote to her campaign.

One of my main questions was about her plan to fund every single government program and industry in need. I asked where the funds would come from to achieve this -- I've gotten no answer. The only way I can see this happening is either by cutting the pay of all public servants or raising taxes -- neither of which are popular moves.

I do not know what Lingle is trying to achieve. Is she trying to play favorites just to get elected and then concentrate on her own agenda? Or is she serious about what she claims? My opinion is the former.

I just hope people will be informed when they are making their decisions to vote. For a prosperous future for ourselves and our children, we all need to vote smart.

Craig Garcia
Kailua

Smear against Lingle wins her another vote

I read, in great disgust, the Star-Bulletin Oct. 11 article about the vicious smear campaign being conducted against Linda Lingle. As someone who voted for Ben Cayetano in 1998 and usually votes for Democrats, I have changed my mind.

Although I agree with many of Mazie Hirono's political positions and had planned to vote for her, I will now vote for Republicans Linda Lingle and James Aiona.

It is time for a change. The GOP ticket of Lingle and Aiona represents the ethnic balance and diversity that is modern Hawaii. Lingle is a political moderate who is fully qualified to be governor. I am impressed by former Judge Aiona. He is a man of great integrity and ability.

There is no place in Hawaii politics for the kind of racial smear tactics being waged against Lingle. Many of the supporters of Hirono are hurting their own candidate. They must remember that we are all part of Hawaii.

It is with a heavy heart that I vote against Hirono and Matsunaga (whose father was someone I revered). Hawaii means more than a particular political party, and it is now time for a big change.

Bob W. St. Sure

Hawaii needs to know more about Lingle

Nobody really knows who Linda Lingle is or what she is like as a leader. Her ads don't give a clue.

Unfortunately, like most mysteries, the danger is in the unknown. Once it is debunked, the reality is usually tragic or underwhelming.

Lingle has never been tested and speaks in generalities. Her "New Beginning" document is nothing more than an outline of old ideas that never hatched. She clearly is unaware that specific steps and procedures need to be taken. There is no way she can work with a Democratic Legislature without a knowledgeable strategy and track record of cooperation.

At what point does Lingle plan to provide Hawaii's voters with the strategic details?

Patrick Stanley

GOP is confusing the money issue

With all the smoke in the air, you'd think it were a Huli Huli chicken sale. Instead, it's just the Republican Party trying to cloud another issue.

When the Democrats informed the public of Linda Lingle's large mainland financing, Republican Party chairman Micah Kane reacted by creating a distraction. Instead of addressing the topic directly, he spouted off about the Democratic Party's own contributions from the mainland.

But Democrats specifically talked about Lingle, not the Republican Party. Lingle raised 27 percent, or more than $700,000 of her campaign money from mainland sources, while Democratic candidate Mazie Hirono raised only $60,945 in mainland funds.

The numbers are clear, but Kane would rather not let facts confuse the issue. He'd prefer to set up a smokescreen of irrelevant accusations and tangential complaints. It's another attempt to hide the true nature of Republican motivations.

At least a Huli Huli chicken sale smells good.

Ry Barbin
Wailuku, Maui

Schools fell apart under Democrats

John Flanagan's Oct. 15 "Talk Story" column ends with a real zinger. He writes that Linda Lingle wants the Department of Accounting and General Services out of the school maintenance business because of its inefficiency.

Under Lingle's plan, a school could call a local plumber and have a sink repaired, probably the same day, instead of going through DAGS, getting a work order, being put on a list a mile long and paying who knows how much in tax dollars to have the person get to the school and work on the sink.

In the meantime, what are the kids and teacher doing without a sink? Bringing in a bucket of water, no doubt, or going someplace to an outside faucet.

Getting to the good part, Mazie Hirono says, "It's not about fixing sinks. It's about a $600 million backlog in repair and maintenance."

How did we get to the point where we have a $600 million backlog? Not through the efficiency of DAGS, obviously. How long did it take us to get such a terrible backlog and who was in charge when it happened? You know the answer.

Lingle wants money given to the schools to allocate for what they need, when they need it. This isn't eliminating jobs. It is giving jobs to local business people who are in the community and care about it. How long would you wait to have your sink or toilet fixed or a light repaired? I'm sorry, Ms. Hirono, but it is indeed about "fixing sinks," quickly and efficiently.

Shirley Hasenyager
Kailua

Make private schools hire DAGS, too

There are interesting arguments on both sides of the debate over ballot question No. 2, the proposed state constitutional amendment that would allow the state to issue bonds to help private schools finance construction and renovation projects.

I understand that state taxpayers would not be responsible for repaying these bonds and that private schools provide a needed service in educating many island children. But I am disappointed that our legislators seem more interested in supporting private schools than in fixing our dilapidated public-school campuses.

Maybe it should be required that private schools use the money raised from the state bonds to hire the Department of Accounting and General Services to do their construction and renovation. Now that would be interesting!

Scot Drown
Waipahu

'Yes' on No. 3 will be good for Hawaii

Do antiquated government laws waste our tax dollars? Is crime out of control? Like me, you probably said both are true. Well, it's time for us to do something about it. We will make an impact on both crime reduction and tax savings when we vote "yes" on ballot question No. 3.

Our "yes" vote will help move Hawaii into the 21st century along with the other 36 states that already have similar laws. Question No. 3 will allow a constitutional amendment for "information charging," which will free up our police from testifying in court, allowing them more time and resources to tackle street crime. It will create savings in the prosecutor's office to the tune of $600,000 a year. It will reduce "victim trauma" by not making victims relive the crime over and over, and it will help us put many more hard-core felons behind bars and out of our community.

There are those folks in our community who are fighting this amendment, mainly defense lawyers. You will hear them say that it is unconstitutional and takes away from due process. Wrong. Information charging is constitutional and is a part of due process.

Information charging is the rule and not the exception in most of America. Now is the time for Hawaii to catch up. This amendment is good for everyone, with the exception of the criminals and their lawyers. So again, vote "yes" on ballot question No. 3.

Bob Hampton

Public needed to know about Mink's health

With all due respect to the family of the late Rep. Patsy Mink, I agree with the many who have questioned the month-long blackout of information surrounding the illness and death of this most prominent public official.

Having been the daughter of an elected official in Hawaii, I strongly disagree with many who have stated that Mink's illness was "a private family affair." My mother, the late Rep. Dorothy L. Devereux automatically became a public figure when elected to the public position. There was never any doubt that during those years my father, three brothers and I knew our life was proudly and respectfully shared with her constituents and the rest of the state.

In 1962, when my mother had a nearly fatal fall down the Iolani Palace stairs, her condition was made public from the moment she fell and for months after that. Her health and well-being was public business about which we had a duty to keep the public informed, and we did. Never was there any thought that it was "a private family affair."

Both my mother and Mink were known for integrity and an honest, passionate and direct style. The secrecy surrounding Mink's life-threatening illness did not reflect these qualities or respect for her constituents.

I cannot help but think that at a vulnerable time, her family was unfortunately, purposefully and strongly influenced by the powers of the Democratic Party for tight control of the election and her seat without respect for her constituents or concern about a potential election mess that now exists.

From the beginning it seems that concern for the little guy, open communication, fair reporting and the truth were not on the agenda, which is a complete antithesis of what Mink believed in. Unfortunately, her passing always will be remembered by the cloud that has been created by her own party. What a shameful way to honor her memory.

Diane D. Ackerson

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