Let's get a Sam's Club in Honolulu, too

I agree with the letter to the editor from B. Gonsalves regarding the proposed Wal-Mart on Keeaumoku Street ("Wal-Mart preferable to nightclub traffic," Star-Bulletin, Nov. 6). As a frequent traveler to Wal-Mart in Kunia and Mililani, I keep saying to myself that Wal-Mart in Kunia and Mililani are too far from Honolulu and it wastes gas driving there, especially with the high cost of gas! Look at Costco in Honolulu. So why not have a Sam's Club in Honolulu, too? Why do some people want the nightclubs? Just for their own pleasures.

Please think first about the children and young adults, especially the dangers of drunk driving.

Please don't throw Wal-Mart and Sam's Club out of the development plan.

Francine Kenyon

Do you really want mainland stores to go?

At the end of her letter to the editor ("Local money shouldn't go to mainland store," Star-Bulletin, Nov. 9), Naomi Arcand writes:

"Last year alone, Wal-Mart brought in $200 billion in revenue. With that came nearly 5,000 lawsuits. Hawaii doesn't need to send our hard-earned money to this huge monolith. Should we support Hawaii business? Yes, let's do that instead of sending our money to a giant mainland corporation."

Well, then let's not buy from other mainland corporations, such as Circuit City, Comp USA, Hilton Hotels, Home Depot, Kmart, Longs, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Office Depot, Office Max, Safeway, Sears, Sheraton Hotels and so on, which are all mainland corporations.

How many of these businesses do you want to leave the state?

John C. Laughlin

Dobelle endorsement created conflict

University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle spoke his mind and made clear who he was for in his endorsement of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mazie Hirono. That I admire and understand.

But I do not understand how Dobelle can think that the public will believe his explanation that he acted as a private citizen. We only know Dobelle as UH president, and with his long political background and his education, we should expect a bit more wisdom and sensitivity. In my view, Dobelle has disqualified himself from leading the university by taking sides. He should resign.

Dieter Thate
Kailua

Balloting by mail lets voters take their time

The absentee voting by mail was great! For us voters who needed time to study the issues and the candidates' backgrounds, the process allowed us to do just that, especially regarding the amendments to the City Charter and state Constitution. Time was vital to comprehend who and what was involved.

For us senior citizens, voting by mail is a convenience that we should take advantage of. We get the ballots early to see the candidates' names and numbers, and the actual wording of the amendment proposals for the general election. I encourage others to participate in the 2004 elections through this system.

Roy E. Shigemura

China must dismantle Taiwan Strait missiles

On Sept. 5 the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging China to dismantle the missiles it deployed along its southeast coast in the Taiwan Strait. Justice can still prevail in the international community, after all.

China claims that the Taiwan Strait issue is a domestic one, which was based totally on communiques between China and the United States; the 23 million Taiwanese people had no voice in them. Taiwan meets all the prerequisites of a sovereign state. In addition, around 1,000 civil aircraft from various countries fly across the Taipei Flight Information Region and more than 500 vessels navigate through the Taiwan Strait every day. China's deployment of a large number of missiles in the region seriously threatens the safety of these international flights and vessels. How can security in the Taiwan Strait not be considered an international matter?

The world must be made safe for democracy. All the democratic and freedom-loving countries in the world should have the moral courage to demand that China dismantle the missiles that threaten Taiwan's security and civil transportation in the Taiwan Strait. If the European Parliament could, why can't we?

Yu-Chong Lin, Ph.D.

Inmates praying for famed isle entertainer

Many of us here at Halawa Correctional Facility and Oahu Community Correctional Center wish Dick Jensen and his family well, and a speedy recovery from his illness ("Waikiki rallies for 'The Giant,'" Star-Bulletin, Oct. 25).

His unselfish dedication to the rehabilitation of all in our state's prisons through prayer and song has not gone unheard. Jensen is truly a shepherd; he has dedicated his life to the sheep gone astray.

It was on one of Jensen's visits to OCCC that I first experienced his message. I stood off, unwilling to attend. After all, what God would put me in this kind of place?

I listened to his words and stealthily stole a glance. It was in his eyes that I felt his power. They had no dollar signs, only love. I moved closer, picked up a hymn sheet and sang along.

It was then that I realized what kind of God would put me in prison: a god of love and forgiveness.

Dick Jensen is truly blessed with a gift. Please return him to us soon. We love and need him.

Michael Spiker
Inmate
Halawa Correctional Facility

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