Maybe they should call it 'footbrawl'

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, the University of Hawaii "Warriors," who ended their Nov. 23 game against Cincinnati with a scuffle, should be proud as peacocks. Anyone catch the fight at the end of the St. Louis-Castle football game? Or should I say the premature end?

James Roller

Posturing over Iraq is about oil, not weapons

Let's face it: It's about oil. The impending invasion of Iraq is not about weapons of mass destruction, but about access to oil reserves. After Saudi Arabia, Iraq has the world's largest known oil reserves. That is what the government of the United States is after. All else is transparent rationalization.

If this were truly about stamping out weapons of mass destruction, then the United States should be invading Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea; all declared and un- declared nuclear nations.

It should also be invading at least a dozen other nations that have chemical and biological weapons. It is no wonder that the rest of the world accuses us of having double standards!

The war in 1991 led to a stock market crash, a weaker economy and a loss of the presidency for the first President Bush. A similar fate awaits his son. Unfortunately, some people never learn. George W. Bush fiddles with war while the economy burns.

Pradeepta Chowdhury
Hilo, Hawaii

Hanabusa is natural successor to Mink

I really miss Congresswoman Patsy Mink. She was an amazing woman -- compassionate and fearless in her fight against discrimination and for those who needed help. She left us so quickly that there is a place in me that is still grieving her passing.

Now I have to make a choice on who will fill her place in Hawaii's congressional delegation in the special election in January. The special election just held was for a 30-day period; on Jan. 4 we will vote on the full two-year term.

Who in this field of so many candidates could possibly carry on in her place? I don't want my vote to just go to anyone; I don't think it would be respectful to the Patsy Mink I knew and cared about so much.

When I heard that Ed Case was willing to vote for the war in Iraq, I dismissed the possibility of supporting him.

Then I met state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa from Waianae. I was really impressed. Her history has been one of standing up for the rights of people. As I listened to her and her intelligent, impassioned way of speaking, I realized that she was quite capable of picking up Mink's legacy and carrying it forward.

I really feel it is important to send someone to Washington who can honestly carry on such a great woman's work.

Sean Lester
Haiku, Maui

Downtown homeless problem is out of hand

I live at Kukui Gardens and we have such a homeless problem it ain't funny! The homeless people I see are not the Hallmark Card family who got thrown out on the street just before the holidays. The ones on College Walk seem to be there for one reason: They want to be. They don't seem to be able to handle jobs, but they sure seem to have money for smoking, drinking and drugs.

I have brought this issue up time and time again. This bunch brings crime, period. And if anyone thinks it's not that bad, I invite you to let them live about 50 feet from your home or apartment. Then let's see what you think after the public urinating, theft, garbage, noise and crime surround you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Bring your cameras down to Vineyard and College Walk and River Street and Vineyard and watch the crime roll.

Norman Sullivan

All plant lovers are watching Waimea

The local community is not the only group anxiously awaiting a decision about the fate of Waimea Valley.

People throughout the country care about the future of the native, imperiled plants held in Waimea Valley. Through donations to Center for Plant Conservation institutions, such as Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Americans are supporting the study and recovery of America's vanishing flora. Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden works to recover 20 imperiled plants. CPC supporters have invested more than $100,000 in Waimea's conservation collection.

I was heartened to hear last spring that the city had decided to acquire the property and provide the leadership and funds for appropriate management and care. But the center continues to be concerned about the losses in plant material that Waimea Arboretum has endured. Plant loss in a botanical institution is not part of a natural attrition rate. Rather, losses usually occur when plants do not receive the attention they need. Reports we received this summer about the lack of funds for the botanical collection are worrisome.

The potential role of Waimea in restoring imperiled Hawaiian species and in interpreting these resources for Hawaiians and visitors is tremendous! I hope the citizens of Hawaii join me in urging the city to act quickly to stabilize the plant collections in Waimea Valley.

Kathryn Kennedy
Executive director and president
Center for Plant Conservation
St. Louis, Mo.

Gouging of Hawaii drivers must stop

Hawaii drivers have been paying the nation's highest gasoline prices, and the Legislature has passed a law capping what stations can charge.

If it's really a good idea, why don't other states do it? Because for years the price of gas in other states has been no-where near as high as in Hawaii. We've been cheated and lied to for more than 40 years. Wake up or get off the Big Oil Team!

Robert G. Devine
Ocean View, Hawaii

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