Pregnant woman already made choice

The Gathering Place column by Barry Raff (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 21), concerning the 30th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, was so self-contradictory that I found it amusing.

As usual with the pro-abortion folks, he calls his opposition the "anti-choice" group, as opposed to his "pro-choice" group. When a woman chooses to engage in unprotected sex, she has made a choice that may have unwanted consequences, including STDs and pregnancy.

A woman should be free to do what she chooses with her body, but abortion involves the death of a body other than her own. The difference between the two sides in this matter is not between pro- and anti-choice, but when the choice is made and, with the pro-abortion folks, trying to avoid the consequences of the earlier choice.

Robert W. Donigan
Kamuela, Hawaii

Morality important in making choices

I think that it is a good idea for unwanted babies to be adopted. But it is more important to teach preteens and young adults to abstain from sex until marriage.

When I was still young, my mother taught me about abstinence. Even though she was not a Christian at that time, she knew that having intimacy or babies before marriage was immoral. Not only is it immoral, you also are at a higher risk to get STDs or HIV. I have seen many young adults living with their boyfriends or girlfriends, and they said that their parents allowed it. The problem is that these days parents do not teach their sons or daughters correctly.

I think that another problem is the television and movie industries encouraging free sex. Sex should be limited to married couples.

Before anyone makes a decision about whether or not to have sex, they should think of the consequences. We should try harder at teaching moral values to our youth.

Becky Fischer

Teachers who smoke are bad role models

I am a seventh-grade student at Aiea Intermediate and I have a question for the teachers. Why is it that when I leave the school campus, I see some teachers and even a principal smoking? Aren't you the same people who tell us not to smoke? Thank you to the teachers who don't smoke. You are setting the example for the young ones, like me, who are not supposed to smoke.

Tricia Lokelani Wright

War protesters misrepresent facts

I'm all for freedom of speech ("Anti-war protest draws diverse crowd to Ala Moana," Star-Bulletin, Jan. 19). I think war on Iraq is vital, but I don't like being considered "pro-war." Who likes war?

As for a marcher's accusation that our president is "treating weapons of mass destruction as if they were toys," it was Saddam Hussein who used his weapons to deliberately gas 1 million of his own citizens. Let's also not forget that Iraq probably has been housing al-Qaida cells, the very same people behind the 9/11 attacks.

For the people who represent the "Not In Our Name" movement, are you saying that the president should not defend the country in the name of the people who elected him?

To say that war (with a just cause) is "unbiblical" also is false. How many times does the Bible mention Israel going to war, or the Angel of Death slaughtering entire armies? I know several other Christians who would agree.

Tyler Genest

Be fair with drug tests -- check everyone

I wish to express my enthusiastic support for Sen. Robert Bunda's proposal to drug-test Hawaii's public school students, probably mostly athletes.

I believe that everyone should be willing to submit to a drug (including nicotine and alcohol) test any time, any place.

I believe that all public school athletes should be drug-tested right after all public school students are tested.

I support the drug-testing of all public school students right after we test all private school students.

I endorse the testing of all students right after we have tested all teachers, counselors, librarians, administrators, custodians and cafeteria workers.

I favor testing all school-level personnel right after we test all Department of Education district and state employees, including the state superintendent of schools.

I join in asking for the drug-testing of all education employees right after we have tested all city, county and state employees.

I encourage the testing of all city, county and state employees right after we have tested all members of the school board, City Council and Legislature.

I look forward to the drug-testing of all these elected officials right after we have tested the mayor, the governor and their cabinets.

I anticipate the drug-testing of the highest elected state officials right after Bunda has led the way by having himself tested and the results made public.

I am adamant about testing Bunda right after we test the general population and impose corrective action across the board, no exceptions.

Sounds like a plan to me.

Please don't discriminate against public school athletes. Test everyone.

Robert Frey
Kapolei

3-point traffic solution would save money

There is a lot of talk about spending hundreds of millions of our tax dollars on a mass-transit system and/or a double-decker freeway. Putting in more lanes or highways hasn't improved traffic problems. They have only gotten worse, and our beautiful islands are disappearing under cement and pollution.

Here is a three-part solution to traffic problems on all islands. First, the state raises the driver's license age to 18. This would eliminate the school rush, reckless racing and needless deaths. Second, insurance companies would be required to inform the police immediately when someone cancels his insurance, and the police would impound the vehicle until proof of insurance was shown. This would remove uninsured motorists from the roads, reduce traffic and lower insurance costs. Third, the zipper lane could be widened to two lanes for buses and multi-passenger vehicles. This would ease traffic flow and would not cost hundreds of millions of our tax dollars.

Harold T. Irving Jr.

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