Lingle's inspiration crosses party lines

Governor Lingle's State of the State Address was perhaps the most inspiring, hopeful and truthful ever delivered in this fine state of Hawaii. I say that as a Democrat. So, good luck to her. The speech may restore hope to the people of Hawaii.

Ted Gugelyk

St. Francis hospital due for a name change

While we may not have agreed with the way Queen's, Kuakini and Kapiolani hospitals treated their nurses, most of us understand that the bottom line for business is profits.

But St. Francis, who in the 13th century chose Lady Poverty as his wife, is being dishonored by an alleged nonprofit organization that appears to put money ahead of the welfare of patients and nurses. St. Francis was born into wealth but chose to live with the poor, and many others chose to follow him as he founded the Franciscan order.

A name is part of a company's image. Using the name of a saint, in a way, is low-cost advertising, but in this case the advertising is misleading. The way St. Francis Medical Center handled its patients and nurses was at best un-Christian and at worst may result in litigation, should patients suffer substantial ill effects from the way the hospital managed employee scheduling and wages.

If maximizing earnings means that much, this hospital may want to consider changing its name to Our Lady of Perpetual Profits.

Smoky Guerrero
Mililani

Waddle's complaints tarnish his image

I was pretty impressed by the way Cmdr. Scott Waddle handled the accident he caused as the skipper of the submarine that hit the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru -- until I read the article reviewing his book (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 23).

As I recall, the Japanese were calling for his head and saying that if he was found innocent, it would just be a whitewash. Now, despite being acquitted and allowed to be honorably discharged and collect his full pension and benefits, he has the gall to lambaste the Navy for the way he was treated.

This is really disgusting. If anything gets the incident back into the news, it will be Waddle, not the Navy.

Instead of bellyaching, Waddle should count his blessings.

David M. Adams Jr.
Davie, Fla.

Cock-a-doodle phooey, people need to sleep

I live in Palolo Valley where several roosters are being kept as "pets." The more likely scenario is cockfighting. I'm a student at the University of Hawaii who simply needs her sleep in order to perform well in class.

Elise Owen

Brandt family supports anti-cancer efforts

The family of Gladys Brandt has honored a special part of her extraordinary life by designating memorial gifts to Hawaii's American Cancer Society. Gladys gave considerable time to health causes during her long life, with no cause more dear to her than the defeat of cancer. She spoke openly and often of the toll taken by cancer on her family and her friends, and she was keenly aware that, as a group, Hawaiians suffer the highest death rate from this devastating disease.

As chairwoman of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, Gladys' dogged commitment was to build the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii to become one of the nations top-tier cancer centers. Her commitment was a key factor in my decision to become its director in 1988, a position I held until 1999, during which time the center acquired prestigious National Cancer Institute designation. Gladys' continued involvement with the center over the years and her role as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society for an even longer period are important factors in the continued contributions of both organizations to the community.

The Brandt family, aware of the American Cancer Society's intent to assist the Cancer Research Center in widening the availability of state-of-the-art cancer treatment for all people of Hawaii, has chosen the society as a focal point in this effort. Their gesture is a reflection of Gladys herself in its thoughtfulness, graciousness and vision.

Brian Issell, M.D.
President
American Cancer Society for Hawaii

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