Hawai'i viewpoints
on the Iraq conflict

---

Let Audubon manage Waimea Falls Park

I was shocked to read in a guest commentary of the situation at Waimea ("Audubon best caretaker for Waimea Falls Park," Star-Bulletin, March 6). It sounds to me like desecration through neglect. Waimea Falls Park provided me with a deep interest and respect for Hawaii -- environmentally through the gardens and lectures, and particularly the native sites and the Hawaiian cultural presentations. It seems absolutely unique.

While adventure parks are fun, they are nonspecific in terms of location and are hardly unique. I sincerely hope the Audubon Society takes over Waimea Falls Park to preserve it as a center of botanicals and Hawaiian cultural life. I have never forgotten the hours I spent there, and I hope to do so again.

Donald H. Schweisthal
Belmont, Vt.

Who does ACLU call when they need help?

The Supreme Court and the ACLU want to take "God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance, but whose name do they cry out to help them? I think its ridiculous to take God's name out of the Pledge of Allegiance since we all cry out to him when we are in despair.

Curtis Lau
Waipahu

They got laptops, now what about schools?

Three cheers for the legislators. They now have laptops connected to state computers and the Internet via a wireless hookup. One of the members voiced concern about a lack of connectivity to the electrical system, however, stating that would have to come later.

Now, how about the public schools? Ladies and gentlemen, where are the computers for the schools and the needed upgrades to the school electrical systems (for more than just computer support)? The schools have not been able to save to purchase computers because they have not been allocated sufficient funds to operate and then they are hit with additional budget cuts almost annually.

I realize that the computers likely will enhance legislation and we should benefit, but our schools are in dire need of immediate funding to bring them up to standards (and I don't refer only to academic standards of students). Lets help the governor make a change with regard to schools. Help her realize that the schools are in serious need of a great deal of additional funding and not a reorganization of school governance -- at least not now.

Bernard Judson
Kapolei

Brunch on the Beach unites tourists, locals

We recently returned from 16 days on Oahu. By accident, we attended the "Brunch on the Beach" on Feb. 7. We were on our way to church when we came upon this wonderful event. We changed our plans and decided to go to church later so we could enjoy the outstanding entertainment and wonderful food prepared by local chefs. All I can say is a great big MAHALO to Mayor Harris, the City Council and the committee for sponsoring this wonderful event that brings locals and tourists together.

I have been coming to your island every year for seven years, and had never attended this event before. I'm sorry I missed so many. I urge you to continue having Brunch on the Beach. You should be a model for every other major city in the world -- it certainly is a great way to share your aloha spirit.

I look forward to being there next February, the Lord willing.

Loralee Edlund
Battle Lake, Minn.

Hawaii must do things differently this time

Unless the unexpected occurs, we will soon be at war. If all agree, than the current debates between sundry state marketing and government entities are moot because the event will be upon us before contingency plans are laid -- sunshine laws or not. While some say "Send a group to Japan" or "Buy more ads," 9/11 and the Gulf War surely told us one thing. People stopped traveling. Period. No amount of emissaries to Japan or increased "brand" or other paid advertising will alter this sad fact. So the question must be, "What are the powers that be going to do in the days after this pending event? Recent history suggests the hotels, restaurants, and airlines will immediately begin laying off workers, the unemployment lines will grow precipitously, and all the rest.

Edward Bernays, reputedly "the father of public relations," said, "Public relations is the science of creating circumstances, mounting events that are calculated to stand out as newsworthy, yet at the same time, which do not appear to be staged." This is the very theory of generating free media, which also happens to be the most cost-effective advertising possible.

What might Hawaii "do" to garner international free media? Divert pending construction budgets (and the workers) directly to needed school repair? Pay people to clean up our beaches, streams, lakes and parks? The mind boggles at the possibilities. Or shall we all just sit here and meekly watch the inevitable wash over us again?

Some creative leadership and ideas here, please, and quickly!

Scott Foster

Arrogance brings U.S. to brink of war

We stand at either the beginning or at the end of the American Imperium. White House strategists believe we will win a short conflict, frighten potential opponents into submission on a global basis, and impose a Pax Americana, which erstwhile contenders like the French could ignore only at their political peril.

But events may well play out much differently. Even if the Iraqi army collapses in short order, our colossal arrogance toward world opinion, plus a long, costly and ignorant occupation of a major Muslim country, can do irreparable damage to the one asset we have historically had -- our worldwide moral standing. If then al-Qaida inflicts another ghastly wound upon our civil population, will the rest of the world rush to our side?

Brought to office by a minority of those who voted, an even smaller minority of those who could have voted, and less than a quarter of the population, the American government is now about to take us all into a war that bears the two major hallmarks of Vietnam: hubris and solipsism. Our hubris, as before, consists in an overweening confidence in our own wisdom and ability, American know-how and American military might.

Our solipsism is how we still project upon all the world our notion of our own unique goodness. And both, as before, are harbingers of evil days ahead.

Osama bin Laden wanted to start a major war. It looks like he has succeeded.

Stephen O'Harrow
Director, Southeast Asian Studies
University of Hawaii

How to write us The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point (150 to 200 words). The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number. Letter form: Online form, click here E-mail: letters@starbulletin.com Fax: (808) 529-4750 Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210, Honolulu, HI 96813