It took courage to pass 'aloha resolution'

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." -- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president

My congratulations to the Hawaii legislators for passing a resolution against the war in Iraq. Their courage is admirable. I only wish that Governor Lingle had such courage and concern for Hawaii that she would join in the resolution. This not a party issue; it is a human issue, it is an economic issue, it is a moral issue, it is a constitutional issue, all of which are being violated by the Bush administration.

Pat Blair
Kailua

Pro-quarantine letter made opposite point

In reply to Leilani W. Sim-Godbehere's March 29 letter to the editor, "Let experts decide on animal quarantine": She stated in one paragraph, "The added costs for animal control, mandatory vaccinations and medical care would fall on Hawaii residents. Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis is more than $1,000 a person exposed or bitten by a stray or wild animal."

This shows that she knows vaccines do work. It also shows that she knows the biggest threat is from stray and wild animals, not house pets who have been vaccinated since they were pups and kittens. She failed to state that vaccines are far more effective than any quarantine station. That is why the quarantine station mandates vaccines. It fails to annotate that vaccines are effective the very same day that they are given.

True, this should be decided by qualified experts in the fields of veterinary medicine, human medicine and epidemiology, not by politicians or lay persons. A majority of veterinary doctors agree with using rabies vaccines and eliminating the quarantine in this state.

Mike Bottema

Kailua park plan fills up open space

There are four suggested options to the proposed Kailua Beach Park Master Plan "improvements," each including more concrete, paving and structures than the previous.

Why must a new master plan always include major construction and less open space? I suspect because open space doesn't move money the way construction does. Let's put some support behind open space by attending the Public Information Meeting at 7 p.m. next Tuesday (April 15) in the Kailua District Park Rec Center conference room, 21 S. Kainalu Drive (behind the fire station).

More concrete, more steel, more structures, more paving and less open space. The city cannot adequately maintain the rusty, poorly designed structures they already have. The 12-year-old Kailua Beach Park comfort station/concession is rusting badly because of inappropriate materials. Why build more in one of the most beautiful open parks on Oahu? If you love this park, show up at the public meeting.

Larry Bartley
Kailua

Blend 3 ingredients for good learning

Quality education:

>> Academic training should be given at school.

>> Moral training should be given at home.

>> Competent teachers should be justly compensated.

Tetsuji Ono
Hilo

Isle students were FIRST in robots

I recently got back from San Jose, Calif., where the FIRST Robotics Competition Regionals was held on March 28 and 29. FIRST stands for: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Three Hawaii schools entered this 46-team Silicon Valley regionals: McKinley, Waialua and Mililani high schools.

I was so proud to see that all three Hawaii high schools made it to the finals, with McKinley and Waialua going all the way to the regional final. Just making the finals is an accomplishment and my hat's off to all the students, mentors, teachers and parents involved. They put in a lot of hard work and time to get their robots ready for this competition.

I was involved with the Mililani High School team and was amazed at all the work and dedication that went into making the Silicon Valley regionals.

The students not only had to build a robot vehicle, but had to do an ACAD drawing of it, a 20-second animation and design a Web site for the Mililani Robotics Team, all in six weeks' time.

To all the high schools involved, congratulations for a job well done.

Owen Ono
Waimanalo