Saddam doesn't need aloha -- Hawaii does

Say, I have a novel idea. Why don't our Hawaii legislators pass an "Aloha resolution" that would require them to spread Aloooooha to the people of Hawaii? It would require really working with our governor and her well-thought-out plans for change, including reforming the public school system and ethics issues.

The legislators could use their new 'lil laptops to spread the resolution around. A side benefit for them might be enhancing their potential to stay in office.

Myrna Rosa

Banker is a bit late to show such offense

In early March, when the French were being obstructionist in the U.N., the Congressional House restaurant changed the name of french fries to "freedom fries" and people were pouring French wines down the sewers on the mainland, there were many e-mail APBs being circulated regarding French products and companies to boycott. This list included First Hawaiian Bank, since it is a subsidiary of Bank of the West, which is owned by BNP Paribas).

I came to Hawaii in 1959, before statehood, and my bank then was Bishop National Bank, which eventually became First Hawaiian Bank. After a 40-year relationship with the bank, I was reluctant to acquiesce to mail encouraging a boycott, and I forwarded the French boycott list to a representative at the bank, suggesting that FHB needed to do a little PR. After not receiving a response or an acknowledgement, I sent a follow-up e-mail asking why the representative didn't give me any feedback from FHB management regarding my earlier mail.

I'm surprised that Walter Dods, CEO of First Hawaiian, is taking umbrage now at something that's been common knowledge and the subject of nationwide e-mail for more than five weeks ("Dods derides rival banker as a hostile 'malihini,'" Star-Bulletin, April 18). However, I am still a customer of FHB, notwithstanding that the attitudes and policies of the French government leave a lot to be desired!

T.J. Davies Jr.
Kapolei

'It builds character' works for coaches, too

Your sports writer Kalani Simpson used his April 12 "Sidelines" column to assist sports fans in understanding and accepting the response that the Hawaii High School Athletic Association gave to Baldwin High School's varsity boys' soccer coach, Fred Guzman of Maui, after a Baldwin player allegedly assaulted a referee during the state tournament. Guzman has been barred from coaching any team in Hawaii state tournament play for five years.

What comes to mind is the old adage that every coach of young players states: "It builds character." The words that typically follow are the foundation of reasoning as to why parents should allow their child to participate in organized sports.

The details of this past season's reputation of Baldwin varsity boys' soccer team was summarized by the final incident of a player allegedly pushing down a soccer official. That reputation is the character of that team!

Guzman is where, as Simpson wrote, "the buck stops." All coaches wrap themselves in the statement, "It builds character." The public, especially the parents, assumes that the quality of the character being spoken about is going to be enriching.

All coaches of non-adult teams have the responsibility to establish and maintain the minimal if not the best physical and inspired qualities in each of the team members. Coach Guzman's ability to inspire and thus control his players was finally recognized by the HHSAA.

Clifford Y.C. Chock

Bring troops back to protect our borders

The war with Iraq is almost over, and it appears that President Bush was right all along. The Iraqi people are thrilled to be liberated from a tyrannical regime. Now the Iraqi people can and will speak out against Saddam and share their experiences of being tortured. The U.S. military and its allies have done an outstanding job.

I have one concern now. We can do much more to secure our open borders. Here's what we should do to better secure our borders: We need to bring home the 30,000 U.S. troops in Germany and 30,000 U.S. troops in South Korea, and have them patrol our borders. The U.S. military is no longer needed in those countries. Reality is, something needs to be done about our open borders.

Last, I would like to say thanks to those who serve in the U.S. military. My condolences go out to the family members who have lost their loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Aaron Escobido-Ortiz

Simplistic but factual words about money

Budget crisis: Someone said, "Whenever you say 'yes' to something, you must say 'no' to something else." Especially with time and money!

Tetsuji Ono
Hilo