Religious kits
New UH logos

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U.S. has damaged relations with allies

Ladies and gentlemen, what have we accomplished in Iraq? Any of our widely heralded objectives, such as to destroy weapons of mass destruction? Or capture or destroy Saddam Hussein?

We didn't find either. But what did we achieve?

We destroyed another country. We destroyed the United Nations, and we destroyed our precious image of a fair-minded, peace-loving country all around the world.

We also destroyed a once-solid relationship with longtime friends and dependable allies France and Germany, and spoiled a developing friendship with Russia. All of those are among the most important countries in the world economically, culturally and militarily. And we still keep stoking offensive remarks to some of them, like "pour out French champagne" or "old Europe," and what for? For their sensible refusal to support a highly questionable war.

Great. For that about 9,000 people (including at least 140 U.S. and British soldiers) were killed or wounded.

Gerhard C. Hamm
Waialae Iki

Inouye should have complimented troops

I'm very disappointed that Sen. Daniel Inouye criticized our government's role in the war in Iraq, before and now after. He can't say anything positive about the new freedom for the Iraqi people who were in bondage to that evil tyrant Saddam Hussein for many years. Instead, this stone-faced senator complains about the government credibility because weapons of mass destruction. Even if our forces in IRAQ don't find the mass weapon of destruction have not been found. Well, the latest poll says more than 70 percent of Americans believe that it doesn't matter.

Inouye is a war hero and veteran himself, who is thought of as a good friend and supporter of our military. Yet I haven't read anything about him praising our troops for a job well done. Not a word for even those who sacrificed their lives for freedom.

Melvin Partido Sr.
Pearl City

Something smells bad, and it's not the camels

Not that it is anything new or unexpected, but something smells pretty rotten in Baghdad.

Instead of finding weapons of mass destruction to justify attacking, invading and conquering another sovereign nation, U.S. soldiers occupying Iraq have found hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in new, unused bills that now appear to have come into the country from Jordan.

While the U.S. general in charge of the Iraq occupation is still trying to put together the pieces of this war-ravaged country, a convicted embezzler who stole hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in Jordan and then fled to England to escape his 20-year prison sentence is back in Iraq -- hand-picked by our own Vice President Cheney and Secretary Rumsfeld to eventually take over that country.

Is there something wrong with the scenario that is playing out in our newest colony or what?

Keith Haugen

Marines had their priorities backward

If you think the slogan "No Blood for Oil" unjustified, consider this: Marines allowed looters to savage all the Iraqi ministries in Baghdad except for the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Oil. To prevent looting, Marines surrounded the Ministry of Oil with barbed wire and occupied the building.

No such luck, or foresight, for the National Museum, home of artifacts recording 7,000 years of civilization since its beginnings in ancient Mesopotamia. This in spite of the fact that long before the war began, world-renowned archeologists and other experts repeatedly warned that the museum and other sites must be preserved. Looting was anticipated.

I heard an American archaeologist interviewed about the loss on the radio. He was almost in tears as he described "the catastrophe." Dr. John Curtis, an expert on ancient Iraq at the British Museum, said, "This is a terrible tragedy. Iraq is the cradle of civilization and this was a museum which contained a large portion of the world's cultural heritage."

Iraqis are outraged. They say the loss of their recorded history (the National Library, archives and almost all cultural sites have been looted and torched) shows that Americans' concern is not for their welfare, but only for their oil.

Norrie Thompson

Sunset on the Beach needs no justification

I realize we must cut the cloth according to the "figure," but please, City & County members, let's put our meat where our mouths are.

The innovative scene of priceless (i.e., free) pleasure down by the Waikiki seashore with its ocean sports but a stone's throw from ono grinds, music and movies (often by moonlight) is an economic attraction for malihinis and kamaainas alike.

Perhaps we have not been adequate in our appreciation to Mayor Harris and our elected representatives for this unique acme of entertainment in an idyllic setting.

If the program comes under the knife because it seems dispensable or frivolous, not only will our families be sadly bereft but our guests will be less enriched by their Hawaiian adventure.

While Sunset on the Beach is a trump card for us when it comes to weekend recreation, it is a triumph of hospitality toward our overseas friends, and therefore a matchless and valuable welcome mat that surely needs no justification.

Let's not take leave of our island senses. Mahalo nui loa.

H.R.H. Fleur

Why build more rooms during tourism slump?

The business section of the April 24 Star-Bulletin had a big headline, "Arrivals down for third year," relating to tourists. This being true, why does the hospitality industry continue to build more hotel rooms and concurrently complain about lower occupancy rates? It just does not make sense.

So at some point the economy around the world improves and the terrorist and SARS scares diminish and we don't have enough rooms for a sudden influx in tourists. So what? Only when tourism makes a sustained turnaround should more rooms be made available. While construction is under way we can go by the old entertainment industry philosophy of "leave them wanting more." It is just human nature that if people have to go without, they seem to want it that much more, and they will come to Hawaii at a later time.

Bernard Judson
Kapolei

Animal 'cruelty' bill was poorly written

This is in response to the April 11 letter "Sonson's attitude on cruelty inexcusable." The writer, incensed at my opposition to an animal cruelty bill before the House Judiciary Committee this year, erroneously credited me with killing the measure, while wondering if "Sonson would be equally amused if he were stabbed in the chest and his legs were broken."

HB 165 was held in Judiciary Committee after it failed to gain support from the members for a variety of reasons. I did not support its passage because it was poorly drafted and allowed for draconian punishment of actions related to cultural food production, food preparation and animal husbandry. People who live in rural areas who were not meant to be targets of the proposed law could be subject to punishment while conducting routine acts of daily living. The cockfighting section of the bill makes it a felony to simply own, train, possess or sell a male chicken or a "game cock."

Sponsors of the bill say this section is necessary because they believe that the only reason people keep male chickens is to raise them for the purpose of cockfighting. This thinking is in line with the "pre-emption doctrine" that I strongly oppose, because it presumes a person to be guilty before a crime has even been committed.

The bill also makes it a felony offense to injure an animal in order to frighten or intimidate a person. Because the term "injure" is broad enough to mean causing any degree of pain, the proposed law would apply to a situation in which a person throws a slipper at his neighbor's cat to stop it from defecating in his yard. If the cat's owner happened to be present, then the person throwing the slipper could be prosecuted for a Class C felony. By comparison, if the slipper was thrown at the neighbor instead of the neighbor's cat, then the crime would only be punished as a misdemeanor. A Class C felony is a severe crime punishable by: 1) a five-year prison term; 2) the loss of the right to vote; 3) a $10,000 fine; and in some cases, 4) deportation.

The bill is so broadly written that its terms could be read to encompass a variety of routine, legal activities and punish them with harsh criminal penalties. Furthermore, in many instances, the bill punishes violence against animals with more severity than similar acts against people.

For the record, I am against cruelty to animals, but I believe that criminal legislation must be carefully drafted to protect the rights of citizens to proceed with the legitimate, legal activities connected with day-to-day living.

Rep. Alex M. Sonson
D, Pearl City-Waipahu

Scary time brought out the best of Hauula

For seven days, our quiet, family-orientated community of Hauula was held hostage from normal day-to-day activity due to the escape of three dangerous prisoners. Valiant, courageous police officers, sheriffs, undercover agents, canine units and military personnel worked diligently to free us all from the grip of fear. Their dedication, professionalism and positive attitude helped defuse a very tense and dangerous situation. They were amazing!

As a proud resident of this community for 35 years, it was heartwarming to see neighbors and friends gather together and reach out to comfort and help one another through this difficult situation. Everyone gave what they could. Meals were shared, phone calls were made, rides were given and child care was exchanged.

I count myself blessed to have been raised in such a beautiful town, surrounded by a loving community where everyone looks out for one another. It is nice to know that when life gets a bit challenging there are many kind-hearted individuals willing to sacrifice much to make things right. Lucky we live Hauula!

Laurie Waite Flores
Hauula

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Different beliefs
about religious kits

Kit material will change lives for better

I wish to thank Superintendent of Schools Patricia Hamamoto for her willingness to allow Christian students on our high school campuses to distribute materials that they have deemed important for their friends to receive. We greatly appreciate the concern and compassion that those who produced these materials have for our youth and are encouraged that lives will be changed for the better as a result of this project.

P. Dozier
Kailua

Teenagers stood up for their beliefs

I am a sophomore at Kaimuki High School and I would like to comment on the Student Survival Kits. I think it was really great that teenagers went out and handed them out to their classmates.

The SSK is an option to all the people out there looking for answers. The way the students handed them out was done really well. It was peaceful, and they did not force you to take one. All they did was ask if you wanted one. I was really shocked when I saw classmates going up to the distributors and asking for one and even helping hand some out. I hope this is an example to others so they won't be afraid to stand up for what they believe in.

Diandra Michael
Kaimuki High School

What if they promoted gay rights instead?

Once again the usual suspects are bothered by public expressions of faith, particularly Christian faith. A bunch of Christians put their money where their faith is and provided positive, uplifting, encouraging Jesus material for Christian teens to distribute to their schoolmates. Perfectly legal. Perfectly appropriate. And apparently perfectly annoying to those who find mention of Jesus in public to be an offense.

Replace "Jesus material" with "gay rights material," "abortion rights material" or even "Muslim-understanding material" and the same people who are complaining would be assisting with the distribution.

Thank you, Hawaii Department of Education; thank you, ACLU for finally being on the right side of things; thank you, fine youth of Hawaii who are distributing something uplifting to your friends.

Gary Langley
Kaneohe

Where is the charity in Jesus video project?

Members of the Jesus Hawaii Project must be patting themselves on the back now for successfully raising of thousands of dollars to send their Jesus video to everyone in Hawaii. Some of us wonder if the monies spent on this video project couldn't have been put to better use to make a real impact on the lives of people here.

The money could have been donated to Hawaii Foodbank to help feed more hungry people. Or help provide money for homeless families living on the beach to find a place to live. Or help senior citizens who are living from Social Security check to Social Security check get a little extra cash to purchase needed items.

Perhaps in the future when people think up a project like this one, they will look into their hearts and ask, are we doing this for our own glory? Or will it really help people where they need it?

David Bohn

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Getting loco over
new UH logo

Why did Baltimore firm get shot at logo?

The University of Hawaii wants to promote its students and provide a good example of making intelligent decisions in a business world, yet it spends $82,000 for a mainland firm to create its logo. Is it really the logo that makes students choose this school, and what was wrong with the old one?

What does a firm in Baltimore, Maryland, know about a university in Hawaii?

Why do they say "buy Hawaii" while they send taxpayer money out of state? Don't they think someone in Hawaii is creative enough to design the logo? It would have been wiser to let UH students create a logo, and then let students vote for the final selection.

We live in a democratic society, so the university should practice what it teaches. It could give the winner one semester of free tuition, although I believe a student would do it for free. Many students would have felt proud and honored to create the university's logo.

This would have saved $82,000 and shown its students that university officials believe in them. Plus, the logo would look much better than what they have to choose from right now.

Colin Kau

Hey, here's an idea: How about a rainbow?

Didn't we just change the logo at the University of Hawaii? Things could be so simple: "Hawaii Rainbows," "Rainbow Wahine" and "Rainbow" logo.

Clark Himeda

'Spectrum' design full of color, symbolism

The proposed new University of Hawaii system logo, "Spectrum," is a piece of work. (There are two suggested logo designs, "Spectrum" and "Wave" -- go to www.hawaii.edu/ur/brandesign.htm.) "Spectrum" has what in professional design lingo is called "leitmotif," a skillful arrangement of parts.

To me, it is sophisticated and forward-looking, kinetic and nontraditional. It has a lot of what the university needs: the ability to differentiate itself from all other universities around the world. It is full of symbols. I see a gateway in the vertical bars of the H that connotes both the main gate to the university and Hawaii as the gateway to Pacific Asia.

I see Hawaiian sails, waves and even the suggestion of hieroglyphs in the twisting lines. It contains the yin and yang of traditional Asia, which stands for good and evil, male and female, or the very essence of diversity.

In its color versions, it has the hues of the rainbow and the colors of ocean, forest, sky, earth and volcano. Its important role as part of the identity of the many campuses and departments within the system, it helps make perfectly clear where you are located. If you break it into chosen fragments, it works well with other design schemes and messages while clearly saying this is UH talking. It speaks with one voice.

"Spectrum" is both local and global (a necessary skill in today's world), daring and unique, a bit complex at first, and as with many things worthwhile -- like a good symphony or painting -- it takes a little while to make it your own.

Art Richardson
College of Business Administration

Rainbow logo captured essence of Hawaii

Wonder why the University of Hawaii doesn't get more public support? Just look at the process the university used to select the lame "H" thing for its sports teams, and the current logo "finalists" being foisted on the public.

To begin with, the UH chose mainland design firms in both instances. Are the UH honchos telling us they don't think their business school and art department have enough talent or skills in-house to come up with something worth showing to the public?

Moreover, they should have learned a lesson from the ugly "H" backlash. Go to any sporting event and look around: many of the long-time fans are still wearing the old Rainbow logo and "Go Bows" apparel. Why? Because the Rainbow represents something special to the people of Hawaii. Instead, we were asked to rally around a big letter "H" while the sports teams decided to call themselves "Warriors." Considering that real soldiers have died in war recently, along with innocent women and children who have been killed or maimed, is this the message we want to spread -- that war is a sport?

As far as the two "finalist" designs that are supposed to represent the UH as a whole, one word: BORING. Neither one even remotely captures the essence of the islands.

I remember wearing a jacket with the old Rainbow logo on it while traveling in Europe and on the mainland. Wherever I went, complete strangers would comment on the Rainbow and smile because they immediately had a sense of how Hawaii is a special place. It also represented the rainbow of races and cultures that co-exist here, I told them with pride. And that is precisely the sort of image we should be sending out to the world right now.

As far as I'm concerned, the university wasted a lot of money on these new logo designs. So to the UH powers that be: Please don't call us and ask for donations when you can throw away money on stuff like this. Bring back the Rainbow, and then we can talk.

Rich Figel
Kailua