Agency spins abortion issue for its own profit

In his June 6 letter to the editor, Planned Parenthood CEO Barry Raff writes that the "partial birth" abortion ban recently signed into law by President Bush is politically driven. Ron Fitzsimmons, former National Coalition of Abortion Providers executive director, has been quoted as saying that the "vast majority" of the gruesome partial birth abortions performed each year are done so on healthy babies of healthy mothers. Planned Parenthood of Hawaii is a business that performs abortions for profit, and to suggest that their interest in the continued legalization of abortion is for anything other than financial reasons is true political spin.

Steve Klein
Kailua

We should debate morality of abortion

Barry Raff is showing us just how out of touch with humanity the abortion rights groups are.

Many of us didn't know abortions were even legal on healthy unborn human beings right up to the point of birth. Abortion-rights advocate Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan observed, "This is too close to infanticide."

The most damning information comes from the abortion industry itself. The truth, Ron Fitzsimmons (executive director of the National Coalition of Abortion Providers) said, was that "in the vast majority of cases, the procedure is performed on a healthy mother with a healthy fetus" (The New York Times, Feb. 26, 1997).

Nothing has changed; no woman's health has been affected; late-term abortions are continuing, just one more visually abhorrent abortion method has been banned. Whether abortion is morally abhorrent is where the real debate must occur, and I hope people like Raff will sponsor televised public debate to argue the real issues. Let the best arguments win.

Cary Mendes
Kula, Maui

Why not honor our flag every day?

The Disabled American Veterans display the American flag at all meetings. The meeting starts with a command for a hand salute and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. At the conclusion of the meeting, the members salute the flag again.

Friday is Flag Day. Please display your American flag. One of the stars is for Hawaii, the 50th state. Father's Day is another day to show the colors. Better yet, please fly your flag all year round.

Our flag is the best flag in the world!

Albert Yoshio Matsumoto

Micronesians also contribute to economy

I am writing concerning your recent opinion of the costs of Micronesian migrants to Hawaii and U.S. territories ("Congress owes Hawaii for immigrant services," May 28). The Federated States of Micronesia fully supports the U.S. government reimbursing Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and others for the costs of social and related services provided to migrants from our country. Compact-impact reimbursements are authorized under the treaty known as the Compact of Free Association between the United States and FSM, which has allowed free migration of FSM citizens and other Micronesians into the United States since May 1986.

My government's position on this issue has not changed. My purpose here is to reaffirm our support for Hawaii and the other U.S. territories that have been affected by the presence of Micronesians to be fairly compensated by the federal government.

While everyone has been concentrating on the costs of Micronesian migrants, it's unfortunate that no one has ever tried to find out how much those same migrants are contributing to the economies of those areas through taxation, employment, real estate rental, purchases and so on.

Kasio E. Mida
Consul general of the Federated States of Micronesia

Oahu's dustbowl needs building moratorium

With the overdevelopment of the Ewa plains, it was only a matter of time before there would be concern about water consumption. The Ewa plains are the hottest and driest area in the state. While Central Oahu was experiencing heavy rains and minor flooding recently, Ewa Beach had a few drops of rain that kicked up the dust a little and evaporated the moment it hit the ground. I was watering my yard as I listened to reports of flood watches for other parts of the island.

As developers lobby to build more homes on the Ewa plains, water consumption will rise -- along with electrical use because, as newcomers quickly learn, air-conditioners are a must if you live in that area.

If the Board of Water Supply is considering rationing water usage, there should be a moratorium placed on new development in this area, and maybe different water rates for those who live in dry vs. wet areas.

Why don't the leaders of this state heed the concerns of citizens in relation to the overdevelopment of the Ewa plains?

Mel McKeague
Ewa Beach

Using insulation also keeps homes cool

Regarding Robert A. Alm's June 11 letter to the editor about HECO's efforts to look for alternative energy: I grew up in the Midwest and find it amazing that here in Hawaii residents spend so much on energy, especially during the summer. On the mainland there's something called insulation.

Yes, insulation is best known for its ability to keep a Midwest house warm in the winter, but it also works just as well to keep a house cool in the summer. The average attic reaches temperatures between 130 and 150 degrees during the summer. All of that radiant heat comes down into your home, resulting in unbearable conditions. So people turn their air-conditioners on and keep them on all summer long. Insulation keeps the heat out as well as keeping the cool in. Plus, insulation reduces noise from the outside and from room to room.

Three words of advice: insulation, insulation, insulation.

Ted Obringer