Christians still can't let down their guard

As a Catholic, I'm filled with hope when I see members of Hawaii's conservative religious community becoming politically connected. So it's with great interest that I read national figures like Ken Connor and Paul Weyrich say it's time for the religious right to "rethink its strategy" and not be fooled by differences between "access and influence" ("The Christian Right's Dilemma," Star-Bulletin, July 13).

I fear Christians in Hawaii may feel they have nothing to worry about now that a Republican is finally governor and people known for promoting family values are being invited to special events at Washington Place. We Christians still can't afford to let our guard down.

For example, Governor Lingle quietly signed an emergency contraception bill into law without any protest from Hawaii's religious right. Now Hawaii's youth will have access to potent "morning after" pills.

Lingle still hasn't made public her stances on Vermont-style civil unions and same-sex domestic partnership legislation. Can we rely on her to veto physician-assisted suicide if it's passed by the Senate? Where does Hawaii's GOP stand on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union solely between a man and a woman?

Hawaii's religious right now has access, but does it have any influence?

Jason Scott Jones
Director, The Campaign for Human Rights and Dignity

Christians hijacked justice for Family Day

Shame on Mayor Harris and Judge Helen Gillmor! Faced with more than 50 examples of how the city supported, promoted and used taxpayer money to help pay for the Christian Coalition's hateful "family day" parade and religious event, Gillmor handed down a decision that the city is not a sponsor (Star-Bulletin, July 4). Why? Because they said so. Never mind the facts, never mind the evidence or the exclusion of many groups based on creed and sexual preference. The public trust has been betrayed.

How stupid do the mayor and the judge think the people of Hawaii are? Church and state are separate. It is the job of our courts to keep it that way. There is the appearance of collusion to cover up the role of the city in this fiasco of intolerance.

This was a blatant hijacking of our courts by a religious group with the assistance of a religiously biased city administration and an unjust judge. It must never be allowed to happen again. We aren't as dumb or blind as they seem to think.

Kit Grant
Honolulu

License restrictions might reduce fatalities

I was vacationing recently on the Big Island and read about University of Hawaii volleyball player Tony Ching's mo-ped accident (Star-Bulletin, May 24). I am a former division psychiatrist with the 25th Infantry at Schofield Barracks and studied our 11 motor-vehicle fatalities in 1975. Four involved motorcycles: The riders were under age 20; were relatively inexperienced; friends whom I interviewed described them as quiet, not aggressive, independent; and two had elevated blood-alcohol levels.

My recommendations at the time to decrease the number of accidents were an age limit or prior years driving experience, mandatory training course and a trial permit time before one could receive a license. I was amazed to discover no mention of helmets in my article 28 years ago! We also once thought cigarettes were safe.

Mel Blaustein, M.D.
San Francisco, Calif.

Bike paths enhance a city's overall beauty

As I was riding my bike alongside last month's King Kamehameha parade, I spotted Mayor Harris in the motorcade. I called out, "Hey Jeremy, think bicycle paths." He shouted back, "Talk to the City Council." I am writing this based on the theory that it probably makes even more sense to talk directly to the City Council's constituents -- the general public.

This year the Harris administration included a proposal and budget item in the City and County budget for an extensive system of bicycle paths. The Council knocked it out, and once again we are left without any ability to implement this critical element of modern urban planning.

Bike paths are more than just a convenient means of transportation for "eco-eggheads." Opening up broad promenades and user-friendly pedestrian and bike thoroughfares can set the tone for the beautification of an entire city. Oahu has the most beautiful shoreline anywhere, and to emphasize the overall beauty and touristic draw of our city overall it should be highlighted whenever possible. As anyone who was been to Vancouver lately can attest, the bike paths that are strung along the shores of virtually every ocean frontage area throughout that city have helped turn it into a beautiful and user-friendly tourist mecca. Honolulu should do likewise immediately.

Bradley A. Coates
Coates & Frey
Attorneys at Law LLLC

Why does Bush refuse to bring Lay to justice?

Remember two years ago when the corrupt CEO crisis was breaking out and President Bush repeatedly assured his television audience that the crooks would be "brought to justice?" Yet today the biggest crook of them all, Enron CEO Ken Lay, still has not been indicted. Clearly, Bush's real intentions were the opposite of his words.

Why does Bush do such things? There are plenty of reasons, most stemming from the fact that Bush and Lay were close associates in a decade of questionable deals. Currently there are rumbles about finally bringing Lay to justice. If that happens, it surely will involve bringing forth evidence that would resonate with criticisms of Bush (WMD and invading Iraq).

Let's clear up a few of the big facts of life before the 2004 election gathers a full head of steam and confusion.

Robert Buchele
Honolulu

High hopes for Dobelle meet harsh reality

It was with great consternation that I read "Dangerous Equations" in your July 6 Insight section, which highlighted President Evan Dobelle's actions at the University of Hawaii.

It appears money is not even a consideration when Dobelle fills positions. He has filled personal assistant positions that award salaries higher than that of a full professor.

Dobelle has tackled the retirement program, which is going to cost us taxpayers thousands of dollars over the long term. It almost seems criminal that some UH executives will be allowed to make more in retirement than they made just three years earlier while working. I sincerely hope these actions come under some type of scrutiny.

We all had big expectations when Dobelle came on board. I just don't believe that awarding outrageous salaries to your friends or ensuring some UH executives receive exorbitant retirement benefits were really what we were expecting.

Dan Withrow
Honolulu

Food, entertainment mark IHS celebration

The Institute of Human Services held an Open House recently to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The homeless and the public were treated to a good meal plus lots of entertainment for everyone's enjoyment. The program was topped off by a performance by IHS Samoan staffers who soon had the audience joining in with the singing and dancing. It was a fun time for all.

Noticeably absent from these festivities was Governor Lingle. Perhaps she was too exhausted from her two trips to the mainland for political fund raising to attend. Or maybe she was too embarrassed to come, since she had cut funding for homeless projects. For those of us who did attend, it was a very enjoyable and interesting experience.

David Bolin
Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board

Meth is unraveling fabric of isle society

The police need to start cracking down on Hawaii's crystal meth epidemic. Too many people are becoming either addicts or victims of this drug.

First, ice is the reason for Hawaii's increasing crime rate. This drug is so strong that it drives its users to cheat, steal and lie to everyone, including their friends and family.

Second, ice plays a big role in our poor economy. The person who becomes a slave to this drug becomes so paranoid and insecure that he shuts himself away from the world. Someone on ice eventually will lose his or her job, and then turn to crime to support their habit.

Last, the drug is too easy to obtain. Minors as young as 12 already have experimented with ice. In most cases, the minor received the drug from a close relative. A parent on ice generally would not be bothered if his or her child is using ice.

The police have spent too much time investigating the matter and need to start taking action. I am speaking about crystal meth through my own experience, and I believe stricter laws also should be considered on both drug dealers and users.

Magdalynn Pule
Waianae