Gay marriage will be issue in next election

As election year draws closer, it's time for Hawaii's congressional delegation to tell the people of Hawaii where they stand on same-sex marriage.

Will they support and vote in favor of a federal constitutional amendment that defines marriage as solely between one man and one woman?

A simple yes or no answer will suffice. Remember in November 2004.

Andre Lemond
Honolulu

Young riders can better afford bus fare hike

It is disturbing that senior citizens are once again being held hostage to the economic chaos of our city and state. Our beloved seniors have paid their dues in life; the younger generation owes them a chance to live the rest of their lives comfortably, not with more hardship. Paying an additional 25 cents for each bus ride may not seem like very much. That is so wrong; each penny, nickel and dime means less in their pocket to buy essentials such as medicine and food.

Senior citizens should be exempt from an increase in fees of any kind. This means bus rides, water rates and property taxes. Stop putting more stress on seniors. Remember, we will be in that age group one day, and who will talk for us?

Stop only thinking about yourself. Think of them for a change. Think about how difficult it is for the elderly to even get aboard a bus, up the steps, and now we ask them to pay more? Raise the rates for the younger people and leave those sweet old people alone.

A.M. Alexion
Honolulu

Is a football coach worth a million bucks?

June Jones has said taxpayers shouldn't be concerned because we are only coughing up $400,000 of his obscene $800,000 annual salary. Furthermore, he alleges we are actually saving money, and he is making substantial financial sacrifices for Hawaii.

Boo hoo.

I would like to know, besides the identities of the individuals and entities paying him another near half-million bucks a year to coach football and stay out of more auto accidents, what we are getting for our buck anyway? Hasn't anyone done a cost-benefit analysis of why we are so happy to pay this guy probably more than a million dollars a year, including benefits, to coach football?

Some advice, coach: Next time someone offers you several times what the president of the United States earns for coaching football a couple of months a year, you might try and fake graciousness even if it doesn't come naturally.

Give me a break!

Steve Lane
Honolulu

Private donors should remain confidential

I feel that if more than 50 percent of June Jones' salary is paid for with private donations, then his contract should not be open to public scrutiny or comment. Granted, he is a public employee, but the majority of his salary would not be coming from public funds.

Like any other private donation that is given, it has always been the prerogative of the private donor whether they wish to be recognized or remain anonymous.

Elaine Hoffman
Honolulu

Case should hear both sides in Mideast

After reading the Aug. 13 article in the Star Bulletin ("Case sites Iran as new peace threat in Mideast"), I think the voters from Rep. Ed Case's district must ask him these questions and expect honest answers:

Who sponsored his trip to Israel? To whom exactly did he speak in Israel? Did he tour the West Bank, Golan Heights, Gaza? Did he speak with any people/leaders for the Palestinians? If so, what was their perspective on reaching peace in the Middle East? If he did not meet with representatives of the Palestinians, why not? How can he be objective?

I agree with his statement, "If we don't have peace in the Middle East and Israel, we won't have effective peace in many parts of the world." But may I remind him that peace comes from being peaceful. America and Israel are the countries with the weapons of mass destruction. Is he suggesting that Iran is the next threat -- as I remember, Iran has oil, too.

I am very disappointed in Case. Recently on C-Span a group of parents with children in the military serving in Iraq spoke to the National Press Club. I cried with the father and mother whose American son was one of the first deaths in Iraq. They want their children home now. I join with them. End this sham, bring our sons and daughters home, let the Iraq people decide their future.

And I encourage Case to encourage Israel to stop its encroachment on Palestinian land. There are joint Israeli-Palestinian peace groups in the holy land, and ordinary citizens, weary, wanting to live in peace together. Did he speak with them?

Pat Blair
Kailua

U.S. should turn over control of Iraq to U.N.

The events of the past couple of months in Iraq make it quite obvious that the United States has outlived its welcome there. The stated objectives of the Bush administration have been met. Saddam has been ousted. Even though no weapons of mass destruction have been found, the Iraqi infrastructure has been decimated and the alleged threat to the United States neutralized.

Now is the time for the United States to bow out gracefully, before more and more soldiers are killed.

Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld should swallow his pride and request the United Nations to take over the security and rebuilding of Iraq. Many countries have said they would participate under a U.N. mandate. The Iraqi people will find this much more palatable. Particularly, they will rejoice in getting back their country from U.S. occupation.

Unless, of course, the unstated objectives of the Bush-Cheney administration have not yet been met: control of the second largest oil reserves in the world!

Hallelujah, Halliburton!

Pradeepta Chowdhury
Hilo, Hawaii

Abortion trucks show us what law sanctions

In her Aug. 17 letter to the editor, Tatiana Parent said that the vans driven around Honolulu by abortionNo.org and The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform with large photos of aborted fetuses are offensive and disturbing.

These photos are not offensive; they are only blown-up photos of "products of conception," "undifferentiated mass of cells," "potential persons," "parts of women's bodies," "blobs of tissue," "unwanted intruders," "diseases that can be cured with uterine evacuation," "chopped liver," "nothing" or "whatevers."

Once you drop your objections to the act of abortion, you will see the photos are also acceptable, the two go hand in hand. We can't object to photos of an act that we approve of and fund with tax dollars.

Cary Mendes
Kula, Maui