Brainstorm! Challenge

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GOP obstructs bill to help disabled vets

The Democratic minority in the House of Representatives initiated House Resolution 303 to end the disabled veterans tax. During the past years disabled veterans were suffering from injustice from our own government. Their entitlements were taxed and as a result most of them live under poverty.

In addition, those who served and retired with disabilities are awarded disability pay, but the money comes from the individual retirement entitlement. This is an insult, injustice and cruelty tolerated by our own government. All Democrats in the House signed HR 303, along with two Republicans. The House majority leadership has not allowed HR 303 to move to the floor for a vote. It is said that the president would veto such a bill in favor of our disabled veterans. I am a hard-core Republican, but if the Republicans both in the Congress and the White House ignore HR 303, they'll be in Congress and in the White House no more.

They are concerned about the welfare of Iraq and Afghanistan, but our veterans are ignored.

Bernardo P. Benigno
Disabled Veteran, U.S. Army
Mililani

Union talks always followed by price hikes

Ever notice that the price of a product is increased only during the time a union negotiation is taking place?

The mayor of Honolulu wants to give the impression that bus fares will be raised due to the union wage increase. The truth is that this increase includes expenses beyond wages. Everything from the cost of fuel and parts to paper has seen a jump in prices. This increase is needed to meet the daily expenses of operating a business. The mayor should explain in detail the real reason that bus fares were raised.

Mike Nomura
Kailua

Gay love is better than 'traditional' gone bad

Kay Gleason's Oct. 4 letter supporting "traditional marriage" and chastising "homosexual activist" Martin Rice (Letters, Sept. 30) was very interesting. Rice simply stated that he was deeply offended and hurt by Mike Gabbard's public testimony in the Legislature. So why did Gleason characterize Rice's comments as "hateful?"

Today's American traditional family values of two working parents, day-care for children from the age of 2 months and a national divorce rate of 70 percent are far more threatening to "traditional" marriage than homosexuality. One could argue that traditional marriage no longer exists in America.

Ironically, Gleason stated that "personal attacks and character assassination are the only tools that homosexual extremists have left." Thank God words are the only weapons homosexuals use, even though we have been persecuted and discriminated against for centuries simply because of the way we choose to love another human being.

My Lord Jesus Christ blesses any two people who wish to make a sacred commitment of love and faithfulness to one another. Any love is better than hate and fear.

Charles Flaherty
Captain Cook, Hawaii

Beleaguered Bryant should take a year off

Regarding your article "Troubled Bryant a no-show," (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 3):

Kobe Bryant is a huge embarrassment to the Lakers and to sports. I don't even want to see the Lakers with him playing; it becomes a farce.

Kobe should voluntarily take this year off. His legal problem will overwhelm the team for the entire season no matter how spectacular he may be. The Lakers are good enough to live without him.

His year off should be without pay. He's already lost more than money, and that's trust. By voluntarily separating himself from the team and forfeiting his salary to a worthy cause, he will begin to earn back that trust.

Given time, Kobe will recover. Public memory is short -- as it was for the embarrassing resignation of Richard Nixon. If the president can step down, so can Kobe.

I hope his wife sticks with him as Bill Clinton's wife has done for him. Kobe is intelligent, and he has much to give the world beyond being a gifted athlete.

Let this be Kobe's year of trial. Let next basketball season be one of forgiveness.

Lance Grolla
Honolulu

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] What can be done to disguise or beautify those hulking steel utility boxes found in parks and other locations around town? Send your ideas, drawings and solutions by Wednesday, Oct. 15 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or mail them to: Brainstorm! c/o Burl Burlingame Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Fax: Brainstorm! c/o Burl Burlingame 529-4750