Brainstorm! Challenge

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Designer-jacket scam also in Las Vegas

Regarding the fake Versace jackets ("Maui police arrest 2 in jacket scam," Star-Bulletin, Oct. 14): Two weekends ago in Las Vegas at the Belz Outlets, no sooner had I gotten out of my car when an SUV abruptly drove up and the driver asked if I (a Hawaii-born bruddah) spoke Italian. He then said he spoke a little English and proceeded with the same approach as printed in your articles, except his "trade show" supposedly was at the Bellagio. Recalling the recent scams in Hawaii, I sent him on his way.

Anyway, they're in Las Vegas now, too.

Pete Sato
Gardena, Calif.

Abercrombie expects too much of Lingle

It's been a while since I've seen the honorable Rep. Neil Abercrombie speak on television and I'm still amazed. This time he asked why Governor Lingle couldn't persuade President Bush to set policy regarding Hawaiian sovereignty while traveling from the airport into downtown Honolulu. The man's amazing! Hell, Gov. Waihee and Gov. Cayetano, after being in office four years each, couldn't persuade President Clinton even to read the Akaka bill.

Donald G. Micco
Wailuku, Maui

Bush contradicts his earlier words on Iraq

George Bush and his gang have actively asserted that they've never used 9/11 as a pretense for the war in Iraq. Yet here's a direct quote from Bush's speech at the Hilton Hawaiian Village:

"Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the al-Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghani-stan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance and those regimes are no more."

Even after they were forced into public denials of these assertion, Bush, Vice President Cheney, Condoleeza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld continue to perpetuate this lie in an effort to justify a unilateral act of aggression on the part of the United States.

There is no delicate way to put it: This administration has lied about the war, put American lives directly in harm's way and has created a far more dangerous world for all of us. Another quote I've heard sums it up: "If you're not appalled, then you haven't been paying attention." Start paying attention.

Clay Springer
Kailua, Hawaii

UH should set higher standards for itself

The University of Hawaii's possible plan to raise admission standards (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 25) leaves me with mixed feelings. It seems like those in charge are going about this backwards. To increase the quality of students who want to attend UH, the university must fix its infrastructure first.

Hawaii is going to continue to lose the best and brightest students to mainland institutions and fail to attract quality faculty until UH does such simple but expensive things as fix its library system. Every time I have tried to use the library system for research, I have failed to find most of the journal articles I am looking for. Even when the university lists a journal in its collection, the holdings generally do not include editions published during the last dozen years.

Until things like this are fixed, I would not recommend that students seeking a quality higher education attend UH.

Abby Royston
Honolulu

Why does Bush want to hide their caskets?

I am writing to clarify the quote attributed to me in Sunday's article on the pro-peace march. When I was asked why I was marching, I said that I had lost my daughter, Wenonah, and believed that it is shameful that Bush has barred the media from photographing any of the caskets bringing our troops home.

Each one is someone's child, and that is what war is really about -- killing someone's child. By not recognizing their deaths, the ultimate sacrifice that he asked of them, Bush dehumanizes them. There are pictures of the troops, our children, going off to Iraq with such fanfare, but they are ignored after that.

These children sent off to war by Bush and Congress have to write home for toothpaste, food, water, antibiotics and body protection. Neglected by the government they are laying their lives down to protect. Bush paid these war profiteers, his cabinet "associates," enough. Why are our children suffering?

And when they are brought home in a casket, it is not recorded. Like they never existed. And for each death, the parents will never be same.

I know the feeling of losing your child, and I would not wish it on my worst enemy. War kills someone's child. That's why I march.

And the Iraqi people, mothers and fathers, feel the same pain everywhere when they lose their child. All parents do.

We all lose with war, because it takes the future, our world's children. War is not the answer and it never will be.

Elizabeth Brandilywn Apana
Kaimuki

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] Historical markers? Other cities have permanent markers signifying historic sites or locations. Shouldn't Hawaii be equally accommodating to students and visitors? What should such markers look like in Honolulu? Design one! Remember, markers on walls require the owner's permission, but markers in the sidewalk belong to the city. Send your ideas, drawings and solutions by Thursday, November 13 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