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'Affluent' Hawaii Kai isn't without problems

I am writing in response to Kailua resident Michael Nomura's assertion (Letters, Star-Bulletin, Nov. 3) that I live in an affluent neighborhood and therefore do not have to rely on mass transit. I would love a rail system from Hawaii Kai to downtown to cut down on my sitting in traffic two hours a day. Unfortunately, the governor, the mayor and everyone else not an East Honolulu resident don't want to listen to us.

I have also been told over and over again that residents in my area don't know what crime is and don't deserve a police station like every other district on Oahu. Aina Haina and Niu Valley are struggling with drug houses and many of my neighbors have been burglarized and/or had their cars broken into or stolen. Furthermore, 2002 crime statistics verify that we have one of the highest crime rates -- third only to Kalihi and downtown Honolulu.

When people start listening to me and my neighbors about our concerns, I will be happy to write my senator in support of increasing my taxes to pay for other communities' requests.

Jeannine Johnson
Niu Valley

Keep propaganda off school campuses

I read the article headlined "Oahu kids get 'other' survival kits" (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 2) and my immediate reaction was to pursue a lawsuit against the state Department of Education. I have grave concerns when our public schools talk about an exercise in free speech and giving our children the opportunity to make informed decisions when we are not providing the students with all the facts. This is far from education -- this is outright propaganda!

How can the DOE allow groups with agendas to distribute materials to our children and claim it is in the name of "informed decision making"? What do anti-war materials and ways to finance college other than joining the military have to do with survival? How can the DOE allow Christian material to be distributed when the constitution clearly states a separation between church and state? I am concerned that this is going on in a school system that uses my tax dollars.

The DOE clearly is not making decisions in the best interest of our children. Since when can it be used as a tool for furthering political agendas? It appears that the DOE is making decisions in the best interest of a select few at the expense of our children. This is a dangerous and illegal road to travel.

If the DOE does not stop and revoke all publications, our judiciary system must address this issue immediately.

Eileen U. McLaughlin
Mililani

Media wrong to treat Bushes like royalty

The recent visit by President Bush raises questions about the purpose of his political fund-raising junket and its cost to taxpayers for traffic control and security.

Did the Republican campaign committee and the Bush re-election committee repay the city, state and federal governments for their added expenditures to safeguard Bush during his travel to and from his two fund-raising appearances here?

It was disturbing to see that our police prevented an ambulance on an emergency run from using the Punahou Street overpass in the name of protecting the president from the miniscule threat of danger from the overpass. To value Bush's life so much more than another citizen's is wrong in a democracy.

The president is supposed to be a public servant, but our media fawned all over him and his wife and covered his visit as if it were a royal visit or infestation. And protesters were dealt with in a backhanded way as if protest, the essence of a democratic ethos, somehow demeaned his visit. This is how dangerously ill and quasi-authoritarian our society has become, viewing a president as royalty and dissent as a nuisance.

Instead of courting Bush as obsequious supplicants looking for favored treatment, the media would serve us better if they raised the hard questions that many of us would like answered and which this president studiously avoids.

John Witeck
Honolulu

Akaka Bill would divide citizens of Hawaii

With the recent hysteria and hype over the Akaka Bill -- specifically its presentation to President Bush as being critical to Hawaii -- it might be interesting to see why Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) has placed a not-so-secret hold on the bill in the Senate. He wrote a letter to his Hawaiian constituents living in Arizona stating why he was opposed to the bill. His reasons are paraphrased below:

"By creating a separate, race-based government within the state of Hawaii, S. 344 would violate the U.S. Constitution and create a divisive and unworkable system of government.

"It is difficult to imagine how such a government would interact with the rest of Hawaii's people. Unlike reservation Indians, Hawaiians do not live in one area that is set aside for them. People of different races who live together in the same society would be subject to different legal codes. This is a recipe for permanent racial conflict.

"By subjecting Hawaiians to a government that is not bound by the Constitution, the Akaka Bill effectively would take away these constitutional rights from persons who currently enjoy their protection."

Clearly the Akaka Bill is not the legislation that will create a better Hawaii.

Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach

Aboriginal recognition hasn't divided U.S.

Phil Norris (Letters, Oct. 31) says, "The Akaka bill will forever create an atmosphere that fosters discrimination and favoritism based on one's race and ancestry." He further says of Hawaiian-only programs: "If the courts rule them as unconstitutional, then that's what they are."

First of all, I see no evidence that the recognition of aboriginal peoples to the tune of 450-plus Indian, Alaskan and Aleut tribes has created an atmosphere of discrimination and favoritism that has divided the American people.

Also, the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the right to trade with Indian nations (i.e., aboriginals). How is recognition of Hawaiians any different, since Indian tribe recognition stems from that of racial identification?

To follow Norris's logic is to proclaim that the Constitution itself is unconstitutional.

Damon Senaha
Mililani

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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