Brainstorm! Challenge

---

President put on another great show

White House Pictures has done it again, producing a spectacular public relations blockbuster starring award-winner President G.W. Bush. Another "mission accomplished" scenario, but this time surprising the troops in Iraq for Thanksgiving. The effect of the trip was dramatic, with a stellar performance by the president.

The Democrats are shaking their heads and mumbling. Can they top the Wizard of Oz and the Munchkins?

Anthony Locascio
Honolulu

Front-page headline showed anti-Bush bias

As I read the Nov. 28 edition of the Star-Bulletin, I had to wonder if your editorial board is now writing the front-page news. I'm referring to the article about President Bush's visit to our troops in Iraq, which was titled "Bush's visit did little to impress Iraqis." Although the purpose of the visit was clearly to bolster the morale of our forces, it wasn't until the fourth paragraph that our troops' reaction to the commander in chief's visit was even mentioned, and then it only rated two rather tepid paragraphs out of the 24-paragraph article.

The majority of the article was devoted to interviews with skeptical/angry/outraged Iraqis expressing disappointment that he didn't meet with the "man in the street." In fact he did meet with members of the Governing Council and it should be obvious to anyone who has even a minimal understanding of security that it would have been grossly irresponsible of him to put himself even further into harm's way than he already had. I wonder how many of the interviewees who wished he had met with them were also fedayeen Saddam?

Doug Thomas
Mililani

Bush knew he wasn't welcome in Iraq

President Bush's secret trip to Iraq is a perfect example of his administration's failure to promote freedom and democracy to Iraq's people; otherwise, the military wouldn't have to cover the plane with bullet-proof paraphernalia, secrecy and blackout just to land at the airport.

No little school children waving red, white and blue flags for Bush. He is not welcome in Iraq like his disastrous visit to London.

Fred Young
Keaau, Hawaii

Do Americans favor patriotism or fascism?

"Why, of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don't want war. ... But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. ... The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger."

That was Hermann Goring, Luftwaffe commander, in an April 1946 interview. It's as true today as it was then.

Yes, Americans died on American soil on that terrible day in September, as did citizens of about 70 other countries, but no Afghan or Iraqi hijacked any of those planes. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudis, but we did not attack Saudi Arabia.

To protest an injustice is as American as Valley Forge. Those who are so committed to war should enlist immediately and experience with their own flesh and blood what it's like to be an armed stranger in a country that does not want them there.

Bettejo Dux
Kalaheo, Kauai

Outsiders driving up isle housing costs

I read the article "Maui homes top $500,000" (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 25). That is absolutely outrageous. Who is buying these homes and how is this affecting residents? As long as housing prices are geared toward those who live off-island, locals will move to the mainland. I know because I'm one of them.

I moved to the mainland more than 10 years ago because of affordable living expenses. Today I live in a nice suburb outside of Kansas City and I paid $98K for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom 2,200 square foot home on 3/4 of an acre. I would hate to see what this would command in the island real-estate market. I live two minutes from my kids' school and my commute is 15 to 20 minutes to my office in Kansas City.

Maui residents are suffering because those who don't live in the islands are commanding the market. Here are two suggestions for public policy makers to consider:

>> Designate an area to build affordable housing.

>> Offer state and property tax incentives for developers and builders to construct affordable housing in these areas.

>> Create a statewide task force charged with developing a strategic plan to encourage development of affordable housing.

Leilani Haywood
Raytown, Missouri

---

BACK TO TOP
|

[ BRAINSTORM! ] Dirty gutter talk Those orange rolls that highway engineers have been shoving into storm drain openings -- there must be a more efficient or practical or attractive way to filter out road debris. These things are about as useful and pleasing to the eye as huge, discarded cigarette butts. Send your ideas, drawings and solutions by Thursday, Dec. 17 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