Brainstorm! Challenge

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Our world needs more youths like Theresa

Congratulations on publishing Theresa Tanner's Feb. 12 Student Union column and congratulations to Theresa and her parents. It is so nice to read uplifting stories when so much of today's news is filled with crime, war and death. Theresa is destined for great success despite her many challenges.

I have friends and relatives who have adopted children from the Far East. They all have success stories, and this is another triumph. We need more people like Theresa and her parents in this world.

Bert Nakagawa
Aiea

Dems must halt attack on executive powers

I don't always agree with editorials, but yesterday's was absolutely correct. It said that "Democratic legislators in the current session are groping at other ways to detach the Republican governor from various state agencies and limit her ability to appoint people to certain offices."

From a perusal of the bills being promoted by Democratic chairmen of the House committees, this is confirmed. It is not opinion, but fact. At every opportunity, Democrats -- at least in the House -- are seeking to undue and overturn the 2002 election by removing various powers of the governor. This needs to end. The people of Hawaii do not support thwarting their will in this way. It does not serve the cause of democracy.

Rep. David Pendleton
49th District, Maunawili-Kaneohe

Senator's comments on Lingle were absurd

I thought I had heard all of the stupidity possible from our legislators, but Sen. Kalani English's statements about the governor's trip to Iraq topped anything I've heard in 40 years in Hawaii (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 11). What could Governor Lingle's sex or religion possibly have to do with her visit to Iraq? The man sounds as if he is in a time warp. Does he know what religion the other governors practice? There was another woman governor on the trip, too. Was she offensive to Muslims because of her sex?

The governors were invited to visit troops from their states, and to observe firsthand what is going on in Baghdad and the country. They were not there as religious missionaries.

It is incredible for a legislator in Hawaii with our diversified ethnic and religious population to make such an offensive statement.

Shirley Hasenyager
Kailua

Special truck could make road work safer

After reading about the horrible accident involving the Safety Systems Hawaii, Inc. worker, I'm wondering why Hawaii road work companies don't invest in a different type of truck. In Illinois, the rear ends of the trucks that work on the expressway have truck-mounted "attenuator" cushions that protect workers and lessen the impact of crashes (www.dot.state.il.us/workzone/workzone6.html).

These giant yellow accordion "cushions" are 8-feet long and stick straight out from the rear of the trucks a couple of feet off of the ground. When not in use (if the truck is moving with the flow of traffic), the attenuator is stored in an upright position at the back of the truck.

Obviously, something more must be done about street racing, but we should also consider the safety of the workers doing their jobs on the roads.

Marna Baricuatro-Rae
Northeastern Illinois University
Deerfield, Ill.
Hawaii resident

To stop speeding, bring back van cams

It is too bad they stopped the van-cam program. It did what it was supposed to do -- slowed down traffic to the speed limit.

But then people complained that when coming out of the H-3 it was hard to slow down. It is not hard to slow down if you just drive slower to begin with.

They complained about getting speeding tickets. If they followed the speed limits, they wouldn't worry about van cams.

There needs to be consequences that will show drivers that they can't continue to speed. The longer it is delayed the more accidents and deaths will happen.

The best thing for all of us is to follow the laws and the speed limits and bring back the van cams. They worked!

Diane L. Favreau-Chung
Mililani

Bush supporters aren't as they are portrayed

Let's set the record straight about what kind of people support President Bush. They are not as depicted by some parts of the media and the president's more rabid opponents. We are middle Americans, quiet and proud patriots. We are religiously inclined and believe in traditional values. That does not mean we don't respect those Americans who have opposing opinions.

During and after 9/11 we saw President Bush reveal a determined and focused leadership in the war against world terrorism. He knows it will be a long war, and Americans cannot falter, forget, or appease the extremists intent on destroying America. At the same time, he has reminded us that this war has nothing to do with Islam or Arab Americans.

We are encouraged by a president who is not embarrassed to say that he is a Christian. We realize that he wrestles each day to continue to overcome sin and live the Christian values of humility and tolerance, and that is a major factor in his decision making. He made honest errors in his Iraq policy, but it does not negate the rightness of that policy, which is helping the Iraqi people create a democratic society.

Theodore Taba
Honolulu

Bush deserves censure for misleading nation

I hope Hawaii's senators, Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka, will support censuring President Bush for misleading us into war.

From his first days in office, Bush was planning for war with Iraq. That decision having been made, he ran a campaign of misinformation, hype and hysteria that led us into an unnecessary war.

Before the war, Bush was repeatedly told there was no definitive evidence that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. He knew Iraq was not a nuclear threat. He knew there was no Iraq connection to 9/11. Iraq posed no imminent danger to the United States. There was no case for a pre-emptive war.

Yet he relentlessly led us into a war that has cost 500 American lives, left 3,000 seriously injured and wasted tens of billions of dollars. Our senators must act to censure him.

Chris Kidawski
Honolulu

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] Can you design a quarter that represents Hawaii?? Some states have issued collectible quarters that commemorate their entry into the union. The front of the coin looks the same but the eagle on the back has been replaced by something that represents that state. For example, Georgia's quarter has a peach on it. If you could design Hawaii's quarter, what would it look like? Send your ideas and solutions by Feb. 17 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or mail them to: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Fax: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750