Brainstorm! Challenge

---

Christians don't have 'right' to be unfair

This letter is in response to Evelyn Cook's March 11 letter ("Bill would force landlords to defy Bible") claiming that her "religious freedom" will be compromised if HB537 is passed. HB537 adds "sexual orientation" to Hawaii's anti-discrimination housing laws.

America was built on a cornerstone of religious freedom. Those of us who are seeking fair and equal treatment under the law in no way want to tamper with that religious freedom. It is pretty simple: The Constitution gives everyone the right to worship as they wish. It does not give Christians the right to discriminate against "thy neighbors" in housing.

Skip Burns
Chairman
The Civil Unions-Civil Rights Movement

True Christians don't say 'charge it'

So Evelyn Cook wants our government run from Scripture, eh?

Well then, true Christians must pay off their mortgages now, as well as their car loans and credit cards, because the borrowing or lending of money is biblically forbidden.

Christmas trees? History.

God hates shrimp. And pork. And lobster, clams and oysters.

Female teachers must be fired immediately, as women are forbidden to teach men. Likewise, women are forbidden to adorn themselves, so true Christians must boycott the jewelry and cosmetics industries.

Paul teaches that true Christians should remain single, so the various denominations should start forcing divorces.

Maybe Cook could find Scripture to undo the 250-word limit imposed by the Star-Bulletin, too, because there's a whole lot more that could be printed regarding modern life and ancient "wisdom."

Martin Rice
Kapaa, Kauai

Police officers deserve same rights as others

I am responding to Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue's opinion on SB3017 ("Bills would do police more harm than good," Gathering Place, Feb. 24).

Law enforcement officers are given the powers and responsibility of protecting our communities and enforcing the laws set by society. At the same time, they are held to much higher standards, as well they should be, yet they are not afforded the basic rights provided to all other citizens.

Police administrators in Hawaii believe that any rights afforded to the rank-and-file members of their departments should be derived from collective bargaining agreements and not the U.S. Constitution.

The practices they use to guide internal investigations let police executives take arbitrary, capricious and unfair punitive actions against innocent officers while allowing culpable officers to avoid punishment.

SB3017, the "law enforcement officers' Bill of Rights," does nothing more than provide officers the same rights, privileges and protections afforded to other members of society while replacing the ad hoc nature of existing departmental rules.

The argument that this bill would make police officers less accountable for their actions is absurd. The fact is, it will make them more accountable. Police administrators are against this bill because it would make them accountable, with sanctions if their actions are deemed to be malicious.

The hypocrisy is evident. HPD administrators boast of belonging to a small group of departments that have earned accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, but they oppose SB3017, which is modeled on the standards developed by that commission.

David Hernandez
Sergeant
Honolulu Police Department
Waianae

You can do good deeds without 'fearing' God

In response to Cal Thomas' March 3 column: I brake for animals, wish that women could be paid equally and I help the poor, not because I am religious, fear the wrath of God or mythologize the truth of the Bible, but because I am a good human being. Truth, wisdom, compliance with the laws of the land, justice, charity, kindness, compassion and fidelity are an integral part of the human condition.

As for the wisdom of the Bible, how does one rationalize, for example, this bit of biblical lore: "And the king Behold with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day." (11 Chronicles 21: 14-15)

I also am taken by the biblical story about when God sent the bears to eat the little children who made fun of the fat holy man. That's 2 Kings 2:24.

I shudder when I think of the multitude of true believers who worship the wrathful, vengeful God of the Old Testament, and I feel a great sadness for those who are truthful, law-abiding, just, charitable, kind, compassionate and honorable only because they fear him.

Bettejo Dux
Kalaheo, Kauai

Abercrombie came to seniors' rescue

Mahalo to Congressman Neil Abercrombie for saving the homes of senior citizens in Manoa Gardens. When the city announced plans to sell our homes to a private landlord, Abercrombie got on the phone to city officials. After reviewing the matter, they realized a mistake had been made and reversed their decision.

Most of us who live in Manoa Gardens are retirees on fixed incomes. We cannot afford the rentals being charged by private landlords. We could have been forced to leave our homes, our community and our friends and neighbors who mean so much to us.

Abercrombie's rapid response relieved the enormous stress and anxiety caused by the original announcement. Neil has always stood up for senior citizens, and now we have another reason to be grateful for his understanding, compassion and quick action.

James Tamura
Honolulu

Give gays equal rights or lower their taxes

President Bush, continuing his assault on the U.S. Constitution, has decided to go down in history as the first U.S. president to amend the Constitution to specifically deny rights to an entire class of full-fledged, tax-paying citizens.

Perhaps instead of amending the Constitution to ban gay marriages, civil unions and state-awarded gay rights, he should simply find every place the Constitution uses the word "all" to define who is embraced by that document and insert the words "unless you're gay." It would set an easier precedent, as more and more groups need to be stripped of full citizenship as they fall out of favor with the Christian right.

While he's at it, it would be only fair for him to create an income tax adjustment for gays. After all, if we're to be denied so many rights that have been guaranteed to the citizens of the United States simply because we're gay, surely we shouldn't have to carry the same tax burden as heterosexuals.

Andrew Thomas
Honolulu

Rapes reveal need to reform military code

In light of the rape cases reported at Air Force installations in the Pacific, it seems appropriate to suggest some immediate action be taken.

First, the "Uniform Code Of Military Justice" has been around for many years. Maybe it's time for the Air Force to get acquainted with it. It is a thorough guide to nonjudicial punishment proceedings, as with courts-martial.

The administering of judicial punishment has not been as "uniform" as the code requires, and that is unfair. The code is fair, but its application has varied from a "naughty-boy wrist slap" to brig time and discharge.

Military justice is being watered down, in keeping with the modern fads and morality. The barracks today are called "dormitories," mess halls are now "dining" areas.

When morals go down, morale and pride follow.

It is time to level the playing field by gathering the legal sections of all services to review the violations of the code and match each with a fair punishment, which can be applied across any of the services equally.

Kenneth S. Foley
Honolulu

Oust pols who refuse to reform education

The 31-20 defeat of the bill to create separate school boards shows that we need to replace only 11 legislators to start facilitating change. I urge the voters not to give up on reforming our education system. Please show your support of our schools by voting these 11 members of our Legislature out of office in the next election.

Rodney Evans
Honolulu

Attacks on Ka Leo threaten free press

Regarding the story about the Ka Leo cartoons (Star-Bulletin, March 11): What ever happened to freedom of the press? Freedom of speech?

If this is allowed to progress, it will send a chilling message to all other publications that express differing viewpoints.

We may not like what we read or what we hear, but you cannot legislate against differing views. You can only educate for understanding. And that does not mean firing the editor or the cartoonist, or closing the paper.

Bill Martin
Kailua

---

BACK TO TOP
|

[ BRAINSTORM! ] Does Honolulu need a city museum, and what should be in it? Does history matter? If so, whose history? Bishop Museum is one of the leading cultural museums in the United States, but it is not a history center. Honolulu seems to be the only state capital city without a municipal museum. Does Honolulu need a city museum? What should be in it? Where should it be? Should such a museum be a collection of artifacts or a learning center? Would such a museum be geared for Hawaii education or for entertaining tourists? Send your ideas by March 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