Why deny commitment to those who love?

I am a heterosexual inmate of the Waiawa Correctional Facility. I am not for or against gay marriage. However, I am for equal rights.

Marriage is not about the law, the Bible or one's moral beliefs. It is about love and commitment.

The world has a shortage of love. I do not believe that any religious or civil law should limit its expression by denying its recognition and legal validity. If a church chooses not to perform or sanction a gay marriage, that is its choice. Our government and our lawmakers should not have that choice.

Homophobia, religious fanaticism and sexual discrimination are more dangerous to our society than gay marriage could ever be. Opponents of gay marriage should develop open minds, loving hearts and the belief in equal rights for all.

Michael Spiker
Inmate
Waiawa Correctional Facility

Columnist should take his own advice

In his March 17 column, Cal Thomas argues against his own argument. He asks, "Haven't Europeans learned anything from history?" He wants to convince his audience that it is important to notice what has occurred in the past. Yet toward the end of his article he criticizes "academics" who try to look at the past to understand "Why do (terrorists) hate us?"

Thomas would benefit from a bit of his own advice. If we don't take the time to understand the terrorists' incentives, we will never destroy their motivation. Like General Custer, Thomas wants us to rush in because his only concern is "how quickly can we eliminate (terrorists)?"

As the proverb says, "Haste makes waste," so before we risk the lives of our friends and families, maybe we should contemplate the effects of our actions. Terrorism may be an attack against the world, but this is not the war that began in 1939.

Justin Burniske
Visitor from Austin, Texas

Filming car chase sends wrong message

Honolulu police and residents are rightly concerned about road races that lead to deaths and injuries. Thus it is stupid for city officials to permit the closing of Waikiki streets so that a Hollywood producer can film a scene that glorifies car chases.

Charles E. Frankel
Kaimuki

Bainum misstates own deeds, others' faults

I see the TV ads are already starting for the Honolulu mayoral race. What I find interesting are the ones by Duke Bainum that paint him to be no better than the person he says he wants to replace.

First, he takes credit for uncovering the Ewa Villages scandal. Anyone who reads your newspaper knows that's not remotely true.

Second, he paints everyone in city government as corrupt and inept. That also is untrue, and offensive to anyone who knows a government worker or has had dealings with one. The picture of Bainum and his friends holding brooms is not worthy of anyone who says he will bring trust and integrity to City Hall. There are many talented, hard-working executives in our city government whom Bainum should court and not smear with his attempts to grab attention and headlines.

The good doctor is off on the wrong step with me.

Lani Kuwana
Hawaii Kai

Lower the speed limits around isle schools

I would like to highlight a problem we are having at the Ala Wai Elementary School. Every morning cars go speeding by at 30 and 40 mph, trying to take a side-street shortcut to get around traffic.

Although police have been hired to direct traffic in front of Iolani, they have no effect on the violation of the speed limit in front of the school, and they say they cannot write tickets while performing that duty for Iolani.

The school would like to reduce the speed limit on its street to 15 mph during school days. We are told that only the City Council can do this.

Couldn't a law be passed that the speed limit around all schools on Oahu be 15 mph during school days, with exceptions where needed? This type of law is commonplace on the mainland, where schools are important. Could we make schools important here, too?

Rodney Evans
Honolulu