Brainstorm! Challenge

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Sing the anthem so people can join in

I agree with W.W. Robinson's March 23 letter regarding the singing of our national anthem. As a season-ticket holder for both the men's and women's University of Hawaii volleyball teams, I witness the different performers with their renditions and I do not like it when they try to be fancy. Why can't they sing it the traditional way? That way, more people can participate and it will make us all feel patriotic.

I'm not saying all of them are fancy, because there are some good singers. But why doesn't the UH band perform it, or put on a tape recorder?

Go 'Bows!

Ron Mesiona
Waianae

Maui care facility would save tax money

Maui has a critical shortage of long-term care beds. Approximately 40 elderly people are held every day at Maui Memorial Medical Center because of Maui's lack of nursing-facility beds. Hospital care is five to 10 times more expensive than nursing-facility care. This lack of long-term care infrastructure costs Hawaii's taxpayers $5 million to $8 million per year.

This money could be used to build the Kulamalu Nursing Facility, a proposed 110-bed, affordable, long-term care facility. This would improve health care for Maui's elderly while saving future tax money. It also would make 35-50 acute-care hospital beds available to the community -- equivalent to adding a hospital wing worth several million dollars. These beds would significantly improve Maui's acute care without costly duplication of equipment and services in another facility.

Meeting Maui's long-term-care needs is an urgent fiscal and health care priority. The Kulamalu Nursing Facility is a wise investment. It would improve health care on Maui for both young and old while saving taxpayers' money. I strongly urge our state Legislature to invest in Maui's long-term care and support SB 2098. Our kupuna urgently need Kulamalu Nursing Facility.

Steven Moser, M.D.
Chief medical officer
Mitchell Tasaki, M.D.
Maui Memorial Medical Center

Don't get tough on all speeders, just racers

The reason the English invented both the words "race" and "speed" is because they have different meanings. Race means "to enter in a race" and speed means "to go or drive at excessive speed." Yes, speeding is technically illegal, but racing is responsible for more accidents.

I work nights, and it can take me anywhere from 25 minutes to 40 minutes to get to work -- 25 minutes if the car in front of me is going faster than the speed limit (which is most likely), or 40 minutes if the car in front of me is driving at or slower than the speed limit. That's 15 minutes of my personal time wasted. Coming home is the same story, for a total of as much as 30 minutes a day, 2.5 hours a week, 10 hours a month, 120 hours a year! If we are going to ticket people for violating the speed limit, we also should ticket those driving slower than the posted limit, who add weeks to my commute each year.

While I support ticketing street racers, I question using cameras to ticket speeders. The police already are doing a good job of that. Plus, people need instant reinforcement if you expect them to change. You don't punish a child by saying, "Timmy, you are grounded today because you came home late last week Thursday." Timmy should be told immediately after doing the crime, or he will not change. Cameras will not work.

Justin Tanoue
Kaneohe

Goo, Wahine never got due recognition

It is very sad that Vince Goo has decided to retire from coaching University of Hawaii Wahine basketball, and it's sad for Wahine basketball. Yet it's good that he is leaving. Good for UH Wahine basketball. Coach Goo and the Wahine basketball team never got the recognition, press and support from the UH administration, community and news media.

When on the same night that the UH men's basketball team lost at home and the Wahine won on the road, the men got full coverage on the front page of the sports section of the papers. The women got coverage on page 4 or 5. Even national basketball results got front-page coverage that same day. When the Wahine and men both lose on the road or at home, the men always get full or better coverage and larger color photos.

On the final night for Coach Goo at home, there were only approximately 1,900 fans in attendance. Only for his final game, at Boise State, did the newspaper finally show the Wahine in a large photo.

Now the media and the writers shower all kinds of praise for Goo and his records. Maybe it's time to retire Wahine basketball and not make these hard-working, dedicated women embarrassed about playing to sparse crowds.

Paul Fong
Honolulu

Honor thy children, even the gay ones

Although Jody Chun's letter ("One can exclude gays but still love them," Star-Bulletin, March 24) may have been well-meaning, her words were hurtful. Excluding anyone or calling anyone a sinner is not loving.

If she could feel the pain, alienation or self-denigration that she has caused just one gay or lesbian child reading her letter, maybe she would bow her head and take back her words. If she knew that the increased risk of suicide facing our gay and lesbian youth is linked to growing up in a society that preaches to our children to hide and to hate themselves, maybe she would stop calling gays and lesbians sinners.

Let this be a world where we can rejoice in loving one another and not tolerate words of prejudice and hate.

Zoe Shinno
Honolulu

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] Hawaii is popularly known as "The Aloha State." What might be a better slogan? To get started, think about what you might see around the islands -- rainbows, waves, sand, traffic jams, homeless orangutans ... Send your ideas by April 21 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or by mail: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Or by fax: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750