Brainstorm! Challenge

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Tourists should be taught water safety

The numerous visitors to the Hawaiian islands travel from around the world to enjoy the surrounding ocean waters for recreation and leisure. Unfortunately, some of these visitors never return home due to accidental drowning.

Many tourists are unaware of the dangers posed by the unpredictable nature and power of the ocean's waves, undertows and rip currents. People often underestimate the risks involved. They also overestimate their swimming ability in dangerous or challenging conditions. Utilizing certain safety precautions could prevent many of these deaths.

One precaution would be to show a mandatory video to all airline passengers on incoming flights. The video would focus on obeying warning signs placed on the beaches, consulting with lifeguards if water conditions appear treacherous and learning how to swim out of a strong current. The video could show how a swimmer must avoid panic and swim parallel to the shoreline until out of the current, and then swim toward shore.

This video would not deter people from coming to Hawaii, but rather provide an informative method of preventing unnecessary drowning deaths. Visitors would be appreciative of this valuable information.

John Callaway
Kailua

Even without WMD, Saddam had to go

I must rebut the opinions put forward by Rick Lloyd in his letter published on March 27. Apparently, he thinks it was OK to leave Saddam Hussein in power because he was only a threat to Iraqis. After all, what's a few hundred thousand dead Iraqis?

But Saddam was not just a threat to Iraqis; he also invaded Iran and Kuwait. The first invasion resulted in a 10-year war and the second, Operation Desert Storm. To the end, Iraq still claimed Kuwait as the 19th province.

Saddam did have weapons of mass destruction and used them to kill both his own people and Iranians. Despite our failure to find weapons of mass destruction, there was not a single government or intelligence agency that didn't think he had them. He was not in compliance with U.N. resolutions or inspections. Those inspection teams were looking for WMD because the U.N. thought he had them, too.

Michael Olsen
Ewa Beach

Love America, hate its eating habits

I am a resident of England, here enjoying a four-week holiday. Having been a well-controlled, type 1, insulin-dependent diabetic for 48 years, I took part in the Diabetic Walk in Kapiolani Park on March 21. It was great fun and very well organized, directed -- and rightly, I think -- primarily to type 2 diabetics. After 48 years (I am nearly 74), I think I understand diabetes pretty well. I am still active in sports back home and even there I have noticed a sudden increase in type 2 diabetics. The increase does not apply only in Hawaii.

My wife and I have come to love America and its people. We holiday to the States every year. What I have never understood (the purpose of my letter) is the apparent stupidity of many of its people (and even many of the companies that supply your nation's food). Why, why, why do the Americans eat so much, especially of the wrong foods? For breakfast yesterday we were served syrup and honey with our scrambled eggs and toast!

I must be honest. The Americans need educating in dietary knowledge of a serious disease. The American Diabetic Association has a great deal of work to do in spreading the message to a great nation.

John Deadman
Worthing, West Sussex
England

State can boost taxes to cover union raises

To Hawaii's elected leaders: If you say you "don't have the money" to pay your employees one more time I'm going to set my hair on fire ("Personnel raises will bust budget, Lingle says," Star-Bulletin, April 1).

You are the government. You collect taxes and set the tax rates. So don't say you "can't" get the money. You ARE the money. My momma taught me the difference between can't and won't.

The truth is that you just don't have the political will. Instead you set the worst example possible for private business, using bad employee treatment and even outright union-busting. You can't keep switching back and forth between allowing strikes and promising to obey the mediator. This time you have to pay -- and of course that means "we" have to pay.

But we are the ones who elect you to run the sewers and fix the potholes and we are also the ones who fix potholes and run sewers -- working people who are working three jobs and still not making it.

Why? Because we need to pay ourselves better and stop subsidizing big-shot and big-box companies that never give us the jobs we were promised unless the jobs are nonunion and pay 10 percent less than the last similar job.

Pay the lady, huh?

Andy Parks
Lawai, Kauai

UH prof's attitude typical of outsiders

The assistant professor Mark Rosenbaum, in Hawaii for eight months, considers himself an expert on Hawaii's culture, schools and languages. His condescending article (Star-Bulletin, March 28), lacking in perception on balance of what is overwhelmingly good about Hawaii, manifests he is not well suited for too long a stay here.

Having lived in several states in the mainland, I am fully aware there are far too many communities that are wanting of community and public school improvements far greater than Rosenbaum perceives in Hawaii. In the more extreme, many Native American schools and communities, hidden in reservations, remain America's greatest shame to this day.

Underlying this, of course, is the prevalence of the ugly head of racism toward racial minorities throughout the continental United States.

If our pidgin "frightens" Rosenbaum, perhaps it may shorten his stay in this beautiful melting pot state of ours.

Terumi Kanegawa
Wahiawa

Voting can cure many ills in Hawaii, nation

Will this be another ho-hum, low-voter turnout year for Hawaii? Or will it be more than 85 percent participation, with those who have never voted before, those who have been turned off in other elections and those who have recently turned 18 years of age? No more excuses; get registered and vote, and take part in this advantage of living in America.

The all-important presidential and vice-presidential offices will be on the ballot, as will the congressional, state and county ones, too. Issues such as our schools, crime, traffic and others may appear.

Your involvement in this biennial privilege can make a difference -- believe that. Make that decision and vote!

Roy E. Shigemura
Honolulu

Aloha keeps it going 'round and 'round

In January, we visited Hawaii. Most enjoyable!

There was one incident that deserves a great "thank you." We were at a corner near the Chinese Cultural Center. We remember that there was a restaurant on the corner featuring dim sum.

One of the front wheels on our wheelchair (small wheels) came partially off. These wheels are hard rubber and very difficult to put back on. (As senior citizens, we have many problems.) We just stood there looking at the wheel, wondering what to do.

A man appeared from nowhere and with strong hands managed to put the tire on. Tough job, but he did it! He then disappeared before we could yell "thank you." Our most sincere thanks to this man.

What a great boost for Hawaii -- helping strangers!

Don Higley
Whittier, Calif.

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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