Candidates didn't share stage at music awards

In your article "Bainum avoiding mayoral debates" (Star-Bulletin, April 22), Duke Bainum suggested that he did participate in a question-and-answer forum at the Hawaii Music Awards ceremony. As the producer of this event, I can state for the record that mayoral candidates Bainum and Mufi Hannemann did not appear on the stage together.

Although it was not an actual debate, the ceremony provided each candidate an opportunity to congratulate the winners and to state how he would support the music industry if he were elected mayor. Hawaii Music Awards greatly appreciates both candidates for attending the April 4 event in support of the music community.

Johnny Kai
President
Hawaii Music Awards

Illegal donations also reflect on candidate

In trying to defend mayoral candidate Mufi Hannemann, Craig Watase (Letters, April 24) states that illegal campaign contributions are illegal on the part of the donors, but apparently not the candidate. In other words, the candidate bears no responsibility for taking illegal campaign contributions.

If that's the kind of accountability Mufi has with his own campaign budget, then I question whether he has the ability to be responsible for the city budget.

Richard Miyamoto
Honolulu

Let both candidates keep their hands clean

Craig Watase's April 24 letter urged Duke Bainum to stop mudslinging. I hope he will also urge Mufi Hannemann, who has run negative and derogatory campaigns since he ran for Congress against Neil Abercrombie in 1986, to avoid smear tactics in this year's election.

Roland Louie
Kapolei

Bigoted cartoon fuels anti-Americanism

A political cartoon reaches its readers in a moment. That's why political cartoons are a powerful medium. Taking that moment to create an image that vilifies and demonizes an entire ethnicity, as the May 4 Cagle editorial cartoon did, is a classical example of bigotry. The use of images of this sort not only contribute to the problem of anti-Americanism, but speak to that portion of your readership who would rather see their prejudices rarefied than take the time to slog through articles that present facts and issues, gray areas and real problems requiring real understanding to reach common ground and workable solutions.

Don Buchholz
Honolulu

Support for Israel only prolongs suffering

Thank you for publishing Pat Gee's April 24 story on the recent talk by Bishop Bob Jones and Mary Page Jones on life in occupied Palestine, something rarely covered in the mainstream press.

In response to the adjacent article on Sen. Dan Inouye's talk at Temple Emanu-El, I offer a quote by Uri Avnery from the Israeli peace organization Gush Shalom. In an article criticizing the latest Bush-Sharon peace plan, Avnery writes:

"It is said that Bush is the most pro-Israeli American president there ever was. I think that the opposite is true. I believe that he is the most anti-Israeli American president there ever was because the Sharon-Bush plan is blocking the way to Israeli-Palestinian peace, our only hope for a normal life."

One could add that Senator Inouye, whose support for Israel is legendary, is the most anti-Israeli senator for supporting this plan, which will only prolong the bloodshed and brutalization on both sides and the concomitant threat to peace and security in the whole world.

Margaret Brown
Honolulu

What about Palestinian goal to destroy Israel?

Bishop Bob Jones (Star-Bulletin, April 24), writing about the plight of the Palestinians, says our government doesn't talk about "the root of terrorism, the O-word, for occupied." He neglects to point out that the media always use that term when referring to the land taken by Israel in the wars when it was attacked by its neighbors, so it's already in everyone's consciousness.

The more relevant word for the root of terrorism is the D-word, for "destroy Israel." That has been the goal not only of the Palestinian militant groups but their Arab brethren who support them. When Israel was established in 1948, the surrounding countries attacked, assuming they would easily defeat the fledgling state. The land would then be Arab, the Jews gone, problem solved. But it didn't happen.

The totalitarian Arab nations do not want a thriving, Jewish, democratic state in their midst. Palestinian leaders have rejected every peace offer made by Israel. It suits their purpose to keep the people as refugees. If they really wanted peace, the wealthy Arab nations would provide inducements, material support and opportunity instead of arms and rewards to the families of suicide bombers.

For Israelis, the D-word is in their face -- in their markets, their schools, their buses, their cafes -- every day of their lives.

Judith A. Goldman
Honolulu

U.S actions against Saddam were justified

For an island consisting of so many soldiers and their kin, it's hard to believe how much unpatriotic talk there is. Every action that President Bush has taken so far was derived by the intelligence of multiple sources worldwide. Intelligence has shown for more than a decade that Saddam Hussein has possessed and even used these weapons of mass destruction. He was ordered by the U.N. to get rid of them in a public forum, but never followed through. Where the WMDs are now, we may never know. But the intelligence was there.

Also, Saddam did harbor Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network and was warned of the consequences; now he's paying for them.

Whether you believe the motive of this war was a mistake or not, most Americans and all Iraqis will come to appreciate what the U.S. military and its commander in chief have done. The liberation of this country will give millions of Iraqis the opportunity to enjoy the same freedoms and liberty that we have enjoyed our entire lives.

Jacey Jetton
Honolulu

Media overexpose photos of abused Iraqis

All this hoopla surrounding the abuse of Iraqis at the hands of our military police is getting more media exposure than it should. Does that mean I endorse what happened? Of course not. I feel all involved ought to be disciplined as an example to any other military personnel who may think humiliation and misuse of power is the way to go. As a veteran, I am embarrassed by their acts.

But I must ask this question: Where was all this media coverage when our troops were dragged on the streets of Somalia and more recently, when the charred bodies of Americans in Iraq were hung for display from a bridge? Remember, I said the same degree of media coverage.

Where were the worldwide condemnations, apologies from the guilty, the U.S. government involvement in finding the perps and the media's updates day after day?

All this coverage does is heighten negative feelings against us around the world.

Or am I missing the point? Is this really all about network marketing, increased sales, bonuses for reporters?

I am a proud American, a Vietnam-era veteran who backs up this president for trying to do what is right for all people. Have people forgotten why we are in the Middle East in the first place? Did we forget what happened on 9/11? I am ashamed of our media and their self-righteousness, arrogance and liberal mindsets.

Robert Ruiz
Honolulu

Lack of training sites endangers war effort

During last week's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Senator Akaka asked Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, "How can a brigade be deployed when it is not properly trained?"

Hawaii has deployed thousands of servicemen and women to Iraq and Afghanistan who have not been allowed to train properly, due to the actions of groups like EarthJustice and Malama Makua using the courts to prevent our military from training in Makua Valley.

I find Akaka's question laughable since he and our other political leaders have never spoken out against Malama Makua or EarthJustice actions and have never publicly supported our military's right to properly train for war in Makua Valley.

Ronald L. Edmiston
Honolulu

Everyday heroes are all around us

My mom will never star in a music video. My dad will never play for the Lakers. They've never owned a new car or taken a real vacation. Instead, they sent me and my brothers to good schools.

My mom would come home from work, cook dinner and then stay up late helping us with our homework or baking for school fund-raisers. My dad would work the graveyard shift and then, instead of sleeping, spend all day fixing the sputtering car engine and driving the family to and from work, school and basketball practice.

My mom can listen to the boring rundown of your day and make you feel like it's the most fascinating thing she's ever heard. I've seen my dad spend his last dollar to feed us while pretending not to be hungry.

In a desperate search for heroism amid corruption and scandal, our society idolizes entertainers and athletes yet revels in tearing them down when they fail. While nobody's perfect, real American idols are everywhere. Today, take a moment to recognize the humble heroes in your life who've made endless quiet sacrifices for you out of love.

Rob Corpuz
Honolulu

Budget won't balance without tax cuts

The Legislature's override of Governor Lingle's veto of the public worker pay raises reminds me that Thomas Jefferson once said that "the end of American democracy will come when people figure out they can use the system to vote themselves money out of other people's pockets."

The raises will cost $32 million in fiscal year 2005 and $54 million annually beginning July 1 of next year. That amounts to $248 million in the next five years. To pay for the raises, the lawmakers overrode Lingle's line-item vetoes in House Bill 2743, which raided $43.6 million from various special funds.

Incumbent legislators running for re-election this year will no doubt say that they did not raise taxes in 2004. What they won't tell voters is that there will be no more money in the special funds to be raided. It is a virtual certainty that Hawaii residents will face tax increases after the November elections regardless of the outcome. Republican Sen. Sam Slom was correct when he said that this "Legislature is about not what is right for the people, not what is prudent nor what is affordable, but what the HGEA (Hawaii Government Employees Association) wants."

Tatiana Parent
Honolulu

UH should open up logo selection process

The University of Hawaii is being counterproductive by restricting itself to a process in which its new logo must be chosen from the creations of three contracted designers or firms. What if none of their efforts fits the bill, like the last time?

At the very least, the selection procedure should provide for an open competition whose winner would be considered by the Board of Regents in the final selection. The university belongs to all the people; allow them to participate and share their creativity, vision and talent.

The exclusiveness of the selection process appears to run counter to the qualities and essence of what we would want the UH logo, image, brand to express and represent.

Richard Y. Will
Honolulu

Lawmakers, Lingle did well on ed reform

We commend Gov. Linda Lingle and the Legislature for making education reform a central policy issue in 2004. As Superintendent Pat Hamamoto has said, our public school system is obsolete and requires change.

The legislation passed this session (SB 3238 and HB 2002) makes important progress toward creating a school-centered system that gives individual schools and their principals more funding, authority, autonomy and support.

The legislation adopts a landmark weighted student formula to base funding on the unique needs of each student. The bills reach beyond the schoolyard fence to create school-community council partnerships for each campus and there is some increase in money for textbooks and training.

These bills offer an opportunity for change. Now, opportunity must be followed by effective execution. Before change can reach our classrooms, the school system and state administration must work together to transform the system's culture to be classroom-centered and more accountable for student achievement.

Mitch D'Olier
Chairman
Hawaii Business Roundtable

Jim Tollefson
President
Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii

Hawaii is a dead end for serious musicians

Regarding the Star-Bulletin's May 5 story on "American Idol": Jasmine Trias is the product of the lame sort of reggae rap noise that's being pushed in the islands these days. The music that kids like Jasmine have been brought up on is sleepy, two-chord A-major to B-minor or 1-4-5 "Louie Louie"-type songs.

Is this sleepy local stuff supposed to offset the ice problem? If they can't get a category for Jahwaiian in the Grammys, what makes people think that one of our kids will wow the world?

Usually, the best musicians are formally trained and can read, write and arrange music. The best musicians in Hawaii are in the hotels playing the same stuff generations before them were playing. If a great musician is found, they're off to the mainland and are picked up by the big names. Who wants to burn out playing in Waikiki hotels?

This music market doesn't offer much hope for aspiring young musicians. You'd learn more playing and panhandling on the streets in mainland cities. The oldtimers know better.

Kent T. Tamura
Kailua

We should try voting for party, not person

Many people tell me that they almost always vote for "the person, not the political party." When I tell them that I almost always vote my political ideology, hence one political party, they look at me like I'm a freak.

It is their thinking that has produced the ridiculous stalemate between the Legislature and Governor Lingle. They quite correctly saw that Lingle was an accomplished and dynamic public servant and decided to give her a chance to shake up the old-boy/girl network. But vote against "Auntie Democrat" in the Senate or House? Look at how she has taken care of us, they say. Look at the special projects she has brought to our district. And besides, she is so nice to us at the local Fourth of July parade!

If you think that the state was just fine under the last 40 years of one-party rule, then by all means vote for that party's candidate. But if you voted for Lingle and intend to vote for her again, please vote for the candidate who will most likely support her in the Legislature. Her ideas will then be given a fair chance to succeed or fail.

Dean Whitney
Kula, Maui

GOP's 'New Beginning' usurped by Democrats

It's time to take stock. What has Governor Lingle's "New Beginning" achieved? It has achieved attacks on the superintendent of schools, the state librarian and public teachers. Last week the governor tried to slap down government employees -- a move heroically blocked by Democrats in the Legislature. And despite Lingle's attempts to stop it with an override, the Democrats also achieved meaningful public school reform. The "New Beginning" belongs to the Democrats.

Joshua Wisch
Kailua