Brainstorm! Challenge

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Corky cartoon reflects American choices

Thanks to Star-Bulletin cartoonist Corky for showing how it really is in his editorial page cartoon of May 16. I hope everyone takes a long good look and realizes that given the choice of disrobing and being embarrassed or burned to death and having their heads sawed off while people stood around and jeered, our Americans would have chosen the latter.

Barbara Smith
Honolulu

Prison abuses reveal decline in U.S. conduct

While we were living in Japan after World War II, a carpenter by the name of Matsukawa-san did some work for us. He had served the Japanese army in the Philippines during the war and became a prisoner of American soldiers. He expressed to me how grateful he was for the way he was treated when captured by the Americans under Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He said to me, "We Japanese did not treat our prisoners with the kindness we received. I shall always be grateful."

What has happened to Americans in the past 60 years? Is it our fascination with violence, revenge and unbridled sex that gives rise to our terrible atrocities in Iraq? We seem to have adopted the philosophy that the end justifies the means, that we can lie, cheat, rob, torture or do anything so long as it serves our purposes.

It seems that we need to learn again and again that being cruel to others only escalates violence, that treating others as we would like to be treated is the only way to break this cycle.

Armin H. Kroehler
Kalihi Valley

Judge's treatment smacks of racism

The Afro American Lawyers Association is disturbed that the Judicial Selection Commission did not retain the only African-American judge in Hawaii, Sandra A. Simms (Star-Bulletin, May 11). We wrote to the commission prior to its decision and pointed out that there are racial problems in Hawaii's judicial system, as was exemplified by Judge Robert Chang's remarks about "niggers in the woodpile" back in the late 1980s. AALA lobbied then-Gov. John Waihee for an African-American judge and he later appointed Simms.

It is no secret that African Americans are placed in a negative light and are ridiculed in Hawaii schools and within the judicial system. Simm's presence changed the way many of those in the Judiciary and in Hawaii viewed African Americans. She was a positive role model and took time to talk with African Americans and other minority groups who aspired to careers in law.

The judges who recently have not been retained have been disproportionately women -- Gail Nakatani, Diana Warrington and Riki May Amano. Simms now joins these statistics. The commission's decision makes the judiciary an exclusive club, one where being black and a woman is not welcome.

Daphne Barbee-Wooten
President, Afro American Lawyers Association of Hawaii

Whiny criminals deserve no sympathy

Did anyone else notice the irony in the "Hawaii" section of last Sunday's Star-Bulletin? On the front page there were two articles, one about our brave soldiers and one about Hawaii criminals sent to a mainland prison. A group of whiners is highlighted in one of the articles, extolling the hardships of the inmates who are separated from their families. The other article was about injured soldiers, some ready to get back into the fray and fight for us, though they too are separated from their families.

Yes, the criminals may have a tough time re-entering society, but our soldiers may have a tough time too since some of them are missing legs and arms.

I hope our legislators have their priorities straight. These two groups need support, but one deserves it (and our tax money) a lot more than the other.

Lehua Ecumene
Kailua

Gabbard chooses not to represent 'all'

Ramon (Kauhi) Garza (Letters, May 6) was right about one thing. He stated that congressional candidate "(Mike) Gabbard will fight to keep the voice of the people loud and clear ... before the state Legislature or Congress." But he did not say "all of the people."

The job of a state representative is to represent "all of the people" in his state, not just those who practice his religious views. Gabbard has made it clear he does not believe in the separation of powers. If he had his way, the state would be ruled by his religious views, which do not represent the views of all Hawaii residents.

Keoki Gosselin
Kapaa, Kauai

'Pretty package' won't cure drug problem

The Legislature's veto override of House Bill 2003, the majority's solution to Hawaii's ice problem, is a travesty (Star-Bulletin, May 1). In an attempt to justify this misguided override, Democrats are unfairly accusing the Lingle-Aiona administration of lacking a plan to combat Hawaii's ice problem.

The governor clearly outlined the administration's plan to eliminate the use of illegal substances in our community through prevention, intervention and treatment. Legislators ignored this balanced approach to give law enforcement the tools to address illegal drug manufacturing, trafficking and use. The "omnibus" bill they passed significantly reduces the penalty for manufacturing ice and allows repeat felony offenders to get out of jail as long as they have drugs on them when they commit crimes.

It is disappointing that some Democrats personalized the debate by trying to discredit Lt. Gov. Aiona. His knowledge and experience as Hawaii's first drug court judge make him the best person to lead the state's drug control strategy. He has worked tirelessly to increase federal funding for drug treatment, including the award of $3.5 million to treat substance abuse and mental health disorders.

The law enforcement community is unified in its belief that the Legislature's plan will make Hawaii's drug problem worse. People must demand that policy decisions be formulated by what is best for the community rather than by pretty packaging filled with empty promises.

Melanie Chinen
Deputy policy adviser
to Governor Lingle

Political foe distorted special fund uses

The political rhetoric of Pam Lee Smith, the opponent I defeated in the 2002 election, is misleading (Letters, May 17).

In an effort to balance the budget without raising taxes, the Legislature wisely decided to utilize excess funds laying idle in more than 20 state special funds. The Legislature, in a good financial housekeeping measure, moved excess money in specials funds to the general fund where it can be used by the governor in case there is a shortfall in revenues.

Smith's assertion that money for roads in Ewa is somehow affected is false. There is no provision in the transfer bill to stipulate that the money be used for civil service pay raises. Sen. Willie Espero, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo and I secured more than $50 million for transportation and education capital improvement projects for Ewa.

The Fort Weaver Road widening project will begin this summer, and the North-South Road is scheduled to break ground by the end of the year.

Rep. Romeo Mindo
Ewa Beach

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] The ponds at the state Capitol are full of icky green stuff. What, besides holding an election, can we do to get rid of all that scum at the Big Square Building? Or should we just replace the ponds with something else? Tell us what you think, whether you know of a way to clean the ponds or if you'd rather see a remodel of the Capitol grounds. Anything would be an improvement. Send your ideas by June 16 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